Lazio Flashcards
Why did Lazio lag behind in the quality revolution that other Italian regions underwent in the late 20th century?
The close proximity of the farms to the city of Roma left little incentive to work towards quality by lowering yields, since producers could consistently sell everything that they grew and bottled.
The history of Lazio, and that of Roma, is divided into which 2 main periods?
- Roman Empire
- era of the Papal States
First Roma and Lazio were the power hub of the Roman Empire, then with the birth of the Papal States, they became the beating heart of the Catholic Church.
Who were the original known inhabitants of Lazio?
The Italic Latini tribe.
When did the Etruscans move into Lazio?
Largely living in the northern and eastern territories of Toscana and Umbria, they initially settled to northern portion of this region then advanced to occupy the entire territory by the 5th century BC.
When was Roma originally founded?
Around 750 BC; as a union of various Latin and Italic villages.
The metropolis and its power expanded into the surrounding territory of Lazio.
When did the Roman Kingdom become the Roman Republic?
By the 6th century BC; this represented the strongest military and political force on the peninsula. From a position of strength, it began to annex all neighboring territories.
When did the Republic become the Roman Empire?
In 27 BC, under Augustus.
How much area did the Roman Empire occupy by 117AD?
All of Western Europe (including Britain), a large part of Central and Eastern Europe plus large territories in Northern Africa and the Middle East. They controlled the Mediterranean Sea.
What happened to Lazio and Roma after the fall of the Roman Empire in 476AD?
This region, and the rest of the country, were left in a state of chaos.
Control was regained by the Catholic Church which grew in power and influence in the centuries that follower.
What happened to Lazio in the Middle Ages?
It became a sub-region of the Papal States and remained so until it was incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy in 1870.
Why was the incorporation of Lazio and Roma into the Kingdom of Italy significant?
It marked the end of the Risorgimento, the unification process that led to the formation of the modern-day country of Italy.
What is the capital of Lazio?
Roma; it is also the capital of Italy. The government and most of the important governmental institutions are located there.
Where is Lazio located?
This region lies in west-central Italy. It extends from the Central Apennines westward to the Tyrrhenian sea. Toscana lies to the northwest, Umbria to the north, Campania to the southeast, and Abruzzo is situated to the east opposite the Apennines.
Where is Vatican City located?
Within the city of Roma; this independent, walled enclave is a country in its own right.
What is the percentage of mountains, hills and plains in Lazio?
- 54% hills
- 26% mountains
- 20% plains
What are the topographical features of the mountains in Lazio?
The Central Apennines occupy the eastern and southeastern portions of the region.
In the northwest, there are three mountain ranges of volcanic origin: Vosini, Cimini, Sabatini. Their main craters are now lakes (respectively: Bolsena, Vico and Bracciano).
Southeast of Roma lies another volcanic mountain range: Colli Albani.
What are the topographical features of the plains in Lazio?
The largest plains are located in a coastal band running from Toscana to Campania. Once wetlands and swamps, these flatlands were drained and reclaimed.
The northern coastal plain forms the Maremma Laziale, the southern portion of the geographic and historic sub-region of Maremma that begins in Toscana.
The southern coastal plain encompasses the flatlands of Agro Pontino.
Name the rivers of Lazio.
- Tevere River: flows southwest from Umbria through central Lazio to empty into the Tyrrhenian Sea. Through its journey, it cuts through the flat Valle del Tevere (Tiber Valley) and the city of Roma.
What is the climate in Lazio?
Mediterranean near the coast but transitions to a Mediterranean with continental influces inland, especially in more mountainous areas at higher altitude.
There is a clear difference between the warm and humid coastal areas and the cooler, more temperate locations further inland where diurnal temperature swings are more pronounced.
How does rain fall across different regions in Lazio?
Rainfall decreases as you move from southeast to northwest across the region.
The Maremma Laziale receives the lowest amount of precipitation.
What soil types are there in Lazio?
The soils of this region are the result of a long and complex geologic evolution encompassing volcanic activity, sea incursion and withdrawal, and river flooding. Soils are complex but can be divided into 3 principal groupings:
* Volcanic: Largely found in the middle swath of land that runs southeast from Volsini to the Colli Albani
* Limestone: Predominantly found in the southern provinces of Latina and Frosinone.
