Central, Southern Italy Flashcards
Where does Toscana lie?
between the Apennine Mountains and the sea
When does legislation delimiting the Chianti zones date back to?
to 1716
What was chianti historically bottled in?
bottled in a fiasco due to the inferior quality of Italian glass, the squat, straw-covered Chianti bottles came to epitomize the rustic, cheap nature of Italian wine in the late 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s.
Who is Marquis Mario Rocchetta?
released the first commercial vintage of Sassicaia in 1968
Who is Piero Antinori?
nephew of Marquis Mario Roccheta, whose first Tignanello bottling soon followed release of Sassicaia
What is the climate of Tuscany?
a dry, maritime-influenced climate, winters can be harsh and summers can be long and hot
What is the climate of Montalcino?
in the southern province of Siena is typically more arid
What is the climate of Montepulciano?
further inland, displays a more seasonal, continental climate
Describe a typical Sangiovese wine
light in color, naturally high in acidity, firmly tannic, and medium- to full-bodied. Sour cherry notes and herbal undertones are common
What other grapes are usually blended with Sangiovese in Tuscany?
CS/local Colorino-add color and power, Canaiolo-historically softened Sangiovese’s hard attack.
What was the Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico’s “Chianti Classico 2000 Project”?
devoted to clonal research
What are anthocyanins?
Found in grape skin, adds pigment to wines
What are the Sangiovese clones in Montalcino and Montepulciano?
Brunello clone of Montalcino or the Prugnolo Gentile clone of Montepulciano
Name the DOCGs where Sangiovese is the principal grape in Tuscany
Chianti, Chianti Classico, Carmignano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Morellino di Scansano, Montecucco Sangiovese, Brunello di Montalcino
What is Italy’s most planted white grape?
Trebbiano Toscana
What is Trebbiano’s common blending partner?
Malvasia
What is the grape of San Gimignano?
Vernaccia
In the coastal vineyards of Maremma what white grape shows promise?
Mediterranean Vermentino
When was Chianti elevated to DOCG?
1984
When were the limits of the modern Chianti zone established?
in 1932
What 7 subzones were created for Chianti when the region was first delimited?
- Classico
- Rùfina
- Colli Fiorentini
- Colli Senesi
- Colline Pisane
- Colli Aretini
- Montalbano
What eighth subzone was added to Chianti in a 1997 decree?
Montespertoli
What firm dominates Rùfina?
the Frescobaldi firm
Who are the only producers in the tiny Pomino DOC within Rùfina?
Frescobaldi and the highly regarded Fattoria Selvapiana
What does Pomino DOC allow?
red/white wines, permits a higher % of international grapes than Chianti DOCG, as well as a range of varietal bottlings
What is The general recipe for Chianti DOCG, updated in 1996?
calls for (min)70-100% Sangiovese
Wines from the Colli Senesi subzone must contain what?
a minimum 75% of the Sangiovese
What practice dating to the 1870s, is now optional rather than mandatory?
The addition of the white grapes Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia (Maximum 10%) in Chianti
What is the limit of Cabernet grapes in Chianti?
Cabernet grapes may not exceed a maximum of 15%
Describe the traditional practice of governo
refermentation with the juice of dried grapes, to strengthen the wine and initiate malolactic fermentation—is legally permitted
If a wine undergoes the governo process what must be indicated on the label?
This process must be indicated on labels as “Governo all’uso Toscano”, although most quality-minded producers avoid it
When may Chianti normale be released?
March 1 of the year following the harvest
What subzones require additional aging for Chianti normale to be released?
the Florentine subzones of Rùfina, Montespertoli, and Colli Fiorentini
When may Chianti be labeled as riserva?
With 2 years of aging
When may Chianti be labeled superiore?
require an additional 1/2-degree of alcohol and lowered vineyard yields.
Chianti rests in what provinces?
Firenze, Siena, Arezzo, Prato, Pisa, Pistoia
How many Communes of Production does Chianti hold?
19 communes in Arezzo, 32 communes in Firenze, 3 communes in Prato, 16 communes in Pisa, 7 communes in Pistoia, 24 communes in Siena
Which subzones require a min alcohol of 11.5% for Chianti normale?
