Toscana** Flashcards
What is Italy’s most planted grape?
Sangiovese (also most planted in Tuscany)
What are the most planted white grapes in Tuscany?
Trebbiano Toscano followed by Malvasia Lunga Bianca, Vermentino, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Ansonica [note that Trebbiano Toscano is not most planted white grape in all of Italy - Cattarrato Bianco is.]
What is the best blending partner of Trebbiano Toscano?
Malvasia (Lunga Bianca) contributes perfume
What are the dominant soils of central Tuscany and what are their compositions?
galestro and albanese, differing combinations of clay, limestone and sandstone
What is galestro soil?
crumbly, clayey, schist like rock with a tendency to flake, particularly in Chianti Classico, Rufina and Montalcino [Meta-Mont, GFR:Gale/Flak/Rufina]
What is albarese soil?
solid, heavier clay-limestone, fine grained calcareous marl found in central and southern Chianti and around Castellina, Carmignano [abc:AlBa/CenChi/ Cast/Carm]
Who was the pioneering winemaker in the Maremma?
Marchese Incisa della Rocchetta
What was the breakthrough wine started by Marchese Incise della Rocchetta?
Bordeaux blend, Sassicaia
When did Marchese Incisa della Rochetta plant his vineyard?
1940’s
When was Sassacaia first commercially bottled?
1968, released in 1972
What was the dominant grape of Sassicaia?
Cabernet Sauvignon 85% (minimum of 80% in DOC,) Cabernet Franc 15%
Who were the nephews of the Marchese Incise della Rocchetta?
Piero and Ludovico Antinori
What was Ludovico Antinori’s wine?
Ornellaia; 55%–65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20%–25% Merlot, plus Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot
What was Piero Antinori’s wine?
Guado al Tasso (1990) [PAGT]
What are the need to know red grape varieties in Tuscany?
Sangiovese, Canaiolo Nero
What are the principal viticultural hazards in Tuscany?
underripeness, downy mildew, esca
What is the latitude of the weather station in Firenze?
43.8 degrees N
Describe the locations of the cities Firenze, Siena, Pisa and Arezzo from N to S and W to E.
N to S: PFSA
W to E: PSFA
How many subzones of Chianti DOCG are there? What are the names of the Chianti subzones and how long are their wines aged?
Seven. Colli Senesi, Colline Pisane, Colli Aretini, Montalbano -aged for 6 months.
Montespertoli - aged for 9 months (min.)
Rùfina - aged for a year (min.)
Colli Fiorentini - aged for a year (min.)
[Chianti Classico is not a subzone.]
What is a fiasco?
The straw-wrapped wine bottle of Chianti is called a fiasco.
What are the general aging requirements for Chianti?
Aged for 6 months. Young simple tart Chianti.
What are the general aging requirements for Chianti DOCG Superiore?
Aged for a year. Slightly bolder wines with smoother acidity.
What are the general aging requirements for Chianti DOCG Riserva?
Aged for 2 years. Usually the top wines of a Chianti producer.
What are the general aging requirements for Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selectione?
Aged for at least 2.5 years (only used for top wines in Chianti Classico)
Where do the most serious examples of Chianti Classico come from?
The most serious examples of Chianti Classico come from a small group of villages from Siena in the south to the hills above Florence.
What are the soils that produce the boldest Chianti wines.
Clay-based soils, such as galestro marl and alberese sandstone
What is the modern method of oak treatment for Brunello di Montalcino wine?
Modern Method: producers use more new, smaller French barrels (‘barriques’) that impart more oak lactones into the wine and encourage the development of black fruit, chocolate, brown sugar and vanilla flavors
What is the traditional method of oak treatment for Brunello di Montalcino wine?
Traditional Method: producers use more large well-used Slavonian oak barrels (called ‘botte’ from northeastern Croatia) that impart very little oak lactones into the wine and are used simply as vessels to encourage tertiary flavor development through oxygen exposure. Wines develop more dried fruit, leather and flower flavors and have a long aging potential.
What is the aging requirement for Brunello di Montalcino?
Brunello di Montalcino is required to be aged for a minimum of 4+ years prior to release (Jan1); 5+ y for riserva bottlings.
When was the first mention of Vernaccia di San Gimignano?
Mentioned in 1276 in a tax document located in San Gimignano
What was the first ever DOC in Italy? What year?
Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOC, 1966; elevated to DOCG in 1993 [Vernaccia di Oristano was first DOC in Sardegna, but never elevated to DOCG.]
What is the taste profile of Vernaccia di San Gimignano?
Crisp and citrusy, sometimes gently floral, with a refreshing bitter-almond aftertaste, comes from the Tuscan town with the towers, potential for high quality wine (Robinson). However a diversity of styles exist.
What is the symbol of the Chianti Classico region? What is its origin?
The producers in Chianti Classico adopted the black rooster symbol in 1924. The rooster was first branded in 1384 as the emblem for the League of Chianti.
What are “damigiane”?
the straw-covered carboys traditionally used to store and move wine in bulk.
What is the name of the clone used in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano?
It is made with a clone of Sangiovese called Prugnolo Gentile.
What is the wine named “king of all wines” by the poet Francesco Redi in the 17th century
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.
Who and when granted legal protection for Carmignano?
The Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo III de’ Medici, considered the wine to be one of Tuscany’s finest and granted it legal protection in 1716.
What are main grapes used in Carmignano DOC?
Wine is a blend of Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon, long before the Super Tuscan wines ever existed.
Where did Vin Santo originate?
While the style is believed to have originated in Tuscany, examples of Vin Santo can be found throughout Italy.
What is the importance of Toscana to Italy’s wine industry as a whole?
Although Toscana is only the 7th most productive wine region, it has 4th largest amount of land under vine and is in the top 3 for DOC/DOCG classifications.
What was the impact of the super Tuscan wine category?
it was a successful attempt to improve the quality of Tuscany red wine and shed the tarnished reputation of cheap Chianti
Define Toscana’s topographical structure and neighboring administrative districts.
Triangular in shape, one border is the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas, another border is the Central Apennines and the third border is open to the south. Toscana is bordered by Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, Marche, Umbria and Lazio.
What are the factors that influence Toscana’s climate?
Mediterranean sea, mountains
What is the history of Chianti Classico?
the governmental Damasso Commission designated the historic region of Chianti as Classico in 1932; the area became it’s own DOCG in 1996
What is the history of Brunello di Montalcino?
wines from this area achieved fame in the Middle Ages due to exposure offered by Via Francigena; the first documented appearance of Brunello was an 1865 vintage winning a silver medal in 1869. [CINo>fraNCIga]
What is the history of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
wines from this area achieved fame in Roman times; ‘Nobile’ was first used in print in 1787, about the same time Thomas Jefferson declared it equal to the best of Burgundy
What are the top 4 red grape varieties plantings in Tuscany?
Sangiovese, Merlot [!], Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah
What are the main vine training systems in Toscana?
Archetto (variation of Guyot,) Cordone Speronato, Guyot
What is the main step in Vin Santo production?
grapes go through apassimento
What are the different Vin Santo DOC’s in Tuscany?
Cortona, Carmignano, Chianti, Chianti Classico, Montalcino, Montepulciano [separate DOC!], San Gimignano, Montecucco (??? others)
What are the principal white grape varieties in Tuscany?
Trebbiano Toscano, Malvasia (Bianca Lunga), Vernaccia di Gemignano
How does Tuscany rank in Italian wine regions in terms of land under vines? In terms of production?
Fourth (173K acres), after Sicilia, Puglia, and Veneto.
Seventh. [production < acreage suggesting quality]
Describe the wine quality pyramid in Tuscany?
65/30/5
How many DOCG’s and DOC’s are in Tuscany? How does this compare to other Italian regions?
11 DOCG’s, 41 DOC’s; second only to Piemonte
Describe the chronological sequence of civilizations in Tuscany.
2000 - 900 BCE prehistoric people, 900-250 BCE Etruscans, 250 BCE - 476 CE Romans Republic/Empire, Ostrogoths, Byzantines 533 CE, Lombards 568 CE, Franks 756 CE encastellation, city-states, Republic of Siena and Republic of Firenze signoria (lordship, e.g. Medici family) Kingdom of Sardegna
Name 3 Tuscan families that established wine estates in the Middle Ages?
Ricasoli - 1100’s, (1872 Chianti blending formula)
Frescabaldi - early 1300 (bought Ornellaia from Mondavi)
Antinori - late 1300’s.
What was the goal of the Tuscan Bando of 1716?
delimit wine growing areas, create commission for control of production, exports and fraud (40 years before the Portuguese charter that defined the production region for Port wine)
What bodies of water influence the Toscana climate?
The Ligurian and Tyrrhenian seas influence the Toscana climate. (Lake Trasimento modulates climate in Cortona.)
Where in Tuscany is drought an issue?
Maremma. (and others ***)
What is the influence of Corsica on the Toscana climate?
blocks humid air from the west
What protects northern Toscana from cool air currents?
Northern Apennines
What are international white grape varieties in Tuscany?
Chardonnay mostly, less Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio
What is the role of international red grape varieties in Tuscany?
almost 20%, recent increasing importance of the last 30 years, minor blending component all over Toscana, ITG varietal wines (Carmignano is the outlier with long history of international grapes.)
What was the effect on Tuscan viticulture of the abolishment of mezzadria?
short-term negative effect due to lack of capital to employ laborers and modernize farms, a resultant drop in land prices allowed subsequent reinvestment
What political entity turned Tuscany into a duchy?
Lombards
What political entity turned Tuscany into a marquisate?
Frankish Kingdom
What is the Via Francigena?
Dating from the Middle Ages, the road connecting France to Rome. (Many consider the start point in Canterbury, England. It was more a concept than a single road. In contrast to Roman roads, it connected abbeys rather than cities.)
What is the longest river in Tuscany?
Arno
What are the 4 Tuscan coastal areas?
Northern Tuscan Coast, Northern Maremma, Southern Maremma, Elba
What is the most important wine appellation of the Northern Tuscan Coast?
Montecarlo DOC
What is the dominant white grape of Montecarlo DOC?
Trebbiano, but must also contain at least 40% of 3 other complementary white grapes, thus creating a wide range of styles
What is the dominant red grape of Montecarlo DOC?
Sangiovese, 50-75%
Compare the wine making traditions of Montecarlo and Bolgheri.
Wine from Montecarlo dates from the 9th century and that from Bolgheri from 1940’s.
What is the origin of the word Sassicaia?
Sassi - “stones” of a stony gravelly soil
Who was Giacomo Tachis?
Antinori enologist brought in to refine Sassicaia
Who was Luigi Veronnelli?
first wine critic to praise Sassicaia
How many Italian appellations have been given to a single estate?
only one, Bogheri-Sassicaia DOC
Where is Costa degli Etruschi?
Northern Maremma
What is main city within the Northern Tuscan Coast?
Lucca
Describe the soils of Bolgheri.
Diverse: sedimentary, alluvial, marine, volcanic
What types of wine are made Suvereto DOCG?
red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot, varietal Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
Where is Suvereto DOCG located?
Val di Cornia, across from Elba Island
What is the blend of Val di Cornia Rosso DOCG?
Minimum of 40% Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Riserva requires extra aging.
The province of Grosseto corresponds to what wine area?
Southern Tuscan Maremma or Maremma Grossetano or simply Maremma
What is the familial relationship between Marchese Mario Incise della Rocchetta and Niccolo Antinori?
