Toscana: Appellations of Central Toscana Flashcards
Where is Carmignano located?
It is located in the northern reaches of central Toscana.
All 3 of Carmignano’s appellations extend over the same geographic area which, in turn, is almost entirely overlapped by the Chianti Montalbano DOCG.
This medieval village gives its name to a small, hilly winegrowing area that represents one of the most historic wine zones in Toscana.
What did Count Ugo Contini Bonacossi of Tenuta Capezzana contribute to the winemaking world?
His dedication was instrumental in the resuscitation of the wines of Carmignano through the creation of the DOC in 1975.
What sets Carmignano apart from the other Tuscan appellations?
The traditional use of Cabernet grapes (both Sauvignon & Franc) to complement Sangiovese.
What elevation are the vineyards of Carmignano planted at?
An average of 650ft/200m above sea level.
Lower than other Chianti zones.
What types of soils are found in Carmignano?
- albarese
- clay
- sandstone
Name the appellations of Carmignano.
- Carmignano DOCG
- Barco Reale di Carmignano DOC
- Vin Santo di Carmignano DOC
What grapes are used to produce wines from Carmignano DOCG?
Grape requirements are:
* min. 50% Sangiovese
* 10-20% Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Cabernet Franc
In practice, the wines are made from:
* 70-90% Sangiovese
* 10-20% Cabernet Sauvignon
They sometimes include a small addition of:
* Canaiolo
* Merlot
What are the aging requirements of wines from Carmignano DOCG?
- Cannot be released before June 1st of the second year following harvest
- must spend min. 8 months in oak/chestnut
Riserva:
* min. 3 years aging
* min. 12 months in wood
How can the wines of Barco Reale di Carmignano DOC be described?
This “second” wine of Carmignano is a lighter, younger and more fruit-forward version of Carmignano.
What grapes are used to produce wines from Barco Reale di Carmignano DOC?
- min. 50% Sangiovese
- 10-20% Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Franc
Same grapes/proportions as the Carmignano DOCG, but has no aging requirements.
What other wines can use the Barco Reale di Carmignano DOC classification?
Carmignano DOCG wines can be declassified as Barco Reale DOC
Where does the term Vin Ruspo come from?
The term “ruspo” derives from “ruspare”, a word in local dialect meaning “to draw off”. In the days of the mezzadria, its was common for the farmers to draw off (ruspare) one or two demijohns of fresh must before delivering the balance to the landowner.
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What is Vin Ruspo?
A rosato produced in Barco Reale di Carmignano DOC made from the same grapes with the same proportions as the two red wines and is often made by salasso (bleeding the tank).
What grapes are used to make Vin Santo di Carmignano DOC?
Vin Santo is based on:
* Trebbiano
* Malvasia
Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice is based on:
* Sangiovese
How are the grapes for Vin Santo di Carmignano DOC prepared for vinification?
They are air-dried for 4-6 months.
What is the sweetness level of wines from Vin Santo di Carmignano DOC?
They can range from dry to sweet in style.
What are the aging requirements of wines from Vin Santo di Carmignano DOC?
- min. 3 years aging
Riserva:
* min. 4 years aging
Note: these requirements are the same for both the Vin Santo and the Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice.
What is the distinction between Chianti Classico and Chianti?
There is a geographic and historic difference.
Chianti Classico: Known as Chianti Storico (Historic Chianti), encompasses the original zone of production officially delineated in the 14th century. The wines produced within this region are released under Chianti Classico DOCG.
Chianti: a general designation as a result of a 1930’s expansion of the vineyards on land around the Chianti Storico region. The wines produced in these areas fall within the Chianti DOCG.
Where is Chianti Classico located?
Chianti Storico lies between Firenze and Siena in central Tuscana. It stretches for more than 40mi/65km from north to south.
This astonishing and timeless landscape is characterized by hills and valleys covered in vines, olive groves, pine forests, chestnut trees, and stately rows of cypress. Medieval fortifications and castles often dot the top of the Chianti Classico hills.
Who was Cosimo III de’ Medici?
The Grand Duke of Toscana, he approved an edict in 1716 that officially delimited the Chianti zone of production making Chianti one of the oldest demarcated and official wine appellations in the world.
This production zone included the original villages of the League of Chianti (Castellina, Gaiole and Radda), as well as the village of Greve and the hamlet of Panzano.
What is believed to have been the predominant grape used in Chianti wines until the 17th and 18th centuries?
Canaiolo
Who is Bettino Ricasoli?
He was a Baron who experimented with local grapes at Castello di Brolio in the first half of the 19th century, hoping to find the ideal blend to produce high-quality and age-worthy wines.
After year of experiments, he was convinced that Sangiovese had to form the backbone of the blend for wines meant for ageing; Canaiolo best served as a softening agent. He developed the formula for more approachable wines based on 70% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo Nero, and 15% Malvasia. This became Chianti’s most widely utilized blend.
What occurred in Chianti that resulted in lighter, more dilute wines?
Producers began to replace Malvasia with the more productive and lesser quality Trebbiano and often in larger quantities than 15%. This considerably changed the character of the finished product.
Between the late 19th and early 20th centuries the demand for the wines of Chianti exceeded supply. What was this partly due to?
The general wine shortage caused by the ravages of phylloxera in France.
What is “vino all’uso di Chianti”?
“Wine in the style of Chianti”. Wines were produced with the same grapes and the same manner as Chianti Storico outside the historic Chianti area and were sold as Chianti or identified with this label.
How did Chianti producers combat fraud in 1924?
33 producers of historic Chianti grouped together and formed one of the first Italian consorzio. They adopted the Gallo Nero as their iconic symbol.
They officially formalized the boundaries of the historic Chianti zone in 1927.
When did Chianti Storico acquire the name Chianti Classico?
In 1932, the Italian government officially defined the boundaries of Chianti. The decree expanded the Chianti denomination to a much larger area. The commission awarded the historic area of Chianti with the designation Classico in order to distinguish it from the enlarged Chianti area.
They also created sub-zones for the expanded Chianti winegrowing area.
When was Chianti awarded DOC status?
1967
When was Chianti upgraded to DOCG status?
1984
When was Chianti Classico awarded its own independent appellation: Chianti Classico DOCG?
1996
The consorzio introduced stricter production standards and allowed Chianti Classico to craft wines that were 100% Sangiovese.
When did the disciplinaire definitively ban the use of white grapes in Chianti Classico DOCG wines?
2006
What is the Gallo Nero?
The Black Rooster was the historic symbol of the League of Chianti and has become the symbol of the wines of Chianti Classico. This symbol is linked to a medieval legend that takes place during the time of open hostilities between Firenze and Siena for control of the Chianti territory.
Where did the two knights meet in the legend of the Gallo Nero?
Fonterutoli, only 7.5mi/12km from the point of departure of the Sienese knight.
This allowed Firenze to control nearly the entirety of the Chianti territory.
How much area does Chianti Classico cover? How much of this is occupied by vineyards?
Chianti Classico covers more than 172,000ac/70,000ha. Vineyards occupy about 25,000ac/10,000ha.
Which rivers are found in the Chianti Classico region?
The Pesa and Greve Rivers flow north and empty into the Arno River. The Arbia River flows south and empties into the Ombrone River.
What is the elevation of the hills in Chianti Classico?
They rise from a base elevation of 650ft/200m to an average peak elevation of 1,500ft/450m.
The eastern hills are higher in elevation. The hills in the western side are lower and gentler.
What soil types are there in Chianti Classico?
The soils here are diverse and vary depending on the location. The majority consist of alternating:
* galestro
* albarese
* sandstone (locally known as macigno)
What is the climate in Chianti Classico?
Continental with just moderate Mediterranean influences.
What is the weather like in Chianti Classico?
Winters are cold with temperatures that can drop below freezing point.
Summers are dry with warm to hot days. Temperatures can often exceed 95°F/35°C.
What topographical feature in Chianti Classico plays a prinical role in shaping the wines’ character?
Altitude; it provides cooler conditions and marked diurnal temperature swings.
How do wines from higher sites in Chianti Classico compare to wines from lower sites?
Broadly speaking, wines produced from the higher sites tend to be more elegant and perfumed with higher acidity and firm tannins.
Wines produced from the lower sites are fuller and richer with less subtle aromas, less acidity and softer tannins.
In Chianti Classico, what are the rules regarding blending grapes from different sites?
Producers who own vineyards in different locations can blend grapes from different sites and zones.
However, single vineyard Chianti Classico wines have become increasingly more common.
Give an example of how the disciplinare has established strict production rules for the wines of the Chianti Classico DOCG.
The appellation has one of Italy’s lowest maximum yields per hectare and per vine.
What grapes are used to make wines from Chianti Classico DOCG?
By law, Chianti Classico must be made from:
* min. 80% Sangiovese
* max. 20% of auxiliary grapes (Canaiolo, Colorino, Merlot, & Cabernet Sauvignon)
Most producers tend to use at least 90% Sangiovese and many opt for 100% (or close to it!)
What type of container is used to age wines from Chianti Classico DOCG?
Traditionally, they were aged in large Slavonian oak or chestnut casks (botti).
Since the 1980s, small French oak barrels have become more common
On average the wines spend between 1-2 years in oak.