Denominations Flashcards
Chianti DOCG
Central Italy. many vineyards at lower elevations <300m. Can bottle wine as Chianti or with the name of 1 of 7 subzones. 70-100% Sangiovese, blending grapes may be local or international (Cab Sauv and Cab Franc must not exceed 15%). 10% white grapes allowed. Min alcohol 11.5% with most subzones requiring 12%. Max yield 63hl/ha. Chianti DOCG can be released in March following the vintage. Medium body, medium alcohol, inexpensive-mid, acceptable – very good. Riserva must be aged min. 2 years before release, no oak requirement.
Chianti Classico DOCG
Central Italy. hilly area, best grapes 200-500m. Elevation provides cool nights and retains acidity. Soils of schist, crumbly rock with clay, marl (galestro), calcareous soil with clay (alberese) and sandstone. Galestro = aromatic, ageing potential. Clay = structure/body. Must be min. 80% Sangiovese with local or international blending varieties. No whites in blend. Max yield is 52.5hl/ha. Can be released the October in year after harvest. Riserva must be aged for 2 years from Jan. 1 after harvest. Label may mention single vineyard. Wines from this region may NOT be labeled Chianti DOCG. International style was popular in 1980-1990, now transition back to traditional style.
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
Central Italy. 1st wine sold by Bondi-Santi in 1865. Banfi has lead the expansion of planting. Nowadays, 250 producers and 2,100ha. Climate here warmer and drier, protected from rain by Monte Amiata to the S, ripe full-bodied high alcohol wine. Cooling breezes from Mediterranean sea keep acidity levels up. 120-500m, hilly, soils variable (galestro in north and more clay in the south). Must be 100% Sangiovese, max yield 54hl/ha, can be released Jan 1 5 years after harvest, 2 years of that in oak. Riserva can be released 6 years after harvest, 3 years of that in oak. May mention single vineyard.
Rosso di Montalcino DOC
Central Italy. must be 100% Sangiovese but comes from younger vines in lesser sites and can be sold after 1 year.
Vin Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG
Central Italy. 250-600m, aromatic wines from higher sites, cool clay (body) and sandy (aromatic) soils. Must be 70-100% Sangiovese aka Prugnello Gentile. Max yield 56hl/ha. Must be aged min. of 2 years from Jan. 1 after harvest, mandatory 12-24 months in wood. Riserva wines aged 3 years (no additional requirement for oak). Name of vineyard can appear on label.
Rosso di Montepulciano DOC
Central Italy. for less expensive wines and earlier drinking.
Morellino di Scansano DOCG
Central Italy
Bolgheri DOC
Central Italy. compact, densely planted 1,200ha. Coastal, specializes in Bordeaux blends. Red Bordeaux blends are 80% of plantings. Warm climate, cool nights, winds from sea to reduce fungal disease. Soils vary, rain throughout year. Irrigation permitted. Cordon trained spur pruned with VSP. 6,000 vine/ha, yields 63 hl/ha, must be aged 1 year. Wines were initially bottled as vin da tavola until DOC created in 1983. Allows up to 100% Cab sauv, Cab franc, Merlot and up to 50% Syrah, Sangiovese and up to 30% other varieties. Bolgheri Rosso Superiore has more restricted yields 56hl/ha, must be aged 2 years following Jan 1 of harvest. Usually aged in French barriques with significant amount of new oak. Some white wine made (often Vermentino) and can be labeled Bolgheri DOC. Bolgheri consortium represents 90% of vineyards planted and 10 largest producers own 70% of vineyards.
Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC
Central Italy. DOC for a single estate, Tenuta San Guido. 80% Cab sauv, min 2 years ageing, 18 months of this in 225 liter oak barrels.
Maremma Toscana DOC
Central Italy. large area (former IGT) covers entire province of Grosseto. DOC created 2011. Wide range of varieties. Half of grapes grown are Sangiovese and Cab sauv, then Vermentino. 77hl/ha yields for single variety reds.
Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG
Central Italy. recipient t of Italy’s 1st ever DOC in 1966. Dry summers, windy 200-400m. Wine made from Vernaccia grape (white), min 85% in blend with up to 10% sauv blanc and Riesling. Sandstone soils, ripens mid-late, can produce high yields, 63hl/ha. 30% wine sold locally, 50% exported.
