Toscana Flashcards
When was toscana settled and by whom?
the etruscans in 8th century bc
in 1716, grand duke cosimo III de Medici issues an edict, deliminating boundaries to 4 different regions in toscany. what are the four regions?
Chianti
Pomino
Carmignano
Val d’Arno di Sopra
what happened in toscana after the mezzadria system was abolished?
farmers were not prepared and many abandoned their vineyards
land prices fell, causing an influx of new investors
what 3 vineyard practices were adopted in the 1980s in toscana?
higher planting density
lower yields
better clones
the supertuscans were birthed from what movement?
the quality renaissance of the 1980s
who was a pioneer of sassicaia, tignanello, solaia
giacomo tachis
Who is considered the father of sangiovese wines
Giullo Gambelli
What is the largest river in toscana?
the arno
what do the appenines provide for the climate in toscana
protects from cold northerly air currents
rain barrier for coastal and central-southern part
what mitigates the summer heat on the coast and maremma in toscana?
sea breezes
locate the wettest and driest areas in toscana
wettest areas are in the appenines
driest areas are in the south and central parts
what can be a vineyard problem in southern toscana and maremma
drought
what are soils in general in toscana
clay, limestone and sandstone
what are the two types of rock in toscana
glaestro (central toscana)
alberese (central and south toscana)
describe galestro
metamorphic rock
crumbly clayey, schist-like rock
where is glaestro notably located in toscana
chianti classico, rufina and montalcino
describe alberese
fine grained calcareous marl
where is alberese notably located
chianti classico
t or f: in toscana whites dominate
false; reds dominate 80%
what are the 4 challenges with growing sangiovese
site sensitive
buds early and ripens late
prefers south facing slopes with poor and well drained slopes
highly susceptible to bunch rot and oidium
What is sangiovese called in montalcino
brunello
What is sangiovese called in montepulciano
prugnolo gentile
What is sangiovese called in scansano
morellino
What is sangiovese also called throughout tuscany
sangiovese grosso
What is sangiovese called in chianti classico
sangioveto
what was widely planted in toscana until the 18th century?
canaiolo
what is the purpose of canaiolo in a blend?
used to soften the wine and refine the perfume
what is the most widely planted white in toscana
trebbiano toscano
What is trebbiano toscano’s purpose in blends
used to add acid
what is malvasia blanca lunga used for in vin santo
adds body and perfume
what is chianti classico 2000
a project created in the 70s to research clones and find higher quality ones
what are the three main training systems used in toscana?
archetto (variation of guyot)
guyot
cordon speronato
what are the two main grapes used in vin santo?
trebbiano toscano and malvasia blanca lunga
what are caratelli?
50l barrels used to age vin santo
describe the climate of bolgheri
mediterranean
who is the pioneer of the bolgheri sassicaia doc
Marchese Mario Incisa Della Rochetta
what did Marchese Mario Incisa Della Rochetta do when he came to Bolgheri?
recognised the potential for bordeaux style wines to be produced here. Grew cab sav and cab franc
what actions were taken by Marchese Mario Incisa Della Rochetta after his first vintage failed
replanted on Sassicaia soil with great success
what two important figures joined Mario Incisa after recognising the potential of the wines of sasicaia?
Antinori and Giacomo Tachis
What are the main grapes of Bolgheri Sassicaia?
Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabenet Franc
What was historically produced in Bolgheri DOC before the 1980s?
whites and roses
What are the dominant varieties in the bordeaux blends of Bolgheri DOC?
cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc
What is the predominant variety for whites in Bolgheri DOC?
Vermentino
what is the soil mix in val di cornia
light alluvials and heavy alluvials
the climate of Val di Cornia is similar to which other appelation?
Bolgheri
what varieties are suitble for the Val di Cornia?
Bordeaux varities
what are the dominant varieties in the Val di Cornia Rosso DOCG blend?
Sangiovese/Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Merlot
what are the dominant varieties in the Suvereto DOCG rosso blend?
Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Merlot
What three varieties can make varietal wines in Suvereto DOCG?
Sangiovese, Cab Sav and Merlot
describe the climate of Monteccuco DOC
mediterranean climate BUT tempered by more inland position, higher altitude, winds and large diurnal range
what brought investors to Montecucco DOC in the 90s?
similar climate to bolgheri but lower land prices
what are the dominant varieties used for red and white in MOntecucco DOC?
Sangiovese and Trebbiano TOscano
What is the most well known DOCG of southern maremma
Morellino di Scansano DOCG
what is the dominant variety in the Morellino di Scansano DOCG blend?
Sangiovese
describe the range of styles produced in Maremma toscana DOC
sangiovese based red
trebbiano/vermentino biano blend
varietal wines
what is the vineyard topography of Elba
vineyards are located on steep, terraced-slopes