Toscana: Coastal Appellations Flashcards
Name the appellations of the Northern Tuscan Coast.
- Montecarlo DOC
- Candia dei Apuani DOC
- Colline Lucchesi DOC
- Colli di Luni DOC
Where is Montecarlo DOC located?
It is a small town located on the eastern outskirts of Lucca in Northern Tuscana.
What styles of wine are produced in Montecarlo DOC?
- Bianco
- Rosso
- Rosso Riserva
- Vin Santo
- Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice
- Varietal wines
What white grape varieties are used to produce wines in Montecarlo DOC?
White wines are based on Trebbiano, but require the addition of at least 3 other complementary grapes such as:
* Pinot Bianco
* Semillon
* Sauvignon Blanc
* Roussane
What red grape varieties are used to produce wines in Montecarlo DOC?
Red wines are based on Sangiovese complemented with other grapes such as:
* Canaiolo
* Merlot
* Syrah
Where is the Candia dei Colli Apuani DOC located?
It lies along the Ligurian border.
What styles of wine are produced in Candia dei Colli Apuani DOC?
- frizzante
- bianco
- rosato
- rosso
- vin santo
- bianco vendemmia tardiva
- varietal wines
What grapes are used to make white wine in Candia dei Colli Apuani DOC?
- Vermentino (both blend and varietal)
What grapes are used to make red wine in Candia dei Colli Apuani DOC?
Blends:
* Sangiovese-based
Varietals:
* Barsaglina
* Vermentino Nero
Note: Barsaglina & Vermentino Nero are rare local red grapes.
Where is Colline Lucchesi DOC located?
It encompasses the hills surrounding the northern outskirts of Lucca in Northern Tuscana.
What styles of wine are produced in Colline Lucchesi DOC?
- bianco
- rosso
- riserva
- vin santo
- vin santo occhio di pernice
- varietal
What varieties are used to produce wines in Colline Lucchesi DOC?
Blends:
* Trebbiano-based white
* Sangiovese-based red
Varietals:
* Sauvignon Blanc
* Vermentino
* Merlot
* Sangiovese
Where is Colli di Luni DOC located?
This inter-regional DOC is shared between Liguria and Toscana. Most vineyards lie in Liguria but there are 3 small growing areas in the northwest corner of Tuscana.
What styles of wines are produced in Colli di Luni DOC?
- bianco
- rosso
- rosso riserva
- Vermentino superiore
- varietal
What grapes are used to produce wines in Colli di Luni DOC?
- Vermentino (most prominent)
- Sangiovese-based red
Name the appellations of Northern Tuscan Maremma.
- Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC
- Bolgheri DOC
- Val di Cornia DOC
- Val di Cornia Rosso DOCG
- Suvereto DOCG
Minor DOCs:
* Terratico di Bibbona DOC
* Montescudaio DOC
Where is Bolgheri located?
This tiny hamplet is located in the northwestern coastal portion of Maremma.
The winegrowing area lies on a strip of land between the Ligurian Sea and a series of north-south running hills that parallel the coastline.
What is the climate in Bolgheri?
Mediterranean-influenced; more temperate and warmer than the inland hills.
What types of soils are found in Bolgheri?
- alluvial soils with high pebble & gravel content
- soils of marine origin composed of sand, limestone and clay
- some volcanic elements.
Where are the vineyards planted in Bolgheri?
The vineyards gradually rise from the flat coast onto the west-facing slopes of hills running parallel to the sea. However, most of the vineyards are located on the flats.
How long has wine tradition been practiced in Bolgheri?
The area had no wine making tradition until the release of the first vintage of Sassicaia in the 1970s. The area’s reputation began with this iconic wine.
Where does Sassicaia get its name from?
It derives from the word “sassi” meaning stones and it is used to indicate a stony site.
When was the Bolgheri DOC modified to include Sassicaia?
1994; this modification allowed for the production of red wine throughout the region.
When did Sassicaia achieve its own official sub-zone within the Bolgheri DOC?
2013; Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC was created.
The only case of an appellation granted for a single estate wine in Italy.
Name the single estate wine that is the only case of an appellation granted in Italy.
Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC
What are the requirements of wines produced in Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC according to the disciplaire?
- min. 80% Cabernet Sauvignon
- aged min. 24 months
- min 18 months in oak barrels
What grapes and percentages has Sassicaia been crafted with since its first release?
- 85% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 15% Cabernet Franc
When/why was the Bolgheri DOC created?
In 1983, for whites and roses - the only wines produced in this area at the time.
Name the estates that helped transform Bolgheri into one of the most dynamic and promising districts for fine red wines in Italy, as of the 1980s and thoughout the 1990s.
- Grattamacco
- Tenuta dell’Ornellaia
- Le Macchiole
- Michele Satta
- Ca’ Marcanda
- Guado al Tasso
Among others.
