Central Italy Study Guide Flashcards
Tuscany lies along the the coast of what sea?
Tyrrhenian Sea
What is the traditional bottle for Chianti called that currently isn’t used in the modern day as much?
Fiasco
What was the first vintage of Sassicaia? Who is the owner? Grapes
1968
Marquis Mario Rochetta
Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with Cab Franc
What 3 Super Tuscans does Antinori produce? Grapes? Inaugural vintages of each?
Tignanello: (1971)
Mostly Sangiovese with Cab and Cab Franc
Solaia: (1978)
Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with Sangiovese and Cab Franc
Guado al Tasso: (1990)
Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with Syrah and Petit Verdot
What is the general climate classification of Tuscany?
Dry, maritime climate with harsh winters and long hot summers
In what province is Montalcino located? What is the climate like there?
Siena
arid climate
What is the climate like in Montepulciano?
Continental
Traditional Tuscan Sangiovese is aged in what vessel? Modern style?
Traditionally aged in large, often Slavonian oak barrels.
Modern will be aged in new barrique
In appellations that allow blending, what are the three most common grapes blended with Sangiovese in Tuscany?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Colorino
Canaiolo
What was the Chianti Classico 2000 project?
An initiative approved in 1988 by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Tuscan regional administration that was backed and funded by the EU with the objectives of:
(1) Identifying the best clones to cultivate
(2) Identifying the best methods of cultivation
(3) Modernizing and improving overall viticulture and wine production
(4) Providing Chianti Classico producers with the best methods and materials for production.
Lasted over 16 years
What is the name of the clone for Sangiovese in Montalcino?
What is the clone of Sangiovese in Montepulciano?
Brunello/Sangiovese Grosso (Montalcino)
Prugnolo Gentile (Montepulciano)
What are the 7 Tuscan DOCGs for Sangiovese-based wines?
Chianti Chianti Classico Carmignano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Morellino di Scansano Montecucco Sangiovese Brunello di Montalcino
What are the two main International grapes often blended with Sangiovese in Tuscany?
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
What is the most planted white grape in Italy and what is its most common blending partner?
Trebbiano Toscano
Malvasia is the most common blending partner
What is the main white grape of Maremma?
Vermentino
When was Chianti DOCG elevated to DOCG? What are the 8 subzones of Chianti? Which is the youngest and when was it established?
Which is regarded as being the most consistent in quality outside of the Classico subzone? Who dominates production in this zone?
1984
Classico Rùfina Colli Fiorentini Colli Senesi Colli Aretini Colline Pisane Montalbano Montespertoli (youngest; 1997)
Rùfina, dominated by the Frescobaldi firm is regarded with the exception of Classico as the most consistent in quality
What is the name of the small DOC within Rùfina? Why was it created?
What are the two producers in this DOC?
Pomino DOC
Created to allow a higher percentage of blended international grapes in red and white wines as well as a number of varietal wines.
Frescobaldi and Fattoria Selvapiana
Who is responsible for defining the classic blend of Chianti DOCG? When?
When was the recipe updated? What is it now? What are the subregions that differ?
Baron Bettino Ricasoli in 1872
1996 70-100% Sangiovese Max 30% other Tuscan Grapes Max 10% White Grapes Max 15% Combine Cab and Cab Franc
Colli Senese requires a minimum 75% Sangiovese
Max 25% other Tuscan Grapes
Max 10% Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia until 2015
Max 10% Cab and Cab Franc
What is the min/max of Sangiovese for Chianti? Chianti Colli Senesi?
What is the max amount of Cab and Cab Franc that can be blended in both?
Chianti
70-100% Sangiovese
max 15% Cab and Cab Franc
Chianti Colli Senesi
75-100% Sangiovese
max 10% Cab and Cab Franc
What is governo?
What is legally required to be listed on the label if this practice is employed?
Tradition practice of refermentation with the juice of dried grapes, to strengthen the wine and initiate malo in Chianti
Governo all’uso Toscano must be on the label
What are the aging requirements for Chianti normale? Riserva?
What are the three Florentine subzones that require additional aging? What are the requirements?
Normale: not released until March 1 of the year following harvest
Riserva: min 2 years aging from January 1 of the year following harvest
Colli Fiorentini, Rùffina, and Montespertoli require additional aging.
Colli Fiorentini and Rùffina:
normale: not released until September 1 of the year following harvest
Riserva: 2 years from January 1 of year following harvest including 6 months in wood
Montespertoli:
normale: not released until June 1 of the year following harvest
riserva: as per the other subzones
Colli Senesi Riserva requires min 8 months of aging in wood and 4 months in bottle
What is the min abv for Chianti DOCG Superiore? Max Yield? Aging requirement?
12% with max yield of 52.5hl/ha
Not released until September 1 of the year following harvest
How many hectoliters are in a ton of grapes?
7hl/ton
When was Chianti Classico upgraded to DOCG?
1984
(Separated from Chianti DOCG in 1996
Who delimited the Chianti Classico zone in 1716? What are the four original villages?
Grand Duke Cosimo III de’Medici
Radda
Castellina
Gaiole
Greve
What are the two most common soil types in Chianti Classico DOCG?
Galestro:
soft, friable marl
Alberese:
sandstone
What is the minimum % of Sangiovese required in Chianti Classico DOCG? Max?
As of what vintage are white grapes no longer permitted in the wine?
min 80% and max 100%
As of 2006 white grapes are no longer permitted in the wine.
What is the min abv for Chianti DOCG? Chianti Classico DOCG?
