Marche: Appellations Flashcards
Name the appellations of Northern Marche.
- Bianchello del Metauro DOC
- Pergola DOC
- Colli Pesaresi DOC
Which of the appellations in Northern Marche is white wine only with a long-standing tradition?
Bianchello del Metauro DOC
When did Bianchello del Metauro DOC receive DOC status?
1969
Where is Bianchello del Metauro DOC located?
It covers both side of the Metauro River in Northern Marche and extends from the Adriatic to the base of the Apennines.
What grapes are used to produce wines from Bianchello del Metauro DOC?
- min. 95% Biancame (locally known as Binachello)
- Malvasia Bianca Lunga (only blending partner allowed)
What styles of wine are produced in Bianchello del Metauro DOC?
- spumante
- superiore
- passito
Which appellation in Northern Marche is a small town, well-known for its atypical wines and Roman gilded-bronze statues?
Pergola DOC
Where is Pergola DOC located?
In Northen Marche, south-west of Bianchello del Metauro DOC
What grapes are used to produce wines in Pergola DOC?
This appellation focuses entirely on a local biotype of the red Aleatico grape.
What are the characteristics of wines from Pergola DOC?
All wines are perfumed and fragrant, with attractive floral and red fruit aromas plus the distinctive Muscat character.
Where is Colli Pesaresi DOC located?
This appellation covers the entire northern winegrowing area of Marche from Romagna to the Ancona Province. It overlaps the Bianchello del Metauro and Pergola DOCs.
Although it is a large area geographically, the actual area under vine is small.
What grapes are used to produce wines in Colli Pesaresi DOC?
- Sangiovese (one of the most widely planted grapes in the appellation)
- Trebbiano Toscano-based blends (locally called Albanella)
What styles of wines are produced in Colli Pesaresi DOC?
- spumante
- bianco
- rosato
- rosso
- novello
- riserva
- varietal
What is Visciola?
An ancient and traditional wine specialty that Northern Marche is known for. It is an aromatized Vernaccia di Pergola or Montepulciano wine using visciole, a variety of local, wild cherries.
Marche is highly reputed for which delicacy?
This region is highly reputed for truffle-hunting. The Pesaro-Urbino province is considered one of Italy’s best areas for finding this delicacy.
Name the appellations of Central Marche.
- Conero Riserva DOCG
- Rosso Conero DOC
- Lacrima di Morro (Lacrima di Morro d’Alba)
- Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore DOC, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Passito DOC, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Spumante DOC
- Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva DOCG
- Verdicchio di Matelica DOC
- Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva DOCG
- Vernaccia di Serrapetrona DOCG
- Serrapetrona DOC
- Colli Maceratesi DOC
Minor appellations:
* Esino DOC
* San Ginesio DOC
* I Terreni di Sanseverino DOC
What is significant about Monte Conero (Monte d’Ancona)?
It is the highest and most spectacular cliff on the Italian peninsula’a eastern side. Reaching 1,876ft/572m in elevation, it is one of two important promontories along the Adriatic coast.
The area surrounding is home to the Parco Regionale del Conero nature preserve. Vineyards grown next to Mediterranean shrubs, pine forests, holm oaks, broom and strawberry trees (corbezzolo).
Tourists flock to the beautiful white beaches and the sea resorts of Portonova, Sirolo and Numana during the summer months.
Where is Monte Conero located?
The appellation encompasses the coastal hilly territory around Monte Conero and includes the city of Ancona a few miles to the north.
Vineyards are planted on low to medium hills extending inland from Monte Conero.
Monte Conero is seen as a sort of “cru” for which grape variety?
Montepulciano; it performs particularly well here and the district focuses entirely on red wines based on this grape.
Where in Marche does the transition from Sangiovese to Montepulciano take place?
The Conero winegrowing area; it lies at the northern limit for this variety. Any further north and the grape is not able to fully ripen.
What is the climate of Monte Conero?
Mediterranean; it is greatly influenced by the sea and its breezes.
What types of soils are found in Monte Conero?
Generally poor and mainly composed of calcareous clay.
The wines of Conero are produced under which 2 separate appellations?
- Conero Riserva DOCG
- Rosso Conero DOC
These cover the exact same geographic area as Conero.
What grapes are used to produce wines from Conero Riserva DOCG?
- min. 85% Montepulciano
- max. 15% Sangiovese
Most bottlings are 100% Montepulciano.
What are the requirements of wines from Conero Riserva DOCG?
- min. 12.5% abv
- min. 2 years aging
The period of time spent in oak is not mandated, but most wines age in wood for a least 1 year (often in small barrels) in order to soften the tannic structure of Montepulciano.