They both married Gherardesca sisters who had inherited large estates in Maremma.
What are the need to know appellations in the Southern Tuscan Maremma?
Montecucco DOC, Montecucco Sangiovese DOCG, Morellino di Scansano DOCG, Maremma Toscana DOC
What are the need to know appellations on Elba?
Elba Aleatico Passito DOCG (Elba DOC is the second appellation of the island)
What are the need to know appellations in central Tuscany?
Chianti DOCG, Chianti Classico DOCG, Carmignano DOCG, Barco Reale di Carmignano DOC, Vin Santo di Carmignano DOC, San Gimignano DOCG
Who was behind the creation of the Carmignano DOC?
Ugo Contini Bonacossi of Tenuta Capezzana [UCBTC]
Who was responsible for international grapes being planted in Carmignano?
Catherine de Medici, Queen of France 1547-1559: Cabernet Franc
What are the two main towns associated with Carmignano?
Carmignano and Poggio a Caiano
What is Vin Ruspo?
meaning drawn off, a rosato made by salasso (bled off) in Barco Reale de Carmignano DOC
What are the blending formulas and the aging requirements of Carmignano DOCG?
minimum 50% Sangiovese, 10-20% Cabernet, optional Canaiolo, white grapes allowed (usually 80% Sang/15% Cab Sauv); aged 2 years of which 8 months in oak (or rarely chestnut,) riserva 3y/12m
Who is Ugo Contini Bonacossi?
Lead force behind establishment of Carmignano DOC
Carmignano was formerly part of which wine zone?
Incorporated initially into Chianti DOC sub-zone of Montalbano.
What wine regions in Italy have a traditional use of Cabernet grapes?
uniquely, Carmignano DOCG
Which wine region is associated with Catherine di Medici?
Carmignano; she planted Cabernet Franc there in 1500’s.
Compare the elevation of Carmignano and Chianti Montalbano.
Carmignano is lower, but still has large diurnal swings of temperature
Describe the soils of Carmignano?
albarese
What are the grapes in Vin Santo di Carmignano DOC?
Trebbiano and Malvasia
When were the boundaries of the Historic Chianti zone first delimited?
1384 with establishment of Lega di Chianti (this was a political/military designation, not a defined zone of wine production)
What is the grape associated with historical Chianti?
Canaiolo
Who is Baron Bettino Ricasoli?
experimented with Chianti grapes used for blending (later Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Italy)
What is Governo all’uso Toscano?
Tuscan technique from 14th century, involves saving a batch of harvested grape to partially dry. If fermentation of the main batch starts to slow, the half dried grapes are added to the must which allows extra sugar to increase body and alcohol
What was Baron Bettino Ricasoli blending formula?
1872, developed for a more easy drinking Chianti: Sangiovese 70%, Canaiolo 15% and Malvasia 15%.
What are the main effects of Governo on the vinificaton process?
Encourages not only fully completed primary fermentation but can also aid in the developing of malolactic fermentation which can help stabilize the wine. With very acidic grapes like Sangiovese this process will temper some of the harshness and volatility in the wine.
What is the business relationship between Marchese Mario Incise della Rocchetta and Niccolo Antinori?
Antinori provided enology consulting and marketed Sassicaia when it was originally released
Where is Montecarlo DOC?
Northern Tuscan Coast
What was the driving force for the expansion of the Chianti zone beyond the historical boundaries?
Market conditions: In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, phylloxera in France created wine shortages and demand for Italian wine increased.
When were the current boundaries of Chianti set?
1932 by the Italian government, not the Consorzio.
What is vino all’uso di Chianti?
a term in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for wine made in the style of Chianti outside the historical growing region (e.g. fraudulent Chianti)
What are the rough geographical boundaries of the Chianti Classico DOCG?