11.5% for Chianti
12% for Chianti Classico
What are the three aging designations for Chianti Classico DOCG and what are their aging requirements?
What is the most common aging vessel for aging Chianti Classico Riserva?
When was the Gran Selezione category created?
Normale:
12 months prior to release
Riserva:
24 months with a min 12.5% abv
Gran Selezione:
30 months
Barrique is the most common aging vessel for Riserva
Gran Selezione created in 2013
Who is credited with the invention of the Brunello style?
What wine immortalized this producer?
Clemente Santi of Tenuta Greppo’s Biondi-Santi as he was the first to isolate the clone and bottle it in 1865
Biondi-Santi Brunello Riserva 1888
Which sub zone of Chianti does Brunello di Montalcino overlap?
Colli Senesi
What are the aging requirements for Brunello di Montalcino normale and reserve?
What year will a 2018 Brunello di Montalcino hit the market?
2018 Riserva?
Normale:
2 years in cask plus 4 months in bottle and not released before Jan 1 of 5th year following harvest
Riserva:
2 years in cask plus 6 months in bottle and not released before Jan 1 of 6th year following harvest.
2018 will hit the market in 2023
Riserva will hit the market in 2024
What soil type characterizes the higher altitude sites in Montalcino? What about the warmer lower sites?
Galestro in the higher altitude sights
Clay on the warmer and lower sites.
What are the three unofficial subzones of Brunello di Montalcino? What are these subzones called?
Sant Angelo in Colle
Castelnuovo dell’Abate
Torrenieri
These suburbs are called frazioni
How does Brunello compare to Chianti stylistically?
Brunello is stronger, with more alcohol, extract and tannin than Chianti
What are 5 top traditional producers of Brunello? What are 2 top modern producers of Brunello?
Biondi-Santi Casse Basse (Soldera) Talenti Poggio di Sotto Altesino
Modern:
Mastrojanni
Casanova di Neri
What are the aging requirements for Rosso di Montalcino DOC?
Not released until September 1 of the year following the harvest? (1 year essentially)
What is the DOC created as an outlet for Montalcino producers for “Super Tuscan” wines? When was it created? What grapes may be used?
Sant’Antimo DOC created in 1996
Any grape permitted in Tuscany may be used and the wines are either red or white in style
What is the white wine only DOC of Montalcino? What is the grape? What styles is it made in?
Moscadello di Montalcino DOC
Min 85% Moscadello (Moscato Bianco)
Made in tranquillo, spumante, vendemmia tardiva styles
Where is Vino Nobile di Montepulciano geographically located in relation to Montalcino?
What is the min % of Sangiovese required?
East
Min 70% Sangiovese (Prugnolo Gentile) plus max 30% other Tuscan grapes including max 5% of white grapes.
What are the aging requirements for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano normale and riserva?
Normale:
min 2 years aging with 3 options
-24 months in wood
-18 months in wood with 6 months in alt container
-12 months in wood, 6 months in bottle, the rest in alt container
Riserva:
min 3 years with 6 months in bottle
How do the wines of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano compare to Chianti and Brunello?
Strikes a softer balance. Less firm than Chianti and less aggressively tannic than Brunello
What is the min % of Sangiovese required for Morellino di Scansano DOCG?
Aging requirements?
min 85%
Normale: not released until March 1 of the year following harvest
Riserva: 2 years including 1 year in wood
Carmignano DOCG overlaps what sub zone of Chianti DOCG?
What is the min % of Sangiovese for Carmignano?
What min-max % of Cab and/or Cab Franc is required?
Montalbano
Min 50% Sangiovese
10-20% Cab and/or Cab Franc is required
When was Morellino di Scansano elevated to DOCG?
2006
What grapes make up a majority (min 85% combined or alone) of Suvereto DOCG rosso?
Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Merlot
What is the min% of Sangiovese permitted for Rosso della Val di Cornia DOCG? Max% of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot?
min 40% Sangiovese
max 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Merlot
When were Suvereto and Rosso della Val di Cornia elevated to DOCG?
2011
When Mario Rocchetta released the first vintage of Sassicaia in 1968, what designation was it released under?
Vino d Tavola
What was the min % of Sangiovese in the first vintage of Tignanello? What was the first vintage of Tignanello?
min 85% Sangiovese
1971
Which two Super Tuscans signaled an upheaval in the region and resulted in a cascade of wineries beginning to feature BDX grapes more prominently in their wines?
Sassicaia in 1968
Tignanello in 1971
Who makes Paleo Rosso? What is the grape?
Le Macchiole
Cabernet Franc
What is the name of Ornellaia’s star Merlot-based wine?
Masseto
What were the first three Super Tuscan Sangioveses?
Montevertine “Le Pergole Torte”
San Felice “Vigorello”
Isole e Olena “Cepparello”
The rise of the Super Tuscans prompted the establishment of what quality level? When was this?
IGT in 1992
Which DOC was created with the rise of the Super Tuscans that allows the production of varietal international grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc?
Bolgheri DOC
What are the aging requirements for Bolgheri Superiore and the min abv?
2 years with 1 in barrique
min 12.5% abv
What is the leading grape for white Bolheri DOC wines? What other international grape is produced varietally here?
Vermentino
Sauvignon Blanc is also produced varietally here
When did Bolgheri Sassicaia become a legal sub zone of Bolgheri DOC? When was Sassicaia granted its own DOC? What is it called?
Subzone in 1983
DOC in 2013
Bolgheri-Sassicaia DOC
What is the only true monopole DOC in Italy?
Bolgheri-Sassicaia DOC