Italy: Central Flashcards
Umbria - important DOCs and DOCGs
Orvieto DOC- whites from Grechetto, Trebbiano
Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG- reds from Sagrantino
Torgiano Rosso Riserva DOCG- reds from Sangiovese
only 2 DOCG
River Tiber (Tevere) flows through the region
What river flows through Umbria?
the Tiber (Tevere)
Orvieto DOC
grapes, styles
Umbria, central Italy
minimum 60% Trebbiano Toscano (Procanico) and Grechetto (di Orvieto and di Todi (Pignoletto)
maximum 40% other white grapes suitable for cultivation in Umbria and the province of Viterbo (i.e. Verdello, Drupeggio, Canaiolo Blanco, Malvasia Toscana)
made in sweet and dry styles
Capital of Umbria?
Perugia
Orvieto DOC
geography
Umbria, shared with Lazio
Tufa soils (similar to Vouvray), and a higher concentration in the Classico region
Paglia river flows through Orvieto before meeting with the Tiber
Lago di Corbara in the east- provides fog that encourages botrytis for sweet wines
Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG
grapes
styles
in Umbria, Italy. History of sweet passito wines, but today the focus is dry wines, thanks in part to producer Arnaldo Caprai.
100% Sagrantino
Secco: 13%
Secco with “Vigna” indication: 13.5%
Passito: 11% (18% potential) — 80-180 g/l RS
Montefalco Sagrantino
geography
Martani Mountains (part of the Alps), fluvial deposits from the Bastardo Basin. fluvial and alluvial clay soils with high calcareous content.
Montefalco Sagrantino
communes
communes: Montefalco, Bevagna, Gualdo Cattaneo, Castel Ritaldi, and Giano dell’Umbria
appassimento for Sagrantino?
Sagrantino is aggressively tannic. Using the appassimento process on some of the grapes (partially drying) helps to break down the tannins
Montefalco DOC
grapes
same area as Sagrantino Montefalco DOCG
whites based on either Trebbiano (min 50%) or Grechetto (min 85%)
reds: minimum 60% - 80% Sangiovese; minimum 10% - 25% Sagrantino; maximum 30% other black grapes suitable for cultivation in Umbria
Torgiano DOC
grapes
in Umbria
whites: Trebbiano + others
red: Sangiovese
also: Spumante, late harvest, vin santo
varietal: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay Pinot Grigio or Riesling Italico
Torgiano Rosso Riserva DOCG
grapes
Umbria
Minimum 70% Sangiovese
Maximum 30% other red grapes suitable for cultivation in Perugia
Umbria- name two producers
Paolo Bea- best
Lungarotti
Arnaldo Caprai
Marchesi Antinori Castello della Sala
Antonnelli San Marco
Marche- important grapes
white: Verdicchio, Pecorino, Passerina (Verdicchio di Matelica, Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva)
red: Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Vernaccia (Conero, Vernacci di Serrapetrona, Offida)
Abruzzo important DOC and DOCG
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colline Teramane DOCG
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo DOC
Abruzzo- name 2 producers
Emidio Pepe
Edoardo Valentini
Masciarelli
Tiberio
Binomio
Lazio - important grapes?
Trebbiano, Malvasia
Rome is here!
Molise- important DOC? Grapes?
Biferno DOC- whites from Trebbiano; reds from Montepulciano*, Aglianico
Tintilia del Molise DOC- red & rose from local red grape
Molise DOC
Italian regions with no DOCG
Calabria
Liguria
Molise
Trentino-Alto Adige
Valle d’Aosta
Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva DOCG
grapes, styles
aging
in the Marche corresponding DOC: Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi.
DOCG: dry wine only, min 12.5% abv
DOC: allows bianco, spumante, passito, classico, classico superiore. ** has MGAs **
both min 85% Verdicchio
DOCG aging: 18 months from December 1 of the harvest year, including at least 6 months in the bottle
producers: Santa Barbara Stefano Antonucci, La Staffa, Andrea Felici
Castelli di Jesi is the larger of the two Verdicchio areas
Castelli di Jesi Verdiccio producers
Santa Barbara Stefano Antonucci
La Staffa
Andrea Felici
Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva DOCG
grapes, styles
geography
in Marche. corresponding DOC: Verdicchio di Matelica. Both min 85%
DOCG: dry wine only, min 12.5% abv
DOC: allows bianco, spumante, passito
Wines are grown in the Alta Vallesina, a high valley with a rare north-south orientation, protected from the maritime influence experienced by Castelli di Jesi. Average 350 m, but up to 720 m elevation. Steep inclines, limestone based soils = higher acid than di Jesi.