Elsa Valley (W), Monti del Chianti (E), Firenze (N), Siena (S)
What are the rivers of the Chianti Classico DOCG?
Pesa and Greve (Arno), Arbia (Ombrone)
Where is the Pesa River?
Chianti Classico, empties into the Arno River
Where is the Greve River?
Chianti Classico, empties into the Arno River
Where is the Arbia River?
Chianti Classico, empties into the Ombre River [Arby’s is going south!]
What is the climate of Chianti Classico DOCG?
continental (with just some moderate Mediterranean influences)
What is the blending formulas and the aging requirements of Chianti Classico DOCG?
80% Sangiovese and 20% other sanctioned red grapes (no white grapes); aging is 1 year for annata, 2 years for Riserva and 2.5 years for Gran Selezione.
How much Sangiovese is required for Chianti Classico?
80% (no white grapes)
How much Sangiovese is required for Chianti DOCG?
70% (also up to 10% white grapes)
How much Sangiovese is required for Colli Senesi?
75% (no longer allows white grapes; max. of 10% Cab) [higher than 70% for other sub-zones]
What are the categories of wine produced in Chianti Classico DOCG?
annata, Riserva and Gran Selezione.
Which Chianti sub-zones are considered to produce higher quality wine?
Rufina (best), Fiorentini, Senesi [R(n)FS]
What are the differences between Chianti Classico DOCG and Chianti DOCG?
Different appellation, separate wine-growing areas, less strict production requirements in Chianti DOCG
Is Governo all’uso Toscano allowed in Chianti?
Yes, but must also appear on the label.
Which Chianti sub-zones is the smallest?
Rufina, has its own consorzio
Which wine region is associated with Sieve River?
runs through Rufina sub-zone of Chianti DOCG
What is the only white DOCG in Tuscany?
Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG
The boundaries of Vernacchia di San Gimignano overlap with what other wine areas?
It falls within the Colli Senese sub-zone of Chianti DOCG.
What is the climate of Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG?
Mediterranean climate [not continental like Chianti Classico] with 27 inches of rain in fall and spring
What is the altitude of the vineyards in Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG?
650 to 1300 feet
Describe the soils of Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG.
poor soils of marine origin with yellow sand and clay over a more compact clay subsoil
What is minimum component of Vernaccia in Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG?
85% (typically 100%)
What are the requirements for Riserva of Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG?
12.5% abv and 11 months of aging.
What are the requirements for Chianti Superiore DOCG?
Lowest* yields in the Chianti DOCG, min 12% abv, released after 9/1. Chianti DOCG wines can be released after 3/1 except Fiorentini an Rufina (9/1) and Montespertoli (6/1).
What are the “need to know” appellations within Eastern Toscana?
Cortona DOC [not Valdarno di Sopra or Valdichiana Toscana]
What are Chianina?
Italian breed of cattle from Val di Chiana
What are the “need to know” appellations within Southern Toscana?
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Rosso di Montalcino DOC, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Rosso di Montepulciano DOC, Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC
What is Tuscany easternmost DOC?
Cortona DOC
When was Cortona at it’s peak of influence?
8th century BCE under Etruscans
What is the most important element of the soils of Cortona?
clay, needed to retain moisture to combat summer drought
What is the climate in Cortona? What are moderating influences on the climate?
Continental with moderating influences from the Mediterranean and Lake Trasimento
What is the signature grape of Cortona?
Syrah, most widely planted grape (also Sangiovese and Merlot)
Discuss the wine styles of Cortona DOC.
almost a dozen different styles with a blend (Syrah/Merlot) and multiple varietals as well as riservas and Vin Santo
What was the key driver of the wine industry in Montalcino during the Middle Ages?
travel alone the Via Francigena
What was the famous style of wine from Montalcino in the 16th century?
sweet Moscato
When was the first mention of Brunello?
late 18th century
Who was Clemente Santi? [P}
producer at Fattoria del Greppo that innovated Brunello wine production in the 1850’s. [Santi>Saint saved appellation on Via Francigenia]
What were Clemente Santi’s innovations for Brunello?
transition to monoculture, longer fermentation, longer maceration and racking (not governo!)
Who was Ferrucio Biondi?
Santi’s grandson
What were Ferrucio Biondi’s innovations?
identification and propagation of best quality vines, destemmed grapes, extended aging in Slovonian oak
What factors decreased Brunello production in the 20th century?
phylloxera, two world wars
What blends are permitted in Montalcino?
none, must be 100% Sangiovese, the basis of Brunellogate fraud in 2008.
What rivers are associated with Montalcino?
Ombrone (west), Asso (east), Orcia (south) [mOntAlcinO]
What is the width of Montalcino?
9 miles
What is the aging requirement for Rosso di Montalcino?
1 year, released 9/1 after harvest
What Italian wine has the most historical list of documented praise?
wines from Montepulciano
When was the decline of Montepulciano?
19th century
Who was Adamo Fanetti? [P}
Montepulciano winemaker that revived fortunes of Vino Nobile in 1933 [Fanetti>fan the waning embers of VNM]
What is the climate of Montepulciano?
more continental than Montalcino (Mount Miata blocks the influence of the Mediterrean Sea)
Describe the soils of Montepulciano.
marine origin, sandy character, more homogeneous than Montalcino [pu>puto>homo]
What is the blending formula for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG?
minimum of 70% Sangiovese
What is the aging requirement for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano?
2 years, 3 years for riserva
What is the relationship of the town of Montepulciano and the grape Montepulciano?
no direct relation
What are the characteristics of Sant’Angelo Scalo?
warmest and driest area in the south of Montalcino
What are the characteristics of Torrenieri?
cooler area with more clay soil in the northeast of Montalcino [[torreNiEr=northeast; NIErI/Nievi=snow>cool]
What are the characteristics of Tavernelle?
medium altitude area with stony calcareous soils of Montalcino [not to be confused with Tavernelle Val da Pesa in Chianti]
What producer dictated the original disciplinare of Brunello di Montalcino?
Tancredo Biondi-Santi, great grandson of Clemente Santi [P}
What are the grapes in Vin Santo di Chianti Classico DOC?
Trebbiano and Malvasia
What is the significance of the Lega di Chianti?
In 1250, the Florentine Republic divided the neighboring communities into geographic districts, which together formed the Lega di Chianti. The oldest statute of the Lega del Chianti dates back to 1384. (This was not a wine production zone designation.)
Where is Carrara marble from?
quarried in the Alpi Apuane in Tuscany
What are the major mountains in Tuscany?
Northern Apennines
What are three minor mountains in Tuscany?
Alpi Apuane, Pratomagno, Mount Amiata
Who were the first wine exporters of Toscana?
Etruscans in the 7th century BCE exported wine to France and Spain.
What is encastellation?
power structure in Middle Ages, especially in Toscana, where local populations gathered in fortified hill top settlements
What was the significance of the Tuscan Bando of 1716?
first attempt to protect the integrity of a wine appellation ever
What was the significance of Cosimo Villifranchi? [P}
wrote the first accurate work about enology in Tuscany
What was the significance of Accademia dei Georgofili? [P}
founded in 1753 for improvement of agriculture in Toscana
What was the first capital of the Kingdom of Italy?
Firenze
When was mezzaduria abolished?
1960’s
What structural factors stimulated a revitalization of viticulture in Toscana during the 1980’s?
low land prices and the DOC system
What is the largest of the central Italian regions?
Toscana
What is the largest island in the Tuscan archipeligo?
Elba
What are the wettest and the driest months in Tosana?
wettest in November, driest in July
What geographical feature increases the risk of drought in Tuscany?
Corsica blocks humid air from the west.
What is the topographic breakdown of Toscana?
hilly, 67/25/8
What are 3 isolated mountain groups of importance in Tuscany?
Alpi Apuane, Pratomagno, Monte Amiata
Where is Vermentino most likely grown in Tuscany?
near the Tuscan coast e.g. Bolgheri, Colli di Luni DOC
What are the need to know white grapes in Tuscany?
Trebbiano Toscano and Vernaccia di San Gimignano
What is the red/white grape planting distribution in Toscana?
80+% red
What areas of Toscana are known for their use of international red grapes?
in modern times, Bolgheri and Suvereto; traditional use of Cabernets only in Carmignano
Sangiovese is native to where?
probably southern Italy [not Tuscany!]
What is the etymology of Sangiovese?
unknown, but “Jupiter’s blood” is suspected based on color
What is the significance of Morellino?
Sangiovese biotype grown around Scansano
What is the significance of Sangioveto?
Sangiovese biotype grown in Chianti Classico
What is the significance of Sangiovese Grosso?
synonym for Sangiovese all over Toscana
What is the significance of Prugnolo Gentile?
Sangiovese biotype grown in Montepulciano
What is the significance of Brunello?
Sangiovese biotype grown in Montalcino
Prior to the 18th century, what was the principal red grape of Toscana?
Canaiolo
What is the primary role of Trebbiano Toscano in Tuscany?
Vin Santo production (not often included in Chianti anymore)
What is the flavor profile of Trebbiano Toscano?
rather neutral with good acidity
In Tuscany what vinicultural techniques promoted softening of the Sangiovese?
blending and governo
What is the evolution of varietal Sangiovese?
Historically, done in Montalcino, modern in 1960’s and 70’s.
What is etymology of Montalcino?
from Latin Mons Ilcinus and holm oak trees
Who controlled Montalcino in the Middle Ages?
alternating between independence and submission to either Firenze or Siena
Who was Giulio Gabelli?
master taster from Biondi-Santi that worked as consultant throughout Chianti Classico and then Brunello
What was the prototype super Tuscan?
Sassicia (first one)
What were the groundswell super Tuscans?
Antinori’s Tignanello and Tenuta San Felice’s Vigorello
What is the familial relationship between Nicoló Incisa della Rocchetta and Nicoló Antinori?
Nicoló Incisa della Rocchetta’s father (Mario) and Nicoló Antinori married sisters.
Why is the super Tuscan concept under debate today?
Italian producers accuse Antinori of destroying Tuscan character in his attempt to save Tuscan wine.
What is the Goria law?
in 1992, Italian wine law added a Tuscan IGT (that allowed super Tuscan type wines to avoid bulk wine category)
When did Vin Santo originate?
Middle Ages, with a prototype from Greek and Roman times
What is the role of noble rot in the production of Vin Santo?
it may occasionally develop during the appassimento (Tuscan climate does not generally promote noble rot)
What are caratelli?
wood barrels (50 liters) used for slow fermentation and maturation of Vin Santo
Where are caratelli kept?
in non-temperature controlled storage rooms which promote discontinuous fermentation for Vin Santo
What is the madre?
a thick deposit of wine-soaked lees is left in the caratello to initiate fermentation of newly pressed grape juice
What is the role of racking in the production of Vin Santo?
rare, once a year or less during aging
What is the role of blending in the production of Vin Santo?
blending is critical to this artisanal process
What are the sweetness levels of Vin Santo?
dry (rare), abboccato, amabile, dolce
What are differences between Toscana’s Vin Santo and Trentino’s Vino Santo?
Vin Santo is less sweet, higher alcohol, no Nosiola grapes
What is the estate associated with Sassicaia?
Tenuta San Guido [not Guado al Tasso]
What red grapes are used in Bolgheri?
Bordeaux grapes and Sangiovese.
What is most common white grape in Bolgheri?
Vermentino, but a very small proportion of the production
Name an inter-regional appellation found in Tuscany?
