Central/ Southern Italy Flashcards
How many DOCG are in Tuscany?
11!
What is the general climate of Tuscany?
- Dry/ Mediterranean
- Lots of mesoclimates
- can be arid in places higher up
- Can be VERY HOT
What is the straw bottle associated with Tuscany called?
A Fiasco. Used to reinforce weak glass.
What does a “gallo negro” represent?
- A black chicken on the neck signifies Chianti Classico
Where is the Bolgheri DOC, and what wines are most associated with this appellation?
- Tuscany
- Here, Sassicaia gets its own DOC, it’s THAT important
- DOC Bolgheri Sassicaia
What is the soil in Chianti Classico?
- Galesto
- located more in the Northern part
- Richer soil
- like granite, but when it rains it brittles and crumbles
- Acidic soil
- Alberese
- GIANT white sand stones that doen’t crumble
- Similar to the soil in Jerez
What river influences the climate in Chianti?
- The Arno
Name some producers of Chianti Classico
- Volpaia
- Castello di Ama
- Felsina
- Isole e Olena
- Banfi
What grapes are allowed in the Chianti DOCG? What changed in 1996?
- 70-90% Sangiovese
- Trebbiano Toscana + Malvasia
- Max. 15% Cabernet Sauv + international varietals
***1996, white grapes are now OPTIONAL, wines may be 100% Sangiovese
What are the min. alcohol levels for Chianti DOCG?
- Normale
- 11.5%
- Superiore
- 12%
What are the ageing requirements in Chianti DOCG?
- Normale
- released March 1st. after harvest
- 5 mo, give or take. (harvest is roughly October)
- released March 1st. after harvest
- Riserva
- 2 years
When was Chianti originaly delimited, and when did it become a DOCG?
- 1716!
- Original delimitation - classico (but at the time, just called Chianti)
- Under Cosimo III de’Medici - the grand duke of Tuscany
- 1932
- Italian Government expanded the Area and created the 7 subzones
- 1984
- Becomes a DOC/G, and establishes where the Classico region is.
What are the subzones of Chianti DOCG?
- Classico
- Largest = 7,000 ha (bigger than Bordeaux)
- Colli Arentini
- Colli Fiorentini
- Colline Pisane
- Colli Senesi
- 2nd Largest = 3,500 ha
- Montalbano
- Rufina
- other than Classico, the most reputed
- Montespertoli
- added in 1997 decree
What is the blend of Chianti Classico DOCG?
- Modern
- 80-100% Sangiovese
- 0-20% Other black varietals
- Cannaiolo Nero, Colorino, Cab Sauv, Merlot
**** As of 2006, WHITE VARIETALS ARE PROHIBITED!!!
T /F Before 2006, you could find Malvasia and Trebbiano in a Chianti Classico Blend?
- True! Before 2006, white varietals were allowed. This year marks them no longer being allowed in the blend. The law also allowed for 100% varietal wine in Chianti Classico.
What is the min. alcohol in Chianti Classico DOCG?
- Normale
- 12%
- Riserva
- 12.5%
What are the ageing requirements in Chianti Classico DOCG?
- Normale
- 12 months
- Riserva
- 24 months + 12.5% min. alcohol
- Gran Selezione
- 30 months
- MUST be estate fruit
Name two clones of Sangiovese and where they are found
- Brunello
- Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
- Prugnolo Gentille
- Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG
- Montepulciano
- Morellino
- Pignolo
- Sangioveto
What is they typical blend in Brunello di Montalcino DOCG?
- 100% Sangiovese Grosso
- Locally known as “brunello”
- No other varieties allowed
Who discovered the brunello clone?
- Clementi Santi
- local farmer
- Grandson Ferrucio Biondi-Santi made the first modern Brunello bottling.
- onyl produced 4 vintages over the next 60 yrs.
- first = 1888
What are the ageing requirements in Brunello di Montalcino?