Matelica area is about 1/10th the size of Castelli di Jesi
Verdicchio di Matelica producers
Bisci,
Borgo Paglionetto
Tenuta Grimaldi
Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva - geography
Wines are grown in the Alta Vallesina, a high valley with a rare north-south orientation, protected from the maritime influence experienced by Castelli di Jesi. Average 350 m, but up to 720 m elevation. Steep inclines, limestone based soils = higher acid than di Jesi.
Offida DOCG
where?
grapes
in the southern Marche, in Ascoli Piceno and Fermo provinces
Pecorino (Bianco) - min 85%
Passerina (Bianco) - min 85%
Offida Rosso- min 85% Montepulciano
Rosso Piceno DOC
where?
grapes
in the southern Marche
Rosso/Rosso Novello/Rosso Superiore
35% - 85% Montepulciano
15% - 50% Sangiovese
maximum 15% non-aromatic red grapes suitable for cultivation in Marche
Varietal Sangiovese
minimum 85% Sangiovese
maximum 15% non-aromatic red grapes suitable for cultivation in Marche
Conero DOCG
where?
grapes
in the Marche, also called Conero Riserva DOCG. Rosso Conero is corresponding DOC
Minimum 85% Montepulciano
Maximum 15% Sangiovese
limestone-heavy soils, yielding Montepulciano wines that are more tannic and austere than those grown further south in Abruzzo
min 2 years aging
Lacrima di Morro d’Alba DOC
where?
grapes
in the Marche. lacrima = tear, likely because of the tear drop shaped berries
minimum 85% Lacrima, in dry red and passito styles.
governo is commonly used
Vernaccia di Serrapetrona DOCG
where?
grapes
in the Marche. Corresponding DOC: Serrapetrona.
rosso: min 85% Vernaccia
DOC: dry reds
DOCG: sparkling red! sweet or dry
** 3 FERMENTATIONS ** The first fermentation uses up to 60 percent of the grapes handpicked in October. Under DOCG rules, at least 40 percent must be dried on straw mats and added to the wine in January for its second fermentation. The third stage occurs after the wine has rested for a few months, and is then put into sealed pressurized where it undergoes the Charmat method
Frascati
appellations
grapes
in Lazio, 3 nested areas:
Frascati Superiore DOCG: dry white wines
Cannellino di Frascati DOCG: Vendemmia Tardiva
Frascati DOC: Bianco (secco, amabile, or abboccato); Spumante (brut, or extra dry)
ALL
Minimum 70% combined Malvasia Bianca di Candia and/or Malvasia del Lazio
Maximum 30% Bellone, Bombino Bianco, Greco Bianco, Trebbiano Toscano, and/or Trebbiano Giallo
abbocato
italian- slightly sweet. Orvieto, Frascati
Cesanese
what is it?
where is it?
grape in Lazio, Italy
two distinct varieties: Cesanese Comune and Cesanese di Affile
Affile: smaller berries, finicky, prefers higher elevation sites
Comune: more widely used
Cesanese di Olevano DOC - plains, so Comune
Cesanese di Affile DOC - Afile
Cesanese del Piglio DOCG - Afile
Corno Grande
highest peak of the Appeninne Mountains, at over 2,900 meters (9,500 feet) above sea level, the highest point in Italy outside the Alps and Mount Etna.
in Abruzzo, Italy
mezzadria
italian word for sharecropping
Montepulciano (grape)
origin
preferred terroir
most likely originated in the mountainous Peligna valley of Abruzzo and plays a starring role in most of the region’s DOC/Gs.
Because it accumulates sugar easily but its pip tannins ripen very slowly, colder, mountainous terroirs are preferred for achieving slow, even ripening and for avoiding unripe flavors
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC
grapes
elevation
min. 85% Montepulciano
labeled with subzone:
Terre di Casauria: 100% Montepulciano.
Terre dei Vestini/Teate: min. 90%
Alto Tirino/Terre dei Peligni: min. 95%
*subzones all have different aging
maximum elevation of 600 meters (1,970 feet) generally, or up to 700 meters (2,300 feet) for vineyards with direct southern exposure.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC
aging
Rosso: Wines may be released March 1 on the year following harvest.
Rosso Riserva: Wines must be aged for a min. 2 years from November 1 on the year of harvest, including min 9 months in wood.