San Gimignano DOC
Central Italy. Red wines from Sangiovese made and bottles under separate DOC San Gimignano.
Toscana IGT
Central Italy. permits higher yields, any registered grape variety, grapes grown anywhere in Tuscany.
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC
Central Italy, Marche. in the low hills west on Ancona. 10x larger than Matelica. 98hl/ha. Regions are Classico, Classico Superiore (77hl/ha). The Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva was promoted to DOCG – 18 months ageing (does not have to be in oak).
Verdicchio di Matelica
Central Italy, Marche. higher zone in foothills of the Apennines, protected from sea by mountains. Continental climate. Higher acidity, soils are sandstone with fossils and contain less clay than Castelli di Jesi. Yield 91hl/ha. Fuller bodied wine, higher acid, less fruity. Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva DOCG requires 12.5% abv minimum, 18 months ageing (does not have to be in oak).
Offida Pecorino DOCG
Central Italy, Marche. grown within the Offida area inline with regulations. DOCG wine can be released early or aged 12-18 months for texture.
Offida Passerina DOCG
Central Italy, Marche
Rosso Piceno DOC
Central Italy, Marche. is 35-85% Montepulciano blended with Sangiovese for acidity.
Rosso Piceno Superiore DOC
Central Italy, Marche. is made with fruit grown in 13 townships in the Ascoli Piceno province in the south and requires higher alcohol and min. 1 year ageing.
Offida DOCG
Central Italy, Marche
Offida Rosso DOCG
Central Italy, Marche. is 100km south of Ancona and must be 85-100% Montepulciano, aged 24 months, 12 of which in oak.
Rosso Conero DOC
Central Italy, Marche. min. 85% Montepulciano.
Conero Riserva DOCG
Central Italy, Marche. min. 85% Montepulciano. Conero Riserva can only be blended with Sangiovese (if anything) and aged min. 2 years, 1 of which in oak.
Marche IGT
Central Italy, Marche
Orvieto DOC
Central Italy, Umbria. western edge of Umbria. Must be min. 60% Trebbiano Toscano and or Grechetto grown at 100-550m. Better wines contain more Grechetto for flavor intensity. Medium – intensity, medium alcohol, medium (+) acid, and light body. 77hl/ha yield. Superiore is 56hl/ha, higher concentration. Can be dry, off-dry, or sweet. Can be labeled late harvest (vendemmia tardiva) or noble rot (muffa nobile).
Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG
Central Italy, Umbria. must be 100% Sagrantino. 52 hl/ha. Must be aged 33 months, 1 year of this in wood. May carry a single vineyard name. Long maceration periods were the norm (2 months), now 2-3 weeks. Some wineries use French barriques, others use traditional large casks. 650ha under vine in Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG. 60% exported. Montefalco Consortium – tries to raise the standard of grape growing.
Rosso di Montefalco DOC
Central Italy, Umbria. Ross di Montefalco DOC is a blend with mostly Sangiovese (60-70%) with Sagrantino (10-15%) and other permitted varieties. Max yield 77hl/ha. Min. age 18 months.
Frascati DOC
Central Italy, Lazio. historically Malvasia del Lazio, now Malvasia Bianca di Candia and/or Malvasia del Lazio (together must be 70% of blend). Can include up to 30% Trebbiano Toscano. 105hl/ha, light flavor intensity. Cool ferments, primary.
Frascati Superiore DOCG
Central Italy, Lazio. same rules for grape variety as DOC, gained DOC in 2011, 77 hl/ha, aged 1 year before release (no oak requirement). DOCG is now 20% of total vineyards.
Castelli Romani DOC
Central Italy, Lazio. more white made than red. Whites from Malvasia del Lazio, Malvasia Bianca di Candia, or Trebbiano Toscano. Up to 120hl/ha.
Cesanese di Piglio DOCG
Central Italy, Lazio. requires 90% Cesanese
Cesanese di Affile DOC
Central Italy, Lazio. blend is predominantly Cesanese.
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo DOC
Central Italy, Abruzzo. can use Trebbiano Abruzzese or Trebbiano Toscano (later thought to be lower quality). 98hl/ha. Protective wine making typical.
Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC
Central Italy, Abruzzo. must be min. 85% Montepulciano. Medium pink, deeper color than modern rose (historically), can be lighter now or made by saignee. Medium(+) body.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC
Central Italy, Abruzzo. made in 2 styles – very light extraction for medium color and intensity. Some producers use up to 15% Merlot or Primitivo. Or high quality wines with extended barrel ageing in large oak vessels (some French barriques).
Colline Teramane Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOCG
Central Italy, Abruzzo. was a former sub-zone. Same yield as sub-zones (66), must be aged 2 years before release (1 year in wood).
Fiano di Avellino DOCG
Southern Italy, Campania. whites from Fiano. max yield 70hl/ha. Medium intensity, waxy texture. Lighter soil makes lighter wines, clay soil makes weightier wine. Best wines can age 8-10 years in bottle, most aged in stainless but some in oak.
Greco di Tufo DOCG
Southern Italy, Campania. whites from Greco. is small but densely planted, limestone and clay soil. Max yield is 70hl/ha. Deep lemon, high alcohol, oily texture, most unoaked, can age in bottle.
Taurasi DOCG
Southern Italy, Campania. red from Aglianico. must be min. 85% Aglianico. Max yield 70hl/ha, requires 3 years ageing (1 in wood), Riserva require 4 years ageing (18 months in wood). Grapes picked end of October-November. Long maceration on skins (20 days) and aged in French barriques or large oak casks. Planted on cool slopes 200-600m for longer growing season and more intense flavor.
Falanghina del Sannio DOC
Southern Italy, Campania. largest DOC featuring the grape, grows 1/3 of Falanghina in all of Campania, max yield 84hl/ha
Campi Flegrei DOC
Southern Italy, Campania. whites from Falanghina and reds/rose from Piedirosso. makes lower alcohol wines 12-13% due to windier conditions than inland, max yield also 84hl/ha
Vesuvio DOC
Southern Italy, Campania. whites from Coda di Volpe and reds from Piedirosso. Wines labeled ‘Lacryma Christi’
Sannio DOC
Southern Italy, Campania. make wines from a range of Campanian and Italian varieties. province wide appellation. for the province of Benevento
Beneventano IGT
Southern Italy, Campania. make wines from a range of Campanian and Italian varieties.
Irpinia DOC
Southern Italy, Campania. province wide appellation. for the province of Avellino
Aglianico del Vulture DOC
Southern Italy, Basilicata. most important denomination. Must be 100% Aglianico. Located east of Monte Vulture, and inactive volcano. Max yield 70hl/ha, min. 1 year ageing. Clay, limestone, and volcanic soils. Only adequate annual rainfall 550mm/year. Warm Mediterranean climate, cooling from altitude up to 600m. Diurnal shifts and breezes from the Balkans. Aglianico needs long ripening season, picked in October-November. Increasingly aged in French barriques.
Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG
Southern Italy, Basilicata. lower yields 52hl/ha, min. 3 years ageing (1 in oak). Riserva is 5 years ageing (2 in oak)
Primitivo di Manduria DOC
Southern Italy, Puglia. min. 85% variety, max yield 63hl/ha. Riserva aged 2.5 years, 9 months in wood, 14% ABV min.
Gioia del Colle DOC
Southern Italy, Puglia. Slightly hillier 250-500m and cooler DOC. 50-60% primitivo variety blended with Montepulciano, Sangiovese, or Negroamaro and up to 10% Malvasia. Max yield 52hl/ha, Riserva aged for 2 years, no oak requirement, min 14%
Salice Salentino DOC
Southern Italy, Puglia. most important regino for negroamaro. Salice Salentino Rosso DOC (requires 75% varietal, or 90% if variety name on label. Max yield 84hl/ha) Riserva aged for min. 2 years, 6 months in oak casks. Typically macerated on skins 7-10 days, aged in stainless for short period (6 months) for cheap wine of in oak for a year for mid-price to premium wine. Medium acid, medium (+) tannin, medium – high alcohol. Also used for Rose.
Castel del Monte DOC
Southern Italy, Puglia. 90% nero di troia varietal if stated on label, max yield 91hl/ha
Castel del Monte Riserva DOCG
Southern Italy, Puglia. Nero di troia. 2 years ageing min., 1 year in wood, 70hl/ha