Lazio

Question 1

Grapes

Answer 1

Trebbiano:  25%
Malvasia:  21%
Merlot:  7%
Sangiovese: 5%
Cesanese: 4%
Other: 37%

Question 2

Climate

Answer 2

Warm Mediterranean climate
Moderated by altitude on low hills (up to 300m) and cooling winds by the sea

Occasional spring frost, hail, excessive heat in summer, and rain during harvest.

Rainfall normally adequate with little during summer, which reduces fungal disease.

Question 3

Malvasia Bianca di Candia

Answer 3

White, good resistance to disease, high yielding.

Juice is prone to oxidation so must be handled carefully to avoid losing freshness and becoming too deep in color.

Med minus lemon, apple, med plus alcohol, acid, light body.

Plantings are on decline

Question 4

Malvasia del Lazio

Answer 4

Cross between Muscat of Alexandria and a local

Grapey and peachy. Must be harvested at exact right time as acid drops rapidly once ripe.

Mostly been replaced due to low yields and disease resistance compared to Malvasia Bianca di Candia and Trebbiano Toscano

Question 5

Cesanese

Answer 5

Black semi aromatic
Very late ripening and high yielding but with high quality potential.

Prone to powdery mildew. Vulnerable to autumn rain and failure to not ripen fully.

Some grown inland on higher slopes (600m) for higher diurnal range and hence fresher fruit and higher acidity.

Used in many DOC’s including Cesanese di Piglio DOCG: Min 90% of this variety. Pronounced red cherry and rose, med acid and tannin and high alcohol.

Question 6

Frascati DOC

Answer 6

Malvasia Bianca di Candia and / or Malvasia del Lazio must be min 70%

Candia more popular because of disease resistance, but Lazio more fragrant.

Up to 30% Trebbiano Toscano, neutral but high yielding.

Max 105hl/ha

Cool fermentation to preserve primary. Stored briefly in stainless and released for early drinking. Acceptable to good with some very good, inexpensive to mid

Superiore DOCG: 77hl/ha. Aged for one year. Now 20% of production and good to very good with mid price. A few use barrel fermentation

Question 7

Castelli Romani DOC

Answer 7

Broad area south of Rome with many other DOC’s within (incl Frascati).

More whites than red: Malvasia del Lazio, Malvasia Bianca di Candia or Trebbiano Toscano

120hl/ha

Question 8

Business

Answer 8

Coops 20%
Export 60%
Local / Tourists