Which of the Conero appellations is the area’s top quality level?
Conero Riserva DOCG; the wines are made from the best grapes selected from the best parcels within the finest vineyards.
What are the characteristics of wines from Conero Riserva DOCG?
Tannic, robust, full-bodied, high-alcohol wines that are long-lived.
What grapes are used to produced wines from Rosso Conero DOC?
- min. 85% Montepulciano
- balance can include any red grapes approved in the region (an important difference from the DOCG)
However, many examples are 100% Montepulciano (like the DOCG)
What are the requirements of wines from Rosso Conero DOC?
Less stringent than the DOCG.
The minimum final alcohol level is lower.
The maximum yields are higher.
There is no mandatory aging period.
What are the characteristics of wines from Rosso Conero DOC?
Fruitier and more fragrant than the Conero Riserva DOCG and more approachable at a younger age.
Where is Lacrima di Morro DOC located?
This appellation encompasses the gentle, coastal hills surrounding the village of Morro d’Alba.
The vines lie approx. 15mi/25km from the Adriatic coast and are greatly influenced by the sea and its breezes.
What types of soils are found in Lacrima di Morro DOC?
Mostly clay.
What grapes are used to produce wines in Lacrima di Morro DOC?
- min. 85% Lacrima
- a small proportion of Montepulciano is allowed
The majority of the wines are crafted from 100% Lacrima.
What are the characteristics of wines from Lacrima di Morro DOC?
Intensely aromatic, with a distinctive combination of rose and violet, wild berries and spice.
On the palate, the wines are refreshing and medium-bodied with fine, firm tannins.
Most wines are vinified in stainless steel and are unoaked in order to preserve the fresh, floral, fruity aromas. However, a few producers do adopt an oak regimen for vinification and maturation.
What styles of wine are produced in Lacrima di Morro DOC?
- superiore
- passito
- varietal
Where is Castelli di Jesi located?
The winegrowing area extends eastward from the foothills of the Central Apennines. The northeastern part of the appellation lies approximately 10mi/16km from the sea.
Name the rivers of Castelli di Jesi.
Two notable rivers traverse this appellation:
* the small Misa River in the north
* the Esino River in the south
Where is the historic winegrowing region of Castelli di Jesi located?
The Esino River Valley roughly corresponds to the classico region.
The classico sub-zone lies almost entirely south of the Misa River and accounts for two-thirds of the appellation.
What elevation are vineyards in Castelli di Jesi planted at?
Vineyards lie on gentle hills at elevations between 260-1,800ft/80-500m above sea level.
The majority of the vineyards are found in the 260-990ft/80-300m range.
The southern half of the appellation has the highest hills.
What is the climate in Castelli di Jesi?
Conditions are more Mediterranean in the northeast in proximity to the sea. The climate becomes increasingly continental inland, closer to the Central Apennines and as elevation increases.
This climatic difference is made evident by harvest dates. Grapes are picked earlier in the warmer northeastern section and later in the southwestern portion.
What topographical features contribute to the climate in Castelli di Jesi?
The climate is the result of the interplay between the Adriatic Sea to the east and the Central Apennines to the west. Elevation also has an influencing factor in the Apennines.
What types of soils are found in Castelli di Jesi?
Mainly composed of calcareous clay.
Name the appellations in the Castelli di Jesi winegrowing district.
- Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC
- Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva DOCG
Both cover the same exact geographic area.
What grapes are used to produce wines in both Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC & Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva DOCG?
- min. 85% Verdicchio
- Malvasia Bianca Lunga and/or Trebbiano Toscano (small proportions were traditionally included.
Most wines are 100% Verdicchio and have been since the 1990s.
Which wines of Castelli di Jesi are entitled to the classico designation?
Wines produced from grapes grown within the historic winegrowing zone. The classico sub-zone lies almost entirely south of the Misa River and accounts for two-thirds of the Castelli di Jesi appellation.
Wines of both appellations (DOC & DOCG) within this area may use the classico designation.
Which appellation in Marche has the largest area under vine and volume of wine produced?
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC
More than 5,000ac/2,000ha under vine.
Name the 4 categories included in Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC.
- Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC: Entry level wines to be consumed young.
- Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore DOC: The superiore category can only be applied to wines from the classico sub-zone. It has more stringent production criteria (lower max. yield/higher final alcohol).
- Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Passito DOC: This accounts for the smallest production of these categories.
- Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Spumante DOC: This is a minor category within the DOC. These wines can be produced by tank or traditional method.