Central Italy Flashcards
Sangiovese grape profile (4)
- Early budding
- Ripens late
- Best on friable, shale and limestone
- Thin skins
Sangiovese wine profile (5)
- Med ruby colour
- Red cherry, red plum, herbal
- Med-full bodied
- High acid
- High tannin
Trebbiano Toscano grape profile (3)
- Late budding white
- Ripens well and retains acidity
- Same as ugni Blanc
Trebbiano Toscano wine flavour
Neutral, lemon and herbal
Canaiolo Nero wine profile
- Red berry and floral
- Light tannin
- Promotes floral a d red berry character when blended with Sangiovese
Historic Sangiovese wine making (3)
- Part of the blend could include white
- Kept on skins for long periods of time (30 days or more)
- Aged in large neutral casks for 3-4 years.
Modern Sangiovese wine making. (2)
- 7-10 day maceration for early drinking wines
2. 15-25 days for high tannin intended for ageing.
Yields in Chianti DOCG
63hl/ha
Blend requirements for Chianti DOCG (4)
- 70-100% Sangiovese
- May be local or international blending partners
- Cab sauv/cab franc may not exceed 15%
- Min alcohol 11.5% (sub zones min 12%)
Chianti Rufina DOCG subzone profile (3)
- Smallest subzone
- Coolest subzone due to altitude and cooling winds descending from the Apennines
- Capacity to age and develop complexity in the bottle
Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG profile
- Largest subzone
- Warmest subzone
- Min 75% Sangiovese in blend
- Max of 10% for Cabernets
Chianti Classico DOCG profile (4)
- Hill area between Florence and Siena
- Min 80% Sangiovese 52.5hl/ha yields
- Can be released no sooner than October in the year after the harvest
- Riserva must be aged for 2 years following January 1st after harvest
Galestro soils
Schistous, crumbly rock with clay and marl
Aromatic wines for ageing
Chianti Classico
Alberese soils
Calcareous soils with clay
Added structure and body
Chianti Classico
Stipulations for Chianti Classico Gran Selezione (3)
- Single vineyard
- Estate owned by producer
- Min ageing 30 months (no required wood) for
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG location and climate (4)
- Hilly area in Southern Tuscany
(Named after town of the same name) - Warmer and drier than Chianti Classico
- 120m - 500m elevation
- Protected from rain by Monte Amiata to the south
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG production requirements (5)
- 100% Sangiovese
- Max yield is 54hl/ha
- Released January 1st 5 years after harvest
- 2 years in oak
- Riserva = 6 years, 3 in oak
Rosso Montalcino DOCG requirements (3)
- 100% Sangiovese
- Can be sold after 1 year
- (Allows producers to declassify Brunello in difficult vintages, e.g 2014)
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG growing environment (3)
- South- east of Tuscany (between Montalcino & Umbria)
- 250m-600m elevation
- Heavy cool clay soils producing fuller bodied wines and sand producing aromatic wines
Vino di Nobile Montepulciano DOCG requirements
- 70-100% Sangiovese
- max yield 56hl/ha
- Aged for 2 years from 1st of January after harvest.
- Mandatory 12-24 months in oak
- Riserva aged for 3 years (no extra oak time)
Morellino de Scansano DOCG grape growing environment. (2)
- Close to coast of southern Tuscany
2. Warm area moderated by altitude (250m) and cooling sea breezes
Morellino de Scansano DOCG Wines
85% Sangiovese 63hl/ha yield
- Ripe fruits, some black alongside sour cherry
- Med-med+ acidity
- Ripe med+ tannin
Bolgheri DOC growing environment
- Tuscan coast
- Warm climate w cool nights
- Altitudes up to 400m
- Varied soils with spur-pruned VSP trellising
Bolgheri DOC wine regulations
- Allow up to 100% Cabernet sauv, franc or merlot. 50% Syrah or Sangiovese.
- 63 hl/ha - aged one year
- Superiore = 56hl/ha aged two years from 1st of January
Bolgheri Rosso Superiore wine profile (6)
Deep ruby in colour, med+ blackberry and red plum, sometimes green bell pepper (cooler years) Vanilla and sweet spice from oak Med (+) acidity High tannins
Bolgheri sassicaia DOC regulations
- Single estate, Tenuta San Guido
(Produces sassicaia) - 80% min cab sauv
- Min 2 years ageing , 18 months in 225 litre barrels
Maremma toscana doc region profile
- Formerly IGT of same name
- 8,500ha
- Wide range of varieties both local and international.
Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG growing environment (3)
- Italy’s first ever DOC in 1966
- Dry summers and windy
- 200-400m altitude on hillsides
Vernnaccia di San Gimignano DOCG wines and regulations
- Grape variety of same name
- Min 85% in blend
- Typically med intensity w lemon and floral notes, med + acidity
What is vin santo and how
Is it made?
Vin Santa is an amber coloured sweet wine made by the appasimento method. Most often made using Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia
Wine making for Vin Santo
Traditionally, grapes dried in loft, juice fermented, and then stored in small barrels sealed and stored for many years (5-10yrs).
Minimum ageing is 2 years in Chianti Classico and 3 in Montepulciano. (Often exceeded)
Wine profile for Vin Santo
- Complex palate of dried fruit (apricot and lemon), nutty notes
- Sweet but with balanced high acidity
- Med+ to high alcohol