D3 Central Italy Flashcards by Gareth Rees

Central Italy Sub-Regions?

Tuscany - Chianti, VNdM, BdM & Bolgheri
Lazio - Frascati
Marche - Verdicchio
Abruzzo - Montepulciano
Umbria - Orvieto & Sagrantino di Montefalco

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Tuscany Climate & Features?

Warm Mediterranean Climate

Moderate altitude inland

Moderate rainfall, including in growing period

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Tuscany Vineyard Risks?

Spring Frost
Hail
Rain during harvest
Summer drought
Esca

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Tuscany Grapes?

Sangiovese
Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon
Canaiolo Nero

Trebbiano Toscano

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Sangiovese?

High acid

High tannin

Medium to full body

Red fruit and herbs

Early budding, late ripening

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Canaiolo Nero?

Light tannin

Red berry fruit and floral

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Sangiovese Maceration Times?

Early Drinking: 7-10 days

Ageworthy: 15-25 days

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Oak Maturation in Chianti?

In top-end, perhaps a little, but emphasis remains on the fruit

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Chianti DOCG?

Low elevation hills (300m and lower)

70-100% Sangiovese, though CS/CF may not exceed 15%

10% white grapes permitted but rarely used

Minimum ABV 11.5%

Maximum yield 63 hL/ha

Chianti Colli Senesi requires max 10% CS/CF and min 75% Sangiovese

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Riserva?

Aged minimum 2 years

In certain sub-regions e.g. Chianti Colli Senesi, 6 months of this must be oak

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Chianti Classico DOCG?

Sangiovese > 80% (typically closer to 90)

Higher elevation 200-500m

Maximum yield 52.5 hL/ha

Must be at least a year old

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Chianti Classico Gran Selezione?

Grapes must come from single vineyard, or estate owned by producer

Minimum 30 months ageing (no oak requirement)

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Brunello di Montalcino DOCG?

100% Sangiovese

Minimum 2 years in oak

Riserva wines - minimum 3 years in oak, 6 years in total

Oak is often old, rarely new

Warmer than Chianti

Elevations more variable

Less matured wines may be released as Rosso di Montalcino

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Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG?

250-600m elevation

Historically wines designed for long ageing, increasingly more youthful wines being made

70-100% Sangiovese

Maximum yield 56 hL/ha

2 years minimum, 12-24 months in wood

Riserva wines 3 years minimum, 12-24 months in wood

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Bolgheri DOC?

Mediterranean sea providing cooling influence at all elevations

Irrigation permitted, and newer vineyards avail themselves of this frequently

Rain well spread out over the year, though lighter during harvest

Up to 100% CS/CF/ME
Up to 50% Syrah or Sangiovese
Up to 30% other varieties e.g. Petit Verdot

Maximum yield 56 hL/ha for Bolgheri Rosso Superiore (63 for Rosso)

Minimum 1 year maturation for Rosso, 2 for Rosso Superiore, typically in new French oak

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Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC

Cabernet Sauvignon > 80%

Minimum maturation 24 months, of which 18 in 225L oak barrels

Tuscan IGP?

Toscana IGT

Vin Santo?

Tuscan Sweet wine, typically from Trebbiano Toscano & Malvasia

Marche Climate & Features?

Mostly produces Red wines from Montepulciano and Sangiovese

Warm Mediterranean Climate

Little rainfall in summer

Marche Grapes?

Sangiovese
Montepulciano

Verdicchio
Biancame
Trebbiano Toscano
Passerina

Verdicchio?

First 4 buds are sterile, so needs lots of space and hence less densely planted

Late ripening - exposes it to risk of disease and rot in wet harvests

High acidity

Pale Lemon

Medium(-) intensity

Blossom, apple, fennel, almond

Medium body

Never sees oak, but may see long ageing with lees contact in best examples

Pecorino?

High alcohol

High acidity

Medium body

Apple, pear, herbal

Generally fresh, but best examples can see oak

Montepulciano?

Resistant to botrytis and downy mildew, but susceptible to powdery mildew

Ripens unevenly, either lowering quality or requiring careful selection

Prone to reduction

Red fruit when young, progressing to black fruit

Medium to medium(+) tannins

Medium acid, hence often blended with Sangiovese

Rosso Piceno DOC?

Montepulciano blended with Sangiovese

Umbria Climate & Features?

Landlocked and hilly Warm (mildly) Continental Climate Moderate rainfall in Autumn/Winter

Umbria Grapes

Sangiovese Merlot Sagrantino Cabernet Sauvignon Trebbiano Toscano Grechetto di Orvieto

Umbria Sub-Regions?

Orvieto DOC Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG

Grechetto di Orvieto?

Thin-skinned, but resistant to fungal disease so can late harvest High acidity Light to Medium intensity Medium body Lemon and white flowers

Sagrantino?

Not overly vigorous Very high tannins Medium(+) intensity Black and red fruit High acidity High tannins

Rosso di Montefalco DOC?

Sangiovese 60-70% Sagrantino 10-15% Minimum maturation 18 months

Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG?

100% Sagrantino 33 months minimum maturation, of which minimum 12 in wood Can take new oak

Lazio Climate & Features?

Warm Mediterranean Climate Cooled by some elevation, and proximity to the sea

Lazio Grapes?

Trebbiano Malvasia - medium alcohol, light body, med(+) acidity Merlot Sangiovese Cesanese

Lazio Vineyard Risks?

Spring Frost Hail Excessive heat in Summer Harvest rain

Cesanese?

Semi-aromatic black variety Very late ripening High yielding, but with high quality potential Vulnerable to harvest rain Red cherry and rose Medium tannins Medium acidity High alcohol

Abruzzo Climate & Features?

Hillsides of Apennines - Warm Continental Climate Coastal - Warm Mediterranean Climate, soils more fertile

Abruzzo Grapes?

Montepulciano Trebbiano (Toscano and Abruzzese)

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC?

Must be grown on hilly sites Maximum yield 98 hL/ha, sub-zones at 66 hL/ha