Toscana Flashcards
What is Chianti Storica?
The historic zone of Chianti
What grapes are used in Carmignano DOCG?
Min. 50% Sangiovese and 10-20% Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Cabernet Franc
What does the disciplinare require in terms of fruit yield in the Chianti Classico?
One of Italy’s lowest max yields per hectare per vine
What must all Chianti Classico bottles have printed on them?
The Gallo Nero symbol
What is the coastal region of Toscana called?
Maremma
Who is considered to have resuscitated the wines of Camignano?
Count Ugo Contini Bonacossi
What is considered to be Toscana’s most important dry white wine?
Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG
What is the climate of Chianti Classico?
Continental climate with moderate Mediterranean influences
Until the 17th and 18th centuries what grape were the wines of Chianti believed to have been made from?
Canaiolo
What are the 3 areas of Maremma?
Alta Maremma, Maremma Grossetana and Maremma Laziale
What requirements are there for Chianti Classico (Annata) DOCG?
Min 12% abv and released October 1st the year following harvest
What subzone of Chianti DOCG is one of the smallest and mildest due to its proximity to the Tyrrhenian Sea?
Colline Pisane
What is the blending requirement for Vino Nobile di Montalcino?
Min 70% Sangiovese locally called Prugnolo Gentile
What grapes does Cortona DOC concentrate?
Syrah, Sangiovese and Merlot. Syrah in particular accounts for more than half of production.
The Latin word ‘vernaculars’ which means ‘indigenous’ or ‘native’ relates to which Tuscan white grape?
Venaccia di San Gimignano
Can Vin Santos be dry?
Yes
What is the official historic symbol of the League of Chianti?
Gallo Nero (black rooster)
What’s the name of the road from France to Rome?
Via Franciagena
What Tuscan red grape is related to Moscato Bianco?
Aleatico
What 3 rivers traverse Chianti Classico and what major tributaries do they flow into?
Pesa - Arno
Greve - Arno
Arbia - Ombrone River
What blending requirements exist for Chianti Classico now?
Min 80% Sangiovese with max 20% of aux grapes. Most commonly Canaiolo and Colorino and Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Most users are 90%+ Sangiovese
What delimited Chianti Classico to the east?
Monti del Chianti
What was the first Italian wine to receive DOC status (1966)?
Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOC(G)
How large (distance north to south) is the Chianti Classico area?
40km
What is the ‘second’ wine of Carmignano?
Barco Reale di Carmignano DOC
What subzone of Chianti DOCG overlaps with most of Carmignano DOCG?
Montalbano
What grapes are synonymous with Bolgheri DOC?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc
What is a synonym of Sangiovese in Scansano?
Morellino
Does the Chianti Classico region have high or low diurnal variations?
High variation in temp
What Toscana appellation is one of the oldest official wine appellations in the world?
Chianti
What wine has the longest ageing requirements of any in Italy and what are they?
Brunello di Montalcino (min 4 years, 2 in oak and 4m in bottle)
What is Trebbiana Toscana known as in France?
Ugni Blanc
What DOC is renowned for Sassicaia?
Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC
What is the climate of Montalcino?
Mediterranean
What grape is grown around the town of San Gimignano?
Vernaccia di San Gimignano
What is the most widely planted grape in Toscana?
Sangiovese
What town in Toscana is a UNESCO site with a unique ‘skyline’?
San Gimignano
Montecucco DOC and Montecucco Sangiovese DOCG are in what Tuscan region?
Southern Tuscan Maremma
What are the storage rooms/lofts that Vin Santo are stored in called?
Vinsantaia
What is Toscana’s most widely planted white grape?
Trebbiano Toscana
What delimits Chianti Classico to the west?
Elsa Valley
Castello
Castle
In 1872 what did Baron Bettino Ricasoli write in a famous letter?
The formula for Chianti - 70% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo Nero and 15% Malvasia
What does the term ‘governo all’uso Toscano’ indicate on a label?
A small proportion of grapes are dessicated and used to start a second fermentation - it also starts malolactic fermentation. It adds body
What are the requirements for Chianti Classico Gran Riserva?
Min 13% abv and min 30m ageing with 3m in bottle (and subject to lab tests and tasting commission)
Which red grape from Toscana’s name means ‘small cherry’?
Ciliegiolo
What local Italian dialect is the Italian language based upon?
Florentine
Poggio
Knoll
What is a Barco Reale di Carmignano DOC rosato known as?
Vin Ruspo
Where does the term ‘ruspo’ derive?
Ruspare a word in the local dialect to mean ‘draw off’ - in the days of mezzadria the framers draw off one or two demijohns of fresh must before delivering the balance to the landowner
Who is unanimously considered one of the founders of the Italian wine renaissance behind iconic wines such as Sassicaia and Antinori’s Tiganello and Solaia?
Giacomo Tachis
What river separates Montalcino and Montecucco DOC?
Orcia River
What was historically considered the principal red grape of Toscana?
Canaiolo (canaiolo nero)
What Chianti sub zone overlaps Carmignano?
Montalbano
Who first experimented with Sangiovese for making Chianti and where?
Baron Bettino Ricasoli, at Castello do Brolio
What style of wine is Morellino di Scansano?
Friendly, fruit forward red wine
What is a ‘second’ wine of Brunello do Montalcino?
Rosso di Montalcino
What Toscana grape’s name means ‘little coloured one’?
Colorino (Colorino del Valdarno)