Central Italy Flashcards
What varietal is Central Italy most known for?
Sangiovese
What is the most famous wine made from Sangiovese?
Chianti
Where is Central Italy located
South of the Po valley. dominated by the Apennine Mountains which run the length of the Italian Peninsula.
Where are grapes planted in Central Italy
in the hills and valleys of the mountain range which has altitude to provide moderating of the hot climate
What do coastal regions in Central Ital benefit from?
cooling sea breezes
Where is Tuscany in Italy
stretches down the western coast and is divied into 3 parts
what are the three parts Tuscany is divided into?
1 mountainous Chianti region to the north
2 the hills and valleys to the south
3 flat coastal plain
What grape dominates and is the most prestigious grape throughout the 3 areas of Tuscany?
Sangiovese
Describe a Sangiovese wine from Tuscany
high levels of acidity and tannins. late to ripen, so needs the warm climate. aromas of red cherries, plums and dried herbs
How is Sangiovese from Tuscany aged?
usually aged for a period of time in oak to soften tannins and sometime add spicy flavors. Both small barrels and larger casks can be used.
What can develop with bottle age in Sangiovese from Tuscany?
meaty, gamey, aromas
What wine styles are made in Tuscany
red wine dominates, but some white wines are made as well.
Where is Chianti located?
based at the foothills of the Apennines between the cities of Pisa, Florence, and Siena.
How many sub zones is Chianti divided into
7
What is the dominant grape in Chianti?
Sangiovese, but wines are often blends of black grapes of both French and Italian origin
Producers of large volumes of Chianti source their grapes from where?
the greater region and label it Chianti DOCG
What are wines that are higher quality CHianti DOCG made from grapes of a particular sub zone is labelled how?
with the sub zone on the label
What two sub zones are well known in Chianti
Chianti Ruffina DOCG and Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG
Is Chianti Classico DOCG a sun zone of Chianti DOCG?
no - it has its own DOCG
Where is Chianti Classico DOCG located
higher altitude then Chianti DOCG.
Describe wines from Chianti Classico DOCG
due to slower ripening of Sangiovese the wines result in more acidity and herbal aromas.
How long must a Chianti Classico wine be aged for?
12 months before released to market
How long must a Chianti Classico Riserva wine be aged for?
24 months with at least 3 of those months being spent in the bottle before it is released to market.
what is the highest designation of Chianti Classico wines?
Gran Selezione
what does Gran Selezione refer to
wines that have been made from grapes which have been sourced from a single estate and aged for 6 months longer than Riserva. however there is no stipulation on oak aging. vast majority of wines are aged in oak for at least some part of the aging process.
Where are the vineyards of Southern Tuscany located?
lower altitudes then those in the north.
What is the climate of Southern Tuscany?
warm climate, however cool maritime breezes from south west can moderate temperatures
What are the two best known regions in S. Tuscany?
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG
describe wines from S> Tuscany region
due to climate more intense and fuller bodied than Chianti.
What are wine regulations of Brunello di Montalcino DOCG ?
wines must be made from Sangiovese and undergo at least aging of 5 years before they are sold, 2 of which must be spent in oak.
What are wine regulations Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG
wines can be blends of Sangiovese and other permitted varieties and must be aged for a minimum of 2 years before it is sold.
What can producers from Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG and Brunello di Montalcino DOCG if they have a poor vintage or vines are young?
they have the option of declassifying their wines to DOC as necessary
Describe the coastal region of Tuscany
relatively flat, cooled by sea breezes instead of altitude.
what varietals are grown in the Coastal region of Tuscany?
Black Bordeaux and a number of other international grapes.
What is the coastal region of Tuscany known for?
the birth of the “Super Tuscan”
what was the original Super Tuscan made from
cabernet sauvignon and sold for premium price despite no PDO status.
What are many of the Super Tuscans bottled as?
Toscana IGT
what recently formed appellations permit wines to be made entirely from non-Italian varieties
Bolgheri DOC and Maremma Toscana DOC
Describe Umbria’s climate
similar to Tuscany but Is more continental. without influences from the Mediterranean.
What are the varietals used in Orvieto DOC?
Blend of Grechetto, Trebbiano and often other local grapes.
Describe wines from Orvieto DOC
light bodied, with med to high acidity, and flavors of ripe grapefruit and peaches. Best examples have most grechetto in the blend
How are wines produced from Orvieto DOC?
protectively and undergo cool stainless steel fermentation
What is Umbria’s most prestigious red wine?
Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG - made from thick skinned Sagrantino grapes.
Where is Lazio
to the south of Tuscany
what is the best known wine from Lazio?
Frascati DOC
Where is Frascati DOC located?
in the hills to the south of Rome
describe the climate of Frascati DOC
cooled by both altitude and a number of small nearby lakes offering perfect conditions for white grapes
What are the varietals used in Frascati DOC?
blends of Malvasia and Trebbiano
describe Frascati style wines
fresh unoaked, med in body with med to high acidity and flavors of citrus fruit. the Malvasia provides floral and orange blossom aromas.
Where is Marche located?
on the eastern side of the Apennines
What is Marche best known for>?
wines made by Verdicchio grape
what is the most famous white wines made in MArche
Verdicchio Dei Castelli di Jesi DOC
Describe the Verdicchio variety
naturally high in acidity with flavors of green apples, lemons and sometimes notes of fennel and almonds. most are simple and fruity but the best have greater concentration and can develop notes of honey and almonds with bottle age
describe the red wines of Verdicchio?
blends of Montepulciano and Sangiovese
what is the best know red in Verdicchio
Conero DOCG
Where is Abruzzo?
south of Marche
what is Abruzzo famous for?
red varietal Montepulciano
what is the main wine in Abruzzo
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC (no relation to the town in Tuscany)
Describe the Montepulciano grape
high levels of color and tannins, medium acidity, and flavors of black plums and cherries.
how is Montepulciano aged
many are not aged with any oak giving a simple and fruity taste. but most are concentrated and often matured for a short time in oak.
