Central & Southern Italy Flashcards
Italian name for Tuscany
Toscana
What was Tuscan wine historically bottled in?
fiasco, a squat straw-covered Chianti bottle
Super Tuscan trailblazer
Marquis Mario Rocchetta
1st commercial vintage of Sassicaia
1968
Marquis Mario Rocchetta’s nephew
Piero Antinori of Tignanello
Percentage of DOC/DOCG wine in Tuscany
60%
Number of DOCGs in Tuscany
11
Climate of Tuscany
Dry maritime climate
Soil of Tuscany
Galestro soil
- Chianti – cooler clay
- Brunello – warmer sand/limeston
- Coastal – more gravel (ex. Sassicaia)
Main grapes of Tuscany
Sangiovese
Vernaccia
Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot
Sangiovese profile
- high in tannin and acidity, short on color and flavor
- signature tea, tobacco, and red fruit flavors
- different style and expression depending on regions
How many DOCG in Chianti?
7 zones
7 zones of Chianti
Chianti Colli Senesi Chianti Rufina Chianti Colli Fiorentini Chianti Colline Pisane Chianti Colli Aretini Chianti Montalbano Chianti Montespertoli
Grapes often blended with Sangiovese
adds color and power
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Colorino
softens Sangiovese hard attack
-Canaiolo
Italy’s most planted red varietal
Sangiovese
Italy’s most planted white varietal
Trebbiano Toscano
Principle Grape of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Sangiovese
anthocyanins
color inducing compounds found in wine
Most used varietal for white production in Tuscany
Vernaccia
Note on Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot in Tuscany
International grapes
Became popular with the Super Tuscan movement
Used mostly as blending material to transform the Sangiovese profile
Main grapes planted in Bolgheri new DOC
Chianti Classico notes
- original growing area
- Historically recorded in 1398
- From Florence to Siena, divided in 9 still unofficial sub-regions
Requirements for Chianti Classico
minimum 80% Sangiovese
When did Chianti Classico earn DOCG status
1996
What on a bottle shows that it is Chianti Classico outside of the lable
Gallo Nero - Black Rooster
Grapes grown in Brunello di Montalcino
ONLY Sangiovese, no blends
local clone of Sangiovese is just called Brunello
Notes on Brunello di Montalcino
Small quantities grown
Rather expensive
Climate of Brunello di Montalcino
About 500 meters of Altitude
Warm Mediterranean influence
Gives Brunello higher potential alcohol levels than they do further north in Chianti Classico
Aging period in Brunello di Montalcino
Long – called affinamento
2 years in oak/3 years in bottle
Profile of Brunello di Montalcino
Full-bodied and high in alcohol; they tend to display ripe, dark-fruit flavors
Most benefit from time in the cellar
What wine is called Baby Brunello
Rossi di Montalcino DOC was in the 1980s