- Normale
- Min. 2 yrs in barrel, 4 mo in bottle
- May not be released until 5th year after harvest
- (5 yrs total)
- Riserva
- Min. 2 yrs in barrel, 6 mo in bottle
- May not be released until the 6th year after harvest
- (6 yrs total)
Name 2 Brunello Producers
- Biondi-Santi
- the original
- Castello Banfi
- the largest producer
- Valdicava
Tasting notes for Chianti
- Color
- med ruby
- Nose
- cherry, strawberry, plum, cloves and herbs
- with age: tealeaves, tobacco, and leather
- French oak on top examples
- cherry, strawberry, plum, cloves and herbs
- Palate
- Body = med
- Acidity = high
- Alcohol = med
- Tannins = firm
- Finish = notes of bitter almonds. DRY.
*** Can be confused with CNdP in blind tastings
Compared with Chianti, what is the tasting profile of Brunello?
- Brunello is darker and richer, more full bodied, tannic and alcoholic, and more complex.
What was the first DOCG in Italy?
- Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
What does “Brunello” mean in italian?
“Little Brown one”
What kind of wine is produced in Rosso di Montalcino DOC?
- Brunello based reds
- “baby brunello”
- Many producers make second label under this category
- Valdicava, Biondi-Santi, etc.
What is the blend of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano?
- Min. 70% Sangiovese (Prugnolo clone)
- All other tuscan Varieties allowed
- Max. 5% white grape varietals
What type of wine is made in Montepulciano d’Abruzzo? How does the wine differ to that of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano?
- Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
- made from the Montepulciano Grape
- Vino Nobile
- 70% Sangiovese (prugnolo)
- 30% Cannaiolo + colorino and mamol
What wine region surrounds Florence?
Tuscany!
What is Vin Santo? Where do you find it?
- “Holy Wine”
- Aber colored dessert wine.
- Type of Passito wine made in several regions, but particularly associated with Tuscany.
- Means “dried grape wine” in Italian
- Prominent style:
- blend= Trebbiano + Malvasia
- produced in the Chianti Classico Area
How were Super Tuscan’s created?
- Producers began experimenting with international varietals- especially the Bordeaux varietals.
- Wanted to create something special and new
What is the first Super Tuscan, and who made it?
- Sassicaia!
- Tenuto San Guido estate
- Marchese Mario Incisa della Rochetta
- 1968
- Became own DOC in 1994
- Blend
- 85% Cab
- 15% Cab Franc
- Aged in NFO for 2 years
- 18,000 cases per year
- Tenuto San Guido estate
Which famous winemaker is related to Marchese Mario Incisa della Rochetta?
- Piero Antinori of Tignanello!
- Nephew
Tignanelo
- Originally made by Pierro Antinori
- Facts
- the first Sangiovese aged in barriques
- the first commercial tuscan blended with nontraditional grapes (cabernet suav and franc)
- one of the first in the chianti classico region that didn’t use white grapes!
- Blend
- Mostly Sangiovese
- small % Cab Sauv/ Cab Franc
What Super Tuscans does Antinori own now?
- Tignanello - located in Chianti
- 80% Sangiovese
- 15% Cab Sauv
- 5% Cab Franc
- Solaia - Located in Chianti
- 75% Cab Sauv
- 20% Sangiovese
- 5% Cab Franc
- Guada al Tasso - Located in Bolgheri DOC
- 50-60% Cab Sauv
- 30-40% Merlot
- The rest = Cab Franc
- until 2007 was Syrah
- modeled after rich, powerful wines of Australia
*** Ornellaia was started by Marchese Lodovico Antinori, but now run by Frescobaldi Firm.
*** Masetto as well.
Ornellaia
- Started by Marchese Lodovico Antinori (Piero’s Brother)
- now owned by Frescobaldi Firm
- Blend:
- Cab Sauv.
- Merlot
- Cab Franc
- Petit Verdot
- Aged in 70% NFO for 18 mo.
- BORDEAUX BLEND
- Entry Level wine = Le Volte
- aged in cement tanks and french oak originally used for Ornellaia
- 2nd Label = La Serre Nuove
- young vines that will eventually be used for Ornellaia