* Clay-sandy: Largely located in the coastal areas and in the Tiber Valley; coastal clay-sands are of marine origin; river valley sediments are alluvial.
Is Lazio more dominantly planted to red or white varieties?
White grapes account for 70% of this region’s total area under vine.
Rank the grapes planted in Lazio from most widely planted to least.
- Malvasia Bianca di Candia (15%)
- Trebbiano Giallo (13%)
- Trebbiano Toscano (12%)
- Merlot (7%)
- Malvasia Bianca (6%)
- Sangiovese (5%)
- Montepulciano (4%)
- Malvasia del Lazio (3%)
- Cesanese (3%)
-
Malvasia Bianca Lunga (2%)
Others (30%)
Name the native and traditional white grape varieties of Lazio.
- Malvasia Bianca di Candia
- Trebbiano Giallo
- Trebbiano Toscano
- Malvasia del Lazio
Others:
* Malvasia Bianca Lunga
* Bombino Bianco
* Grechetto
* Moscato di Terracina
* Rossetto
* Bellone
* Ottonese
* Verdicchio (Trebbiano Verde)
* Malvasia Bianca
* Passerina
What is the most widely planted grape in Lazio?
Malvasia Bianca di Candia
This is part of the large Malvasia group. It is the most widely planted Malvasia in all of Italy, with Lazio boasting the largest number of plantings.
How does Malvasia Bianca di Candia fair in the vineyard?
This variety is vigorous and produces consistently abundant yields.
What are the characteristics of wines made from Malvasia Bianca di Candia?
Fairly neutral with a modest aromatic profile. They are moderate in acidity, full in body and rich in alcohol.
Which grape variety is traditional to the Castelli Romani wine area?
Trebbiano Giallo; part of its popularity stems from its high yields, but it also contributes body to blends.
Which variety from Lazio is locally known as Procanico?
Trebbiano Toscano; it is a significant component of many blends from this region.
How does Trebbiano Toscano fair in the vineyard?
This grape is vigorous and highly productive.
What does Trebbiano Toscano contribute to blends with Malvasias?
Its bright acidity offsets the lower-acid Malvasias.
Which grape variety is often referred to as Malvasia Puntinata?
Malvasia del Lazio.
Puntinata means ‘dotted’, which refers to the dark specks that appear on the skins of the berries as they ripen.
Recent DNA studies have shown that Malvasia del Lazio is a cross between which two varieties?
Muscat of Alexandria (Zibibbo) and Schiava Grossa; which explains the delicate grapey and Muscat-like aromas typical of the variety.
What is an important aspect of Malvasia del Lazio that allows it to produce rich and luschious sweet wines?
This grape is prone to botrytis.
Name the native and traditional red varieties of Lazio.
- Cesanese
- Aleatico
Others:
* Sangiovese
* Montepulciano
* Ciliegiolo
* Canaiolo
* Nero Buono
Which variety is considered Lazio’s most distinctive red grap and is grown only in this region?
Cesanese
What are the 2 distinct varieties of Cesanese?
- Cesanese Commune: was historically more widely cultivated.
- Cesanese d’Affile: gaining ground; considered the better of the two.
What styles of wine is Cesanese produced in?
Traditionally, this variety was produced in a variety of styles including sweet and fizzy.
Today, most are dry and still.
What are the characteristics of wines made from Cesanese?
The best examples are intensely fruity, medium-bodied and well-structured, yet supple on the palate.
Which aromatic red variety, traditional to the area around Lake Bolsena, is related to Moscato Bianco (Muscat a Petits Grains Blanc)?
Aleatico; this variety is believe to be native to Toscana.
What styles of wine are mainly produced from Aleatico?
Fragrant and distinctive, sweet, red passitios. And occasionally used to produce dry wines.
What vine training system is used in Lazio?
Most are vertically trellised and trained in Cordone Speronato and Guyot.
These newer systems have largely, but not entirely, replaced the traditional tendone and other minor traditional systems.
How much area do vineyards in Lazio cover?
Less than 50,000ac/20,000ha.
How much wine does Lazio produce annually?
Approx. 1 million hl.
