CENTRAL ITALY (Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio, Marche, Abruzzo) Flashcards
(31 cards)
What are wine regions dominated by?
Apennine mountains
3 parts of Tuscany?
-Mountainous Chianti region in North
-Hills and valleys to the south
-Flat coastal plain
Sangiovese characteristics?
High tannin/acid
Late to ripen so needs warm climate
Aromas of red cherry, plum, dry herbs
Usually aged in oak to soften tannins (small barrels/larger casks)
With age meaty/game aromas
Where is Chianti located?
Foothills of the Apennines
between cities of Pisa, Florence, Siena
Producers of large volumes of Chianti will use what on their labels?
Chianti DOCG
2 subzones of Chianti known for quality?
Rufina and Senesi
Chianti Classico DOCG facts?
-Has it’s own DOCG and is not a subzone of Chianti DOCG
-Has higher altitudes than those of Chianti DOCG>Slowing ripening of Sangiovese resulting in wines with greater acid/more herbal aromas
-Must be aged for 12 months before released to market
Chianti Classico Riserva Ageing requirements?
Aged 24 months, wich at least 3 months must be spent bottle ageing
What is Gran Selezione?
-Highest designation for Chianti Classico wines
-Grapes must be sourced from a single estate and wines aged for 6 months longer than Riserva
-No stipulations on oak ageing
Best known appellations in Southern Tuscany?
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG
Characteristics of wines from Southern Tuscany?
Often fuller bodied and intense than the wines from Chianti
Rules for Brunello di Montalcino?
-Wines must be made entirely from Sangiovese and can only be released from the winery from the January from the 5th year after harvest
-Wine must spend min 2 years in wooden vessels
Rules for Vino Nobile?
-Can be a blend of Sangiovese with other permitted varieties and must be aged for min 2 years before it is sold
What is Rosso di Montalcino DOC or Rosso di Montepulciano DOC?
Producers from both Brunello and Vino Nobile can declassify their wines to a DOC (poor vintage, vines are very young)
What grapes are planted on the coast of Tuscany?
Black Bordeaux and other international varieties
What does Bolgheri DOC and Maremma Toscana DOC allow?
Wines to be made entirely from non Italian varieties including Cab Sauv, Merlot, Syrah
High quality wines made from international varieties sometimes with Italian varieties as part of the blend labelled as?
Toscana IGT
Umbria climate?
Similar to Tuscany, but more continental without any influence from the Med
What is Orvieto DOC?
Blend of Trebbiano and Grechetto from Umbira
Characteristic of Orvieto DOC wine?
Light in body
Med-high acid
Flavors of ripe grapefruit and peaches
Cool fermentation in stainless
Umbria’s most prestigious red wine?
Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG made from thick skinned Sagrantino grape
Best know wine in Lazio?
Frascati DOC
Wines are blends of what in Lazio?
Malvasia and Trebbiano
Characteristics of whites from Lazio?
Medium body
Med-high acid
Flavors of citrus
Malvasia-provides floral/orange blossom aromas