Colli di Luni, shared with Liguria, notable for Vermentino [compare inter-regional aspect with Orvieto DOC]
What are the DOCG’s of the Northern Maremma Coast?
Suvereto DOCG and Val di Cornia Rosso DOCG (both are red only) [not Bolgheri or Sassicaia!]
Bolgheri DOC was initially created for which wines?
created in 1983 for whites and rosatos only, now whites are only a small proportion [not reds!]
What wine appellation is directly south of Montalcino?
Montecucco
What is the blending formula for Montecucco Sangiovese DOCG?
90% Sangiovese
What is the most well-known wine of Southern Maremma?
Morellino di Scansano DOCG
What is the significance of insula vini ferax?
Pliny the Elder’s description of Elba as the fertile wine island
What is the significance of Barco Reale di Carmignano DOC?
second wine of Carmignano, lighter, more fruit forward, no aging requirements
What is the largest Chianti DOCG sub-zone?
Colli Senesi (also southernmost sub-zone)
What is the wine quality pyramid in Toscana?
65/30/5
What is the balance of red/white wine in Toscana?
90/10
Who was il Barrone del Ferro?
Bettino Ricasoli
What are the 3 appellations in Carmignano that extend over the same geographic area?
Carmignano DOCG (signature red,) Barco Reale DOC (youthful reds and rosatos,) Vin Santo di Carmignano DOC (passito)
What much larger appellation nearly entirely overlaps the 3 main appellations of Carmignano?
Chianti Montalbano DOCG
What wine appellation is most closely linked to the Via Francigena?
Montalcino
What is the level of production in Carmignano?
low, only 500 acres
What were the areas affected by the Tuscan Bando of 1716?
Chianti, Pomino, Carmignano, Val d’Arno di Sopra [PCCV]
When were Chianti wines first allowed to use 100% Sangiovese?
1996 when Chianti Classico went from a sub zone to it’s own DOCG
When were white grapes banned from Chianti Classico?
2006
Who can add the suffix “in Chianti”?
Villages entirely within Chianti Classico area.
What is the altitude of the best vineyards in Chianti Classico DOCG?
between 1000 and 1600 ft [slightly higher than San Gimignano]
What is macigno?
Tuscan term for sandstone, a common soil type in Chianti Classico
What are the best three known townships of Chianti Classico?
Castellina, Gaiole, Radda
Compare sizes of Chianti DOCG and Chianti Classico DOCG.
Chianti Classico DOCG is half as big.
What is the limit of Cabernet in Chianti DOCG?
15%, Cab Sauvignon a/o Cab Franc
The superiore category exists for which Chianti appellation?
Chianti DOCG, not Chianti Classico DOCG
What Tuscan appellation would produce varietal Grechetto?
Cortona DOC, closest to Umbria (the Vin Santo from Cortona may also include Grechetto)
What wines did Montalcino export in the 16th century?
sweet white wines
What is the significance of Tavernelle in Tuscany?
a prime hamlet of Montalcino and a commune partially in Chianti Classico
Lake Trasimento modulates which two important appellations?
Cortona and Montepulciano
What are the sub-zones of Montalcino?
none, just hamlets.
Which vineyards are the highest in the Montalcino zone of production?
those that surround the town of Montalcino
Which appellation has the longest aging requirement in Italy?
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
What are the 3 largest Italian islands?
Sicilia, Sardegna and Elba
What is significance of Valiano?
major hamlet of the discrete eastern sub-area of Montepulciano
What are the characteristic soils of Montepulciano?
sandy
What is significance of Pulcinculo?
local name for Grechetto Bianco in Montepulciano
How does Vin Santo from Montepulciano differ from that from Montalcino?
Vin Santo has it’s own DOC in Montepulciano; in Montalcino it is made in Sant’Antimo DOC.
What are the major IGT’s in Tuscany?
only one, Toscana IGT (30% of wine production)