What percentage of Lazio’s total wine production is DOC/G, IGT and bulk wine?
- 40% DOC/G
- 20% IGT
- Balance is bulk wine w/o origin
How many DOC/Gs are there in Lazio?
- 3 DOCGs
- 27 DOCs
Many of these DOCs are of limited or local importance and some are hardly used.
Name the Main Appellations of Lazio.
- Est! Est!! Est!!! di Montefiascone DOC
- Orvieto DOC
- Aleatico di Gradoli DOC
- Cesanese del Piglio (Piglio) DOCG
- Cesanese di Olevano Romano DOC
- Cesanese di Affile (Affile) DOC
- Frascati DOC
- Frascati Superiore DOCG
- Cannellino di Frascati DOCG
Which historic white wine was the first to receive DOC status in Lazio?
Est! Est!! Est!!! di Montefiascone DOC (1966)
Note: However, it only predates the Frascati DOC by a few days.
Where is Est! Est!! Est!!! di Montefiascone DOC located?
This appellation surrounds the shores of Lake Bolsena and includes the village of Montefiasonce in the northern reaches of Lazio.
What grapes are used to produce wines from Est! Est!! Est!!! di Montefiascone DOC?
- 50-65% Trebbiano Toscano
- 5-40% Trebbiano Giallo
- 10-20% Malvasia Bianca Lunga and/or Malvasia del Lazio
*Errata: Trebbiano Giallo changed from min. 25% to min. 5%
When can wines of Est! Est!! Est!!! di Montefiascone DOC be designated as classico?
When produced from the historic winegrowing area surrounding the villages of Montefiascone and Bolsena and adhere to higher production standards.
What styles of wine are produced under Est! Est!! Est!!! di Montefiascone DOC?
- dry (most common)
- medium-dry
- medium-sweet
- spumante
What is the legend behind the name of Est! Est!! Est!!! di Montefiascone ?
A prelate by the name of Johannes Defuk arrived in Italy in 1111 following the entourage of Emperor Henry V. Being very fond of good wine, Defuq instructed his servant to precede him on the journey and taste the local wines in order to find the best. The servant marked the village taverns serving good wine with the Latin “Est” (from Latin, meaning “it is” …good wine). Defuq stopped every time he saw the word “Est”. When he arrived in the village of Montefiascone, he found not one, not two, but three “Est” as a sign of the excellent quality of the wines in this township.
Which appellation does Lazio share with Umbria?
Orvieto DOC; Lazio lays claim to a small portion.
What grapes are used to produce wines in Orvieto DOC?
- min. 60% Grechetto and/or Trebbiano Toscano (Procanico locally)
What are the requirements of superiore wines from Orvieto DOC?
- higher production standards
- cannot be released before March 1st of the year following harvest
What styles of wine are produced in Orvieto DOC?
- dry (secco) (most common)
- superiore
- superiore vendemmia tardiva
- muffa nobile
Where is Aleatico di Gradoli DOC located?
This DOC lies on the northwest shores of Lake Bolsena.
What styless of wine are produced in Aleatico di Gradoli DOC?
Sweet wines from Aleatico.
Including:
* passito
* liquoroso
Where is Cesanese del Piglio DOCG located?
This appellation surrounds a cluster of villages and the town of Piglio in the foothills of the Central Apennines east of Roma.
What grapes are used to produce wines in Cesanese del Piglio DOCG?
- min. 90% Cesanese d’Affile and/or Cesanese Comune
What are the requirements of superiore and superiore riserva wines from Cesanese del Piglio DOCG?
Superiore:
* min. 13% abv
Superiore riserva:
* min. 14% abv
* min. 20 months aging
What are the characteristics of wines from Cesanese del Piglio DOCG?
Lightly aromatic, well-structured and often oak-aged.
Where is Cesanese di Olevano Romano DOC located?
This appellation surrounds the town of Olevano Romano and is situated to the northwest of Cesanese del Piglio DOCG.
What grapes are used to produce wines from Cesanese di Olevano?
- min. 85% Cesanese d’Affile and/or Cesnese Comune
What styles of wine are made in Cesanese di Olevano?
- dry
- sweet
- superiore
- riserva
- amabile
- dolce
- dolce frizzante
What are the characteristics of wines from Cesanese di Olevano?
Floral, lively and mineral with fine tannins.
Which of the Cesanese-based appellations is the smallest both in terms of area under vine and volume of wine produced?
Cesanese di Affile DOC
Where is Cesanese di Affile DOC located?
The winegrowing area of this appellation surrounds the town of Affile, situated to the north of Cesanese del Piglio DOCG.
What are the grape requirements for wines from Cesanese di Affile DOC?
min. 90% Cesanese d’Affile
What styles of wine are produced in Cesanese di Affile DOC?
- dry
- riserva
- dolce (sweet)
The wines of which appellation are Lazio’s claim to fame and one of the principal & traditional libations of Roma?
Historic Frascati.
Where is Frascati DOC located?
The appellation is situated on the hills just southeast of Roma in an area generally referred to as the Castelli Romani.
The growing area surrounds the town of Frastcati from which the DOC takes its name.
All 3 Frascati appellations cover the same geographic zone of production:
* Frascati DOC
* Frascati Superior DOCG
* Cannellino di Frascati DOCG
What types of soils are found in Frascati?
Volcanic
When were the sub-categories of Frascati Superiore and sweet Cannellino separated and elevated to their own DOCG?
2011
What grapes are used to produce wines under Frascati DOC and Frascati Superiore DOCG?
- min. 70% Malvasia Bianca di Candia and/or Malvasia del Lazio (locally known as Malvasia Puntinata)
- max. 30% of blending grapes
The best wines are usually produced from higher proportions of Malvasia del Lazio.
What are the characteristics of wines from Frascati DOC?
Simple, light-bodied quaff with delicate aromas of citrus, apple and flowers.
The wine can be produced in a range of sweetness levels, although the most common style is dry.
What are the requirements of wines produced in Frascati Superiore DOCG?
Produced from vineyards with:
* lower max. yields
* higher min. alcohol level
Riserva:
* min. 13% abv
* min. 12 months aging
What are the characteristics of wines from Frascati Superiore DOCG?
More character and depth than basic Frascati. The wines have attractive floral notes, hints of stone fruit, almond and grapefruit, all coupled with an underlying minerality.
What styles of wine are produced in Frascati DOC?
- spumante
- abbocato
- amabile
Note: this only applies to the DOC, not the DOCG.
What grapes are used to produce wines from Cannellino di Frascati DOCG?
- min. 70% Malvasia Bianca di Candia and/or Malvasia del Lazio (Malvasia Puntinata)
- max. 30% blending grapes
This appellation follows the same blending formula as the Frascati DOC.
How are the sweet wines of Cannellino di Frascati DOCG produced?
Historically, this wine was produced from grapes affected by noble rot. This winegrowing area is one of the very few places in Italy where conditions can be ideal for the development of botrytis.
Today, the grapes are required to be harvested late and a light appassimento is permitted (but not mandatory) after harvest. The presence of noble rot is also optional, so the wines range from sweet to botrytized, although the latter are rarely produced nowadays.
Name the appellations of Castelli Romani.
- Castelli Romani DOC
- Marino DOC
- Colli Albani DOC
- Cori DOC
Minor Appellations:
* Colli Lanuvini DOC
* Montecompatri-Colonna DOC
* Velletri DOC
* Zagarolo DOC
* Roma DOC
Which wine district is historically considered the wine reservoir of Roma?
Castelli Romani
Where is the wine district of Castelli Romani located?
These DOCs lie on the hills on the immediate southeast outskirts of Roma and extends to the foothills of the Colli Albani range.
What soils are found in the district of Castelli Romani?
Largely comprised of volcanic soil.
Which of the Castelli Romani appellations is the largest in size and in volume of wine produced?
Castelli Romani DOC
Where is Castelli Romani DOC located?
It encompasses the entire Castelli Romani area and overlaps Frascati.
What grapes are used to produce wines in Castelli Romani DOC?
Bianco blend based on:
* Malvasia Bianca di Candia
* Malvasia de Lazio
* various Trebbianos
Rosso blend based on:
* Cesanese
* Montepulciano
* Sangiovese
* Merlot
* Nero Buono
What styles of wine are produced in Castelli Romani DOC?
- bianco
- rosso
- amabile
- frizzante
- rosato
- novello
Where is Marino DOC located?
This white wine only appellation is located in the western section of the Castelli Romani wine district.
It is one of the largest DOCs in this district with regard to volume of wine produced.
What grapes are used to produce wines in Marino DOC?
“Marino” (white wine) based on:
* Malvasia Bianca di Candia
What styles of wine are produced in Marino DOC?
- superiore
- classico
- frizzante
- passito
- vendemmia tardiva
- varietal
Where is Colli Albani DOC located?
This white only appellation lies to the south of the Marino DOC.
What grapes are used to produce wine in Colli Albani DOC?
One white blend based on:
* Malvasia Bianca di Candia
* Malvasia del Lazio
* various Trebbianos
What styles of wine are produced in Colli Albani DOC?
- bianco
- spumante
- superiore
- novello
Where is Cori DOC located?
This appellation lies in the southeastern quadrant of the Castelli Romani wine district.
What grapes are used to produce wines in Cori DOC?
Wines are largely based on local grapes:
* Bellone (white)
* Nero Buono (red)
Which grapes are used to produce wines in Colli Lanuvini DOC, Montecompatri-Colonna DOC, Velletri DOC and Zagarolo DOC?
These appellations largely produce white wines base on:
* Malvasias
* Trebbianos
Red wines from:
* Sangiovese
* Montepulciano
* Cesanese
* Merlot
What area does the Roma DOC cover?
This appellation covers a large part of the province of Roma, including the entire district of Castelli Romani.
What grapes are used to produce wines from Roma DOC
- Malvasia del Lazio-based white
- Montepulciano-based red
Name the minor appellations of Northern Lazio.
- Colli Etruschi Viterbesi DOC
- Cerveteri DOC
- Tarquinia DOC
- Colli della Sabina DOC
- Vignanello DOC
- Bianco Capena DOC
These DOCs extend from the coast inland in northern Lazio.
What grapes are used to produce wines in the minor appellations of northern Lazio?
Collectively, they produce a wide range of wines.
Whites from:
* Trebbianos
* Malvasias
Reds from:
* Sangiovese
* Montepulciano
* Merlot
Several varietal wines are also produced from local & traditional grapes.
Name the minor appellations of Central Lazio.
- Aprilia DOC
- Nettuno DOC
- Genazzano DOC
Where are the Aprilia DOC and Nettuno DOC located?
These appellations lie on the coast to the south of Roma.
Which grapes are used to produce wines in Aprilia DOC?
- Trebbiano Toscano-based white wine
- Sangiovese-based red
- Sangiovese-based rose
- varietal Merlot
Which grapes are used to produce wines from Nettuno DOC?
- Bellone and Trebbiano Toscano-based white wines
- Sangiovese and Merlot-based red wines
Where is Genazzano DOC located?
Southeast of Roma, bordering the Cesanese del Piglio DOCG.
Which grapes are used to produce wines from Genazzano DOC?
- Malvasia Bianca di Candia-based white wine
- Ciliegiolo-based red wine
Name the minor appellations of Southern Lazio.
- Circeo DOC
- Moscato di Terracina DOC
- Atina DOC
Where are the Circeo DOC & Moscato di Terracina DOC located?
These appellations both lie on the southern coastal plain of Agro Pontino in the province of Latina.
Which grapes are used to produce wines from Circeo DOC
Focus is on:
* Trebbiano Toscano-based white wines
* Merlot & Sangiovese-based red wines
Which grapes are used to produce wines from Moscato di Terracina DOC?
Sweet wines (including passitos) are based on the rare and aromatic Moscato di Terracina grape.
Where is Atina DOC located?
This isolated appellation is situated in the southeast corner of Lazio.
Which grapes are used to produce wine in Atina DOC?
This appellation focuses solely on international varieties.
How many IGTs are there in Lazio?
6
Which of the IGTs in Lazio is one of the most popular?
The regional Lazio IGT; allows for a plethora of wines and wine styles including high-quality bottlings.
Which IGT of Lazio is particularly noteworthy for the production of varietal Passerina?
Frusinate IGT
