Italy - Tuscany Flashcards
Tuscany Geographical Location
Extends from the Ligurian Sea in the west to the foothills of the Apennine Mountains in the east.
Tuscany Physical Features
Apennine Mountains
Ligurian Sea
Tyrrhenian Sea
Climate of Tuscana
Maritime at the coast
Continental inland
Red grapes of Toscana
Sangiovese 🔴
Brunello/Sangiovese Grosso 🔴
Cabernet Sauvignon 🔴
Merlot 🔴
Cabernet Franc 🔴
Prugnolo Gentile 🔴
White grapes of Toscana
Trebbiano ⚪
Vermentino ⚪
Vernaccia ⚪
Classification Types
IGP
DOC
DOCG
Gran Selezione
Main soil types of Montalcino
Clay and marine sediments at lower
elevation, Galestro at higher elevation.
Main soil type of Sangiovese is
Galestro - a highly desirable, friable, shaly clay
Limestone Alberese
What do they age Sangiovese in
Large European often Slavonian cask
Brunello di Montalcino wine law
- Requires these wines
be aged and stipulates minimum amount of aging (24 months in barrels, 4-6 months in bottles) - Use of large Slavonian or small
barriques
Brunello di Montalcino Normal
Must age for a minimum of 24 months in barrels, 4 months in bottles, and 5 years total before release
Brunello di Montalcino Reserve
Must age for a minimum of 24 months in barrels, 6 months in bottles, and 6 years total before release
Tuscany wine styles
Dry red wines
Dry white wines
Sweet Vin Santo
Descibe Tuscan wines
- Sangiovese-based wines have a moderate intensity of
color and tart acidity that outweighs tannin. - Volatile
- Acidity is common in these wines
Where is Sangiovese the sole red grape allowed in Italy
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
7 DOCGs of Tuscany
Chianti DOCG
Chianti Classico DOCG
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
Rosso di Montalcino DOCG
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG
Bolgheri DOC
Vin Santo DOC (multiple)
Grape % rules of Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
100% Brunello
Grape % rules of Chianti Classico
min 80% Sangiovese
Grape % rules of Chianti
min 70% Sangiovese
When did Chianti DOCG gain DOCG status
1984
Service for Brunello di Montalcino
Decant young Brunello di Montalcino
Define Super Tuscan
Can be Bordeaux grape variety blends, Bordeaux varieties with Sangiovese, and pure Sangiovese wines
Label Term Meaning of Superiore
Increased alcohol level required
Label Term Meaning of Classico
Classic center of a region
Label Term Meaning of Riserva
Longer aging times required
Top producers
Antinori
Ruffino
Banfi
Ornellaia
Masseto
Tignanello
Solaia
Biondi Santi
Soldera
La Pergole Torte
Sassicaia
Top Brunello di Montalcino vintages in the past 15 years
2010, 2015. 2016, 2018, 2019
Passito
Passito is an Italian sweet dessert wine made from dried grapes
Pairings for Chianti
Tomato sauces, pizza and pasta bakes such as lasagna
Pairings for Brunello
Game-based dishes such as stews, braised dishes, with wild boar, guinea fowl, or duck
What wine for Chianti require 30 months aging before release
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Know current release of Brunello di Montalcino
The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino vintage was released in January 2024
Approximate price of top proprietary brands
$250 - $300
Soldera Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2006 is around $1200
Gallo Nero on Chianti Classico bottles
The Gallo Nero (Black Rooster) was the historic symbol of the League of Chianti and has become the symbol of the wines of Chianti Classico. The Black Rooster symbol is linked to a medieval legend that takes place during the time of open hostilities between Firenze and Siena for control of the Chianti territory.
In order to end the dispute and finally define the political boundaries between the two cities for once and for all, it was decided that two knights would depart from their respective cities at sunrise and fix the boundary between the two city-states at the point where they met. The rooster’s crow at dawn was the signal for the knights to start riding. The Sieneses opted for a white rooster; the Florentines chose a black rooster.
The Florentines kept their rooster in a small, dark chicken-coop and did not feed it for days. On the day of the ride, once the black rooster was freed, it began to crow well ahead of dawn, allowing for the Florentine knight to depart well in advance of the Sienese knight.
Thanks to his considerable head start, the Florentine knight met his opponent in Fonterutoli, only 12 km from the point of departure of the Sienese knight. This allowed Firenze to control nearly the entirety of the Chianti territory.
Origin of Super Tuscans
After the war, Mario Incisa della Rocchetta and his wife Clarice came back to re-establish their Bolgheri estate.
Mario was inspired by Bordeaux’s gravelly vineyards and he planted Sassicaia or “land of many stones” with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
The 1968 vintage of Sassicaia is considered to be one of the first Super Tuscan wines.
What is the aging requirements for Chianti normale (when is it released)
May be released on March 1 of the year following the harvest