Chianti, Colli Aretini, Colline Pisane, Montalbano
Which subzones require a min alcohol of 12% for Chianti normale?
Colli Fiorentini, Senesi, Montespertoli, Rufina
What are the maximum yields in Chianti?
Chianti: 9 tons/ha, 63 hl/ha
All subzones: 8 tons/ha, 56 hl/ha
Chianti Superiore: 7.5 tons/ha, 52.5 hl/ha
What was upgraded to DOCG alongside Chianti?
Chianti Classico, in 1984
What does the Chianti Classico area contain?
the original Chianti zone delimited by Grand Duke Cosimo III de’ Medici in 1716
What are the four original villages of Chianti Classico?
- Radda
- Gaiole
- Castellina
- Greve
(later appended “in Chianti” to their names)
What two soil types are common in Chianti Classico?
the soft, friable, marl-like galestro and alberese, or sandstone
What thrives on the galestro soils?
Sangiovese thrives on the galestro soils, and comprises a minimum 80% of the Chianti Classico blend
As of the 2006 vintage what is no longer permitted in Chianti Classico?
blending of white grapes into wine
What is the min alc for Chianti Classico and aging requirements?
min alcohol level is 12%—compared to 11.5% for Chianti DOCG—wines must be aged for a year prior to release
What must Riserva wines from Chianti Classico be?
Riserva wines must be aged for a minimum 24 months, with a minimum 12.5% alcohol level
What are Gran Selezione wines in Chianti Classico?
Gran Selezione wines—a new category introduced in 2013—must be aged for at least 30 months prior to release.
What is often the wood vessel of choice for aging riserva Chianti Classico?
Barrique
Who is credited with the invention of the Brunello style?
Clemente Santi of Tenuta Greppo’s Biondi-Santi, first to isolate the Brunello clone and bottle it alone in 1865
Where is Brunello di Montalcino located?
is in the southern reaches of Tuscany, and encompasses 24,000 hectares—although only around 5,000 acres are authorized and planted for Brunello
What is Montalcino?
nearly square hill, which overlaps Chianti Senesi in the province of Siena
What is Brunello di Montalcino produced from?
100% Sangiovese Grosso (Brunello)
What are the aging requirements for Brunello?
aged in cask 2 yrs & bottle additional 4 mos
*not released until Jan1st of the 5th year following harvest
What are the aging requirements for Riserva Brunello?
aged in cask 2 yrs & bottle additional 6 mos
*not released until Jan1st of the 6th year following harvest
What is the soil in Montalcino?
Soil is varied, with galestro characterizing the higher-altitude vineyards. Clay is predominant in the warmer southern reaches of the zone, and fossilized marine deposits are scattered throughout
How does Brunello differ from Chianti?
Brunello is stronger, with more alcohol, extract and tannin, than Chianti
What are Brunello’s fraziones?
fraziones (suburbs, or sub-communes)- Sant Angelo in Colle, Castelnuovo Abate and Torrenieri
What producers lean toward small barrels and shorter macerations in Brunello?
Casanova di Neri, Mastrojanni— in the hope of rounding and fleshing out the wine
What producers remain more traditional in their approach in Brunello?
Biondi-Santi, Talenti, and Soldera
What is a A “junior” version of Brunello?
Rosso di Montalcino DOC, is produced in the same delimited region from 100% Sangiovese
what are the aging requirements for Rosso di Montalcino DOC?
must be aged for 1 yr prior to release, cask aging isn’t required
What provides Montalcino producers an outlet for “Super-Tuscan” wines?
The Sant’Antimo DOC, created in 1996
What are the rules for Sant’Antimo DOC?
Any grape authorized in Tuscany may be utilized for Sant’Antimo DOC, and the wines may be either red or white
Describe Moscadello di Montalcino DOC
exists for white wines from the region, produced from the Moscadello (Moscato Bianco) grape, are often sweet, and may be still or sparkling.
Where is Vino Noble di Montepulciano produced?
To the east of Montalcino, produced in Montepulciano and several surrounding communes
What is allowed in the blend of VNdM?
min 70% Sangiovese (Prugnolo Gentile clone) and, as of 2010, a max 30% other varieties of Tuscany, including no more than 5% of white varieties
What are the aging requirements for VNdM?
aged for a min 2yrs, with at least 1yr in wood
What are the aging requirements for VNdM Riserva?
aged for at least 3 years
How does VNdM compare to Chianti and Brunello?
The wines tend to be less firm than Chianti and less aggressively tannic than Brunello, striking a softer balance
What are the Principal Soils of VNdM?
Volcanic, Sandstone
Describe Morellino di Scansano DOCG
coastal, in the southern Maremma, achieved DOCG status in 2006 for red wines based on a minimum 85% Sangiovese (locally known as Morellino)
What are the aging requirements for Morellino di Scansano DOCG?
may be released from March 1 of the year following the harvest, Riserva wines min 2yrs (1 in wood)
What happened in the 1930s that made viticulture possible in Scansano?
much of the southern Maremma was an inhospitable swamp until Mussolini drained it in the 1930s
What does the territory of Scansano benefit from?
the reputation of nearby Bolgheri in the northern Maremma and a corresponding increase in investment and interest throughout the region
Describe the red wines of Carmignano DOCG
a low-altitude territory which overlaps Chianti Montalbano, min 50% Sangiovese. Historically, winemakers in the region have added Cabernet grapes to the native grape, and 10%-20% of CabSauv and/or CabFranc is required in blend
What does the new DOCG of Rosso della Val di Cornia allow in higher proportions in the blend?
Cab Sauv and Merlot in the Sangiovese blend
What former subzone was elevated to DOCG status alongside the red wines of Val di Cornia in 2011?
Suvereto DOCG
Who two wines sparked the Super Tuscan revolution?
Marquis Mario Rocchetta’s Tenuta San Guido 1968 Sassicaia & Antinori Tignanello 1971
Describe the 1971 Tiganello Antinori released as vino da tavola
barrique-aged red whose proportion of Sangiovese was set with the 1982 vintage at 85%
Describe the 1968 Sassicaia
a barrique-aged Cabernet blend from Bolgheri in the Northern Maremma, as vino da tavola
Name some “Super-Tuscan” Bordeaux-style wines
Antinori’s Cabernet-based Solaia, the Bordeaux blend Ornellaia and the Merlot-based Masseto, and the 100% Cabernet Franc Paleo Rosso from Le Macchiole
What were the 3 first pure varietal bottlings of Sangiovese?
San Felice’s Vigorello, Montevertine’s Le Pergole Torte and Isole e Olena’s Cepparello
What was one of the original IGTs?
Bolgheri in the northern Maremma , although it quickly received a DOC in 1994 for red, white, and rosato wines
Describe the red wines of Bolgheri
blends usually dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, although they may contain a majority of either Merlot or Sangiovese. Neither grape may make up more than 70% of the blend
What are the aging requirements for Bolgheri Superiore wines?
aged for a min 2 years (1 year in barrique), min alc 12.5%
What is the grape of choice for white varietally labeled Bolgheri?
Vermentino, although varietal Sauvignons and Trebbiano blends are allowed.
What did the Bolgheri DOC surrounding Sassicaia earn?
the single-estate subappellation Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC in the late 1990s, as a tribute to its renown
What historical significance does the island of Elba hold?
About 12 miles off the coast of Maremma, notably the site of the French Emperor Napoleon’s exile in 1814.
In 2011, the Elba Aleatico Passito DOCG was finalized for what?
sweet red passito wines made from the Aleatico grape on the island of Elba, ONL DOCG for sweet wine
What has the Aleatico grape been genetically linked to?
the Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains grape; possibly it is a red-skinned mutation
What is The only white wine in Tuscany to enjoy DOCG status?
Vernaccia di San Gimignano: a crisp, pink grapefruit-tinged white wine produced on sandy, rock-strewn soils around the hilltop town of San Gimignano in the Siena province.
What is the blend for Vernaccia di San Gimignano?
Vernaccia w/ MAX 15% other non-aromatic white grapes authorized in Tuscany (Malvasia/Traminer NOT allowed, Riesling & Sauvignon max. 10% of the wine)
What is vin santo?
“holy wine”, is a high alcohol, almond- and honey-toned dried grape wine in Tuscany, although the difficulty and time required in its production make it increasingly rare
What are the grapes in vin santo?
Trebbiano and Malvasia, Grechetto is sometimes authorized