Central & Southern Italy

Question 1

What are the 12 different subtypes of the Lambrusco grape?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Where is Ciliegiolo grown?

Answer 2

In Tuscany as a blend grape and also in Umbria, where it’s gaining traction

Question 3

Where is the red grape Aglianico grown? What is it most famous for?

Answer 3

Aglianico is grown in Campania, Calabria, Basilicata, and Apulia. It most famous for Taurasi DOCG

Question 4

Which were the two first DOCGs in Central Italy?

Answer 4

Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

Question 5

What mountain range defines central Italy?

Answer 5

The Appennine Mountains

Question 6

What is the most planted grape in Italy?

Answer 6

Sangiovese

Question 7

What are the seven sub-zones of Chianti?

Answer 7

Rufina (Firenze)
Colli Fiorentini (Firenze)
Montespertoli (Firenze)
Montalbano (Prato, Pistoia, Firenze)
Colli Senesi (Siena)
Colli Aretini (Arezzo)
Colline Pisane (Pisa)

Question 8

Where is Chianti Classico located?

Answer 8

Between Florence and Siena

Question 9

What two different and important soil types can be found in Chianti Classico?

Answer 9

Galestro and Alberese

Galestro is a friable schistic clay, while Alberese is a harder marlstone analogous to limestone.

Question 10

What is the third soil type that you can find?

(Not Galestro or Alberese)

Answer 10

Macigno

Macigno is a grayish-blue sandstone, and another, calcareous tufa, is found in the south

Question 11

What soil type is found in the top Chianti vineyards?

Answer 11

Usually a combination of Galestro and Alberese

Question 12

What communes of production are there for Chianti Classico?

Answer 12

Siena: Castellina in Chianti, Radda in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Poggibonsi

Firenze: Greve in Chianti, San Casciano Val di Pesa, Barberino Tavarnelle

Question 13

What is the home for the highest-elevation vineyards in Chianti?

What characterizes those wines?

Answer 13

Radda in Chianti, above 650 meters

A more elegant version of Chianti

Question 14

What other communes have high-elevation vineyards except for Radda in Chianti?

Answer 14

Castellina, with vineyards above 500 meters

Question 15

Chianti Classico has moved towards planting more with Guyot vine training, but what technique has historically been used for vine training here?

Answer 15

Gobelet (Bush vine) or Alberello

Question 16

What is the minimum requirement of Sangiovese in Chianti and Chianti Classico?

Answer 16

70% for Chianti

80% for Chianti Classico

Question 17

In Chianti, blending Canaiolo and Malvasia Nera with Sangiovese is very common. What type of character do they add to the blend?

Answer 17

Canaiolo enhances Sangiovese-based wines with more precision and finesse

Malvasia Nera is similar but gives heightened floral aromatics

Question 18

What is Colorino used for when bledning with Sangiovese?

Answer 18

As the name of the grape sounds, to add or deepend the color of Sangiovese

Question 19

Can Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot be added to Chianti Classico?

Answer 19

Yes, up to 20%

Question 20

May you add white grapes to Chanti or Chianti Classico?

Answer 20

Yes, for Chianti, it is up to 10%.

No longer for Chianti Classico

Question 21

What is the “Governo” method?

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

Is the Governo method allowed for Chianti or Chianti Classico?

Answer 22

Yes for Chianti, no for Classico

But the label has to state “Governo all’uso Toscano”

Question 23

What is the aging requirement for Chianti?

Answer 23

May not be released until March 1 of the year following the harvest

Question 24

What is the aging requirement for Chianti Superiore?

Answer 24

May not be released until September 1 of the year following the harvest

Question 25

What is Chianti Riserva’s aging requirement?

Answer 25

Minimum 2 years aging from January 1 of the year following harvest

Question 26

What is the aging requirement for Chianti Classico?

Answer 26

May not be released until October 1 of the year following the harvest

Question 27

What is the aging requirement for Chianti Classico Riserva?

Answer 27

Minimum 24 months aging from January 1 of the year following the harvest, including 3 months in the bottle

Question 28

What is the aging requirement for Chianti Classico Gran Selezione?

Answer 28

Minimum 30 months aging from January 1 of the year following the harvest, including at least 3 months in the bottle

Question 29

What other requirements do Chianti Classico Gran Selezione hold, except for aging requirements?

Answer 29

Wines must be from produced estate fruit, and from 2027, it must be a minimum of 90% Sangiovese