Colline Teramane Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOCG
grapes
abv
previously a subzone of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC, elevated in 2003
Minimum 90% Montepulciano
Maximum 10% Sangiovese
min 12.5% abv (vs 12% base for DOC)
Colline Teramane Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOCG
aging
Minimum 1 year from November 1 of the harvest year, including 2 months in bottle
Riserva: Minimum 3 years from November 1 of the harvest year, including a minimum one year in either oak or chestnut and a minimum 6 months in bottle
White wine DOCG in Marche
Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva DOCG
Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva DOCG
Offida DOCG (also allows red)
red wine DOCGs Marche
Cònero (Cònero Riserva) DOCG
Offida DOCG (also allows white)
Vernaccia di Serrapetrona DOCG (rosso spumate)
two DOCG of Umbria
Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG Rosso (Secco, Passito)
Torgiano Rosso Riserva DOCG Rosso (riserva)
red wine DOCG Lazio
Cesanese del Piglio (Piglio) DOCG
white wine DOCG Lazio
Cannellino di Frascati DOCG (late harvest)
Frascati Superiore DOCG
DOCG of Abruzzo
only 2
Colline Teramane Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOCG (rosso)
Terre Tollesi / Tullum DOCG - Rosso (Normale, Riserva), Varietal (Pecorino, Passerina), Spumante Bianco
Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC
grape
rosato - rose
Min. 85% Montepulciano, max. 15% other red grapes suitable for production in Abruzzo.
Cerasuolo comes from the Italian word for “cherry,” and, until the 1970s, this was an unofficial term to describe the darker color of Italian rosato. In Abruzzo, Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC is named for the cherry color of its rosato wines. In Sicily, however, Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG is not a rosato but a red wine, named for either the cherry flavor of the wine or the red color of the terra rossa soils.
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo DOC
grape
Min. 85% combined Trebbiano Abruzzese, Trebbiano Toscano, and/or Bombino Bianco.
note: Abruzzese is a superior and different grape to Trebbiano Toscano.
Abruzzo DOC
same boundaries as: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo, and Trebbiano d’Abruzzo
wide range of dry, sparkling, and sweet passito wines
Trabocco
Sparkling wines made from native grape varieties using the tank method can be labeled Trabocco, an unofficial term trademarked by the consorzio and named for trabocchi, the fishing platforms at the end of piers that are common on the Adriatic coast.
Abruzzo, Italy
Ortona DOC
grapes
Abruzzo
white: min. 70% combined Trebbiano Abruzzese and/or Trebbiano Toscano
red: min 95% Montepulciano
2023 changes in Abruzzo
new subzones- for Abruzzo, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo, and Trebbiano d’Abruzzo:
Colline Pescaresi (Pescara province), Colline Teramane (Teramo province), Terre di Chieti (Chieti province), and Terre Aquilane or Terre de L’Aquila (L’Aquila province).
exception for Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, because the name Colline Teramane is already used for a separate DOCG there. In Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, the Colline Teramane subzone is instead called San Martino sulla Marrucina, named for the commune of the same name.
Other changes were also introduced, including adding Superiore and Riserva levels where they did not already exist, and making those levels exclusive to, and required for, the subzones. Abruzzo DOC also introduced a new rosato category, based on a minimum of 85% Montepulciano, making it a parallel to Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo.
river in Castelli di Jesi
Esino River
Vernaccia Nera
genetically identical to Grenache
primary grape in both Serrapetrona DOC and Vernaccia di Serrapetrona DOCG in the Marche
Castelli di Jesi overlaps with what red wine DOC?
Lacrima di Morra d’Alba DOC
Est! Est!! Est!!! di Montefiascone DOC
grapes
50-65% Trebbiano Toscano (Procanico)
25-40% Trebbiano Giallo (Rossetto)
10-20% Malvasia Bianco Lunga and/or Malvasia del Lazio
max. 15% “others”
Lazio’s top red grape
Cesanese
capital of Le Marche?
Ancona - strategically important port city
Titulus bottle
designed by Milanese architect Antonio Maiocchi for Battaglia, designed to look like an amphorae / actress Gina Lollobrigida. made the Verdicchio recognizable and contributed to its popularity.
Paolo Bea bottlings
Arboreus - Umbria Bianco
Santa Chiara - Umbria Bianco
Montefalco Sagrantino Passito
Rosso de Veo - Umbria Rosso
Sanvalentino - Umbria Rosso
Pipparello - Montefalco Rosso Riserva
Pagliaro - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG
Cerrete - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG
