Central & Southern Italy Flashcards
What are the 12 different subtypes of the Lambrusco grape?
Lambrusco Salamino
Lambrusco Grasparossa
Lambrusco Maestri
Lambrusco di Sorbara
Lambrusco Marani
Lambrusco Viadanese
Lambrusco di Alessandria
Lambrusco Oliva
Lambrusco Montericco
Lambrusco Barghi
Lambrusco Benedetti
Lambrusco del Pellegrino
Where is Ciliegiolo grown?
In Tuscany as a blend grape and also in Umbria, where it’s gaining traction
Where is the red grape Aglianico grown? What is it most famous for?
Aglianico is grown in Campania, Calabria, Basilicata, and Apulia. It most famous for Taurasi DOCG
Which were the two first DOCGs in Central Italy?
Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
What mountain range defines central Italy?
The Appennine Mountains
What is the most planted grape in Italy?
Sangiovese
What are the seven sub-zones of Chianti?
Rufina (Firenze)
Colli Fiorentini (Firenze)
Montespertoli (Firenze)
Montalbano (Prato, Pistoia, Firenze)
Colli Senesi (Siena)
Colli Aretini (Arezzo)
Colline Pisane (Pisa)
Where is Chianti Classico located?
Between Florence and Siena
What two different and important soil types can be found in Chianti Classico?
Galestro and Alberese
Galestro is a friable schistic clay, while Alberese is a harder marlstone analogous to limestone.
What is the third soil type that you can find?
(Not Galestro or Alberese)
Macigno
Macigno is a grayish-blue sandstone, and another, calcareous tufa, is found in the south
What soil type is found in the top Chianti vineyards?
Usually a combination of Galestro and Alberese
What communes of production are there for Chianti Classico?
Siena: Castellina in Chianti, Radda in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Poggibonsi
Firenze: Greve in Chianti, San Casciano Val di Pesa, Barberino Tavarnelle
What is the home for the highest-elevation vineyards in Chianti?
What characterizes those wines?
Radda in Chianti, above 650 meters
A more elegant version of Chianti
What other communes have high-elevation vineyards except for Radda in Chianti?
Castellina, with vineyards above 500 meters
Chianti Classico has moved towards planting more with Guyot vine training, but what technique has historically been used for vine training here?
Gobelet (Bush vine) or Alberello
What is the minimum requirement of Sangiovese in Chianti and Chianti Classico?
70% for Chianti
80% for Chianti Classico
In Chianti, blending Canaiolo and Malvasia Nera with Sangiovese is very common. What type of character do they add to the blend?
Canaiolo enhances Sangiovese-based wines with more precision and finesse
Malvasia Nera is similar but gives heightened floral aromatics
What is Colorino used for when bledning with Sangiovese?
As the name of the grape sounds, to add or deepend the color of Sangiovese
Can Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot be added to Chianti Classico?
Yes, up to 20%
May you add white grapes to Chanti or Chianti Classico?
Yes, for Chianti, it is up to 10%.
No longer for Chianti Classico
What is the “Governo” method?
Partially dried grapes (or potentially fresh grapes or must) are added midway through fermentation, particularly if the fermentation is stuck
With the introduction of temperature control and modern enology, stuck fermentation is rarely an issue today, and the practice has been widely abandoned. Historically, governo winemaking has given the wines unique raisiny richness, structure, and distinctive fizziness.
Is the Governo method allowed for Chianti or Chianti Classico?
Yes for Chianti, no for Classico
But the label has to state “Governo all’uso Toscano”
What is the aging requirement for Chianti?
May not be released until March 1 of the year following the harvest
What is the aging requirement for Chianti Superiore?
May not be released until September 1 of the year following the harvest
What is Chianti Riserva’s aging requirement?
Minimum 2 years aging from January 1 of the year following harvest
What is the aging requirement for Chianti Classico?
May not be released until October 1 of the year following the harvest
What is the aging requirement for Chianti Classico Riserva?
Minimum 24 months aging from January 1 of the year following the harvest, including 3 months in the bottle
What is the aging requirement for Chianti Classico Gran Selezione?
Minimum 30 months aging from January 1 of the year following the harvest, including at least 3 months in the bottle
What other requirements do Chianti Classico Gran Selezione hold, except for aging requirements?
Wines must be from produced estate fruit, and from 2027, it must be a minimum of 90% Sangiovese
What does the name Brunello mean?
“Small dark one”
Who’s the inventor of Brunello?
Clementi Santi of his estate Il Greppo
Clementi Santi and his “invention” of Brunello succeeded and were further modernized by whom?
Ferruccio Biondi Santi
He isolated the Brunello Grosso variety. He dedicated his wine to be aged for a long time in large botti
Which were the first DOCGs in Central Italy?
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG
Both in 1980
In Italy, the use of Slovenian oak is quite common. What can you tell me about Slovenian oak?
- Species
- Compared to French barrels
- Usual sizes of barrels
- Quercus robur
- Is compacted and tightly grained. Producers claim it’s gentler and imparts less flavor than French barrels
- Usually, larger formats called Botti are generally over 500 liters, if not over 1000 liters.
What can you tell me about Brunellogate or Brunellopoli?
In 2008, a scandal raised suspicions about dark-colored Brunellos. Rumors spread that tanks of Nero d’Avolo and Bulk Spanish wines were entering the region by night.
Several producers came under investigation, and over one million liters of Brunello and Rosso were declassified
Temporarily damaged Brunello’s reputation
What is Italy’s most expensive wine?
In hectoliter price for bulk
As of 2019, Brunello is most expensive at 1,085 euro per hectoliter in bulk
Compared with 665 euro for Barolo and 272,50 euro for Chianti Classico
Can new producers bottle Brunello and establish new vineyards in the region?
No, as a UNESCO World Heritage site Montalcino has reached its maximum allotted vineyard hectarage.
As a new producer, they must purchase land and rights from another winery.
Is Montalcino a single commune?
Yes
What are the aging requirements for Brunello di Montalcino DOCG? (And Riserva)
What other requirements are there?
Minimum 2 years in wood plus 4 months in bottle, may not be sold before January 1 of the 5th year following the harvest
For Riserva: Minimum 2 years in wood plus 6 months in bottle, may not be sold before January 1 of the 6th year following the harvest
Must be 100% Sangiovese (locally known as Brunello)
The finished wine must be bottled in a Bordelaise bottle with a cork stopper
What type of soil can you find in Brunello di Montalcino, and what is the climate like here?
Clay and marine sediments at a lower elevation, galestro at a higher elevation
The landscape gently undulates and is more open and less forested than Chianti Classico. Warmer and more exposed to the moderating effects of the Mediterranean sea
What are the aging requirements for Rosso di Montalcino DOC?
Wines may not be released until September 1 of the year following the harvest
What oak is preferred for more traditional winemaking versus modern winemaking for Brunello di Montalcino?
Large Slovenian Botti’s for traditional producers and often French Barriques for modern producers