L3 - Central Italy Chap. 28 Flashcards
What is the geographic location, nearby mountain range, and climate of the wine region of Central Italy?
- The Central Italy wine region is south of the Po Valley
-Alongside the Apennine Mountains which run the length of the Italian penninsula
-Grapes are planted in the hills and valleys of the mountains
-The climate is hot, but the altitude of the mountains and the cooling coastal influences (on both sides of the country) moderate the heat
What are the three geographic parts of the Tuscany region?
Tuscany stretches down the western coast of central Italy.
It can be divided into 3 parts:
(1) Mountaineous Chianti in the north
(2) hills and valleys to the south
(3) the coastal plain - Abruzzo
What are the general characteristics of the Sangiovese grape?
-Late ripening (so requires a warm climate)
-High acidity
-High tannins
-Aromas of red cherries, plums and dried herbs
-Usually aged in oak to soften the tannins (sometimes has spicy flavors). Small barrels and large casks can be used.
-With bottle age can develop meaty and gamey aromas
Describe the region of Chianti.
Where is it located?
What is the dominate grape?
How are wines generally classified?
How do large producers source grapes versus higher quality producers?
Chianti is located in the foothills of the Apennine Mountains between the cities of Florence, Pisa, and Siena.
The region is large and covers 7 subzones.
Sangiovese is the dominant varietal however it can be blended with small amounts of other black grapes (both French and Italian).
Large volume producers will source grapes from the greater region using the Chianti DOCG label.
Higher quality Chianti DOCG will normally include the name of the particular sub-zone where the grapes come from (ie. Chianti Rufina DOCG, Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG).
What is Chianti Classico DOCG and how does it differ from Chianti DOCG ?
Chianti Classico DOCG sits its at a higher altitude than Chianti DOCG (it is not one of the 7 sub-zones).
The higher altitude here slows the ripening process of Sangiovese and results in wines with greater acidity and more herbal aromas.
Chianti Classico wines must be aged for a minimum of 12 months before They are released.
Typical Chianti Classico characteristics:
-Pronounced red-fruit aromas, dried herb notes,
-Oak softens the tannins & adds complex
flavors (clove, cedar).
Can develop flavors of meat & leather in bottle
What are the requirements for Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG?
What are they for Gran Selecione?
-Must be aged for 24 months (3 months in bottle)
-Gran Selecione the highest designation for Chianti Classico wines requires wines to be sourced from a single estate and aged for 6 months more than Riserva wines. No stipulation for maturing the wines in oak aging– that is the producer’s decision.
Describe the climate of Southern Tuscany and the styles of wine made there?
The vineyards of Southern Tuscany are:
-lower altitude than those in the north
-warmer climate and cool maritime breezes from the southwest
The best known appellations are:
-Brunello di Montalcino DOCG-
–more fully bodied intense than wines from Chianti
–regulations require this style must be made entirely from Sangiovese and can only be released from the winery from the January of the 5th year after harvest (wines must spend a minimum of two years in wooden vessels)
–wines can be declassified to DOC is the vintage is poor or the vines are young (to either Rosso di Montalcino DOC or Rosso di Montepulciano DOC)
-Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG-
–more fully bodied intense than wines from Chianti
–wines can be declassified to DOC is the vintage is poor or the vines are young (to either Rosso di Montalcino DOC or Rosso di Montepulciano DOC)
Describe the climate of the Coastal Tuscany and the styles of wine made there?
The climate of coastal Tuscany is flat and cooled by sea breezes.
The birthplace of the Super Tuscan (originally made from Cabernet Sauvignon)
High quality wines from international varieties, sometimes with Italian varieties as part of the blend
Generically wines from this region can be bottled as Toscana IGT.
Additionally, Bolgheri DOC and Maremma Toscana DOC both permit wines to be made entirely from non-Italian varieties including Cab Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.
What is the climate of Umbria?
What style of wine is it most famous for?
Hot continental climate (no influence from the Mediterranean)
Best known for Orvieto DOC -
–Blend of Grechetto, Trebbiano and other local grapes (best wines have more Grechetto in the blend)
–light in body
–medium to high acidity
–flavors of ripe grapefruit and peaches
–wines made protectively and undergo cool fermentation in stainless steel
What is the climate of Lazio?
What style of wine is it most known for?
-Lazio is located south of Tuscany. Situated in the hills south of Rome and cooled by altitude and a number of small nearby lakes offering perfect conditions for white grapes.
-It is most known for Frascati DOC
-Usually blends of Malvasia and Trebbiano
-made in fresh and unoaked style
-medium body
-medium to high acidity
-flavors of citrus fruit
-sometimes with floral and orange blossom aromas (Malvasia)
What is the region of Marche located?
What style of wine is it most known for?
Marche is located on the eastern side of the Apennines and is best known for the white wine grape Verdicchio.
The most famous of Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesu DOC.
Most wines are simple and fruity but some can have a greater flavor concentration and develop notes of honey and almonds with bottle age.
(Marche is also known for red blends of Sangiovese and Montepulciano, best known in Conero DOCG)
What is the region of Abruzzo located?
What style of wine is it most known for?
Abruzzo is located to the south of Marche.
Abruzzo is most famous for wines made from the black grape, Montepulciano. (This grape is NOT related to the town Montepulciano, which grows Sangiovese, in Tuscany).
The most famous appellation is Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC.
Many wines are simple and fruity (without oak aging), but most are concentrated examples and are often matured in oak for a short time.
What are the classic qualities of the Montepulciano grape?
The Montepulciano grape typically displays:
-Medium to Deep color
-High Tannins
-Medium Acidity
-Flavors of black plums and cherries