What are Super Tuscans?
An unofficial category of generally high-quality, pricey red wines that started to emerge between the late 1960s and the early 1970s. They are made using international grapes and/or non-traditional blending formulas and matured in new, small, French oak barrels.
Sassicaia was the original prototype.
Where is the epicenter for the Super Tuscan winemaking movement?
In the Chianti district, in particular, Chianti Classico.
Wines here became the groundswell for this phenomenon and included:
* Antinori’s Tignanello
* Tenuta San Felice’s Vigorello
Despite the prototype, Sassicaia, being produced in Bolgheri.
What grapes are used to produce red wines in Bolgheri DOC?
Red wines usually crafted from:
* Cabernet Sauvignon
* Merlot
* Cabernet Franc
With small additions of:
* Petit Verdot
* Syrah
* Sangiovese
What style of wine is typically produced in Bolgheri DOC?
Bordeaux style:
* aged in small French oak barrels
* varying proportions of new oak.
Other wine styles:
* bianco
* rosato
* varietal
What are the characteristics of wines from Bolgheri DOC?
The palate combines suppleness with dense velvety tannins.
The best examples combine richness with elegance.
What are the 2 categories of red wine within Bolgheri DOC and their requirements?
- Bolgheri Rosso DOC: cannot be released before September 1st of the year after the vintage.
- Bolgheri Rosso Superiore DOC: must be aged for a minimum of 2 years (min. 1 year in oak). Generally reserved for an estate’s top wine.
What grapes are used to produce white wines in Bolgheri DOC?
Varietal:
* Vermentino
White wines account for a very small proportion of the production today.
In the mid-1990s, when the price of land in Bolgheri began to skyrocket, where did investors/producers buy land?
Valdi Cornia; the mild climatic conditions are very similar to Bolgheri and quite suitable for Bordeaux grapes.
Where is Val di Cornia DOC located?
This appellation is located by the coast in central Tuscana or northern Maremma. It is surrounds Bolgheri to the east and south.
What types of soil are in Val di Cornia?
- From light alluvial mixes of sand and silt
- to heavier alluvial soils composed of silt and clay
What styles of wine are produced in Val di Cornia DOC?
- bianco
- rosato
- superiore
- passito
- varietal
What grapes are used to produce white wine in Val di Cornia DOC?
Varietal:
* Vermentino
* Ansonica
Blend:
* Vermentino-based
What grapes are used to produce red wine in Val di Cornia DOC?
Varietal:
* Sangiovese
* Cabernet Sauvignon
* Merlot
* Ciliegiolo
When was Val di Cornia Rosso elevated to it’s own DOCG?
2011
Where is Val di Cornia Rosso DOCG located?
This appellation shares the same zone of production as Val di Cornia DOC.
What grapes are used to produce wines from Val di Cornia Rosso DOCG?
A red blend is produced based on:
* Sangiovese
* (and) Cabernet Sauvignon
* (and/or) Merlot
What are the requirements for wines produced in Val di Cornia Rosso DOCG?
Riservas:
* min. 24 months aging
* min. 18 months in oak
* min. 6 months in bottle
When was Suvereto separated and elevated to DOCG status?
2011; it was previously under the Val di Cornia DOC.
Where is Suvereto DOCG?
This former subzone of the Val di Cornia DOC is located around the medieval village of Suvereto.
Most of the estates in Val di Cornia are found here.
Name the 4 types of wine produced in Suvereto DOCG.
- a red based on Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Merlot (labeled as Suvereto DOCG)
- varietal Sangiovese
- varietal Cabernet Sauvignon
- varietal Merlot
What are the requirements for wines produced in Suvereto DOCG?
Riservas:
* min. 24 months aging
* min. 18 months in oak
* min. 6 months in bottle
Where is Terratico di Bibbona DOC located?
It lies on a strip of coast that extends from the city of Livorno to the Bolgheri DOC.
What styles of wine are produced in Terratico di Bibbona DOC?
- bianco
- rosso
- varietal
What grapes are used to produce wines in Terratico di Bibbona DOC?
Blends based on:
* Vermintino
* Sangiovese
* Merlot
Various varietal wines.
Where is Montescudaio DOC located?
It lies between the city of Livorno and the Bolgheri DOC, inland from the coast. It is in Northern Coastal Tuscan Maremma.
What styles of wine are produced in Montescudaio DOC?
- bianco
- rosso
- riserva
- vin santo
What grapes are used to make wines in Montescudaio DOC?
Blends based on:
* Trebbiano
* Sangiovese
Multiple varietal wines.
Name the appellations of Southern Tuscan Maremma.
- Monteregio di Massa Marittima DOC
- Montecucco DOC
- Montecucco Sangiovese DOCG
- Morellino di Scansano DOCG
- Ansonica Costa dell’Argentario DOC
- Bianco di Pitigliano DOC
- Sovana DOC
- Maremma Toscana DOC
Minor DOCs:
* Capalbio DOC
* Parrina DOC
Where is Monteregio di Massa Marittima DOC located?
It lies in the northernmost part of the Southern Maremma.
What styles of wine are produced in Monteregio di Massa Marittima DOC?
- bianco
- rosso
- rosato
- novello
- riserva
- vin santo
- vin santo occhio di pernice
- varietal wines
Which region has attracted considerable investment and an influx of new producers, both Italian and non-Italian, in Tuscana?
Monteregio di Massa Marittima DOC
What grapes are used to produce wines in Monteregio di Massa Marittima DOC?
Blends based on:
* Sangiovese
* Cabernet Sauvignon
* Merlot
* Syrah
* Trebbiano
* Vermentino
Where is the winegrowing area of Montecucco DOC/DOCG located?
It is inland on the gentle hills running northeast of Grosseto to the foothills of Mount Amiata. The Orcia River separates this appellation from Montalcino to the north.
How do topographical features contribute to the climate of Montecucco?
The warm mediterranean climate is moderated by:
* its more inland position
* elevation
* plethora of wind currents
The area benefits from significant diurnal temperature swings.
How long has the winemaking tradition been practiced in Montecucco?
Since the 1990s, when producers, attracted by the suitable growing conditions and low land prices, established new estates.
What styles of wine are produced in Montecucco DOC?
- bianco
- rosato
- rosso
- rosso riserva
- vin santo
- vin santo occhio di pernice
- Vermentino
What grapes are used to produce wines in Montecucco DOC?
Blends based on:
* Sangiovese
* Trebbiano
What are the requirements for wines produced from Montecucco Sangiovese DOCG
- min. 90% Sangiovese
- min. 1 year aging in wood
Riserva:
* min. 2 years aging in oak
* min. 6 months aging in bottle
How many MGAs (UGAs) are there for Montecucco Sangiovese DOCG?
25
What is the most well-known wine of the Southern Maremma?
Morellino di Scansano DOCG
Where is Morellino di Scansano DOCG located?
It surrounds the small village of Scansano in Southern Maremma (Tuscana).
What is the climate in Morellino di Scansano DOCG?
Warm, Mediterranean.
What are the requirements for grapes used in wines from Morellino di Scansano DOCG?
Made from:
* min. 85% Morellino (Sangiovese)
* remaining 15% often includes one or more grapes such as:
* Alicante (Cannonau)
* Ciliegiolo
* Merlot
* among others
Some producers use 100% Sangiovese
What are the requirements for riserva wines from Morellino di Scansano DOCG?
- min. 2 years aging
- min. 1 year in oak
What are the characteristics of wines from Morellino di Scansano DOCG?
Usually soft and fruit-forward.
The Riserva is fuller, more complex and structured.
Where is Ansonica Costa dell’Argentario DOC located?
This small appellation is located in southern Toscana/Maremma. It includes the island of Giglio, the tiny peninsula of Argentario (which faces the island), and the hills that lie beyond the peninsula.
What wine is produced in Ansonica Costa dell’Argentario DOC?
A white wine made from a minimum of 85% Ansonica.
What is significant about the island of Giglio (Isola del Giglio)?
Ansonica produced here has its own specific MGA.
Where is Bianco di Pitigliano DOC located?
In southern Toscana/Maremma, overlapping the appellation of Sovana and the eastern half of the Morellino di Scansano DOCG.
What styles of wine are produced in Bianco di Pitigliano DOC?
- bianco
- bianco superiore
- spumante
- vin santo
What grapes are used to produce wines in Bianco di Pitigliano DOC?
Only Trebbiano-based white wines.
Where is Sovana DOC located?
This tiny, medieval hamlet is near Pitigliano in southern Tuscana/Maremma, situated at the border with Lazio.
What styles of wine are produced in Sovana DOC?
- rosso
- rosato
- superiore
- riserva
- Aleatico passito
- varietals
What grapes are used to produce wines in Sovana DOC?
- Only red wines
- blends are based on Sangiovese
- Varietal wines from local varieties
- Varietal wines from international grapes
When was Maremma Toscana elevated from and IGT to DOC status?
2011
What area does Maremma Toscana DOC cover?
All of Maremma within Tuscana.
What styles of wines are produced in Maremma Toscana DOC
- spumante
- bianco
- rosato
- rosso
- novello
- vendemmia tardiva
- passito
- vin santo
- varietal
Due to the large and diverse zone of production, a wide range of grapes and wine styles are permitted by law. The wines range from high-quality premium bottlings to simple, easy-drinking examples.
What grapes are used to produce wines in Maremma Toscana DOC?
Blends:
* Sangiovese-based rosso
* Trebbiano-based bianco
* Vermentino-based bianco
Varietals:
* local grapes
* international grapes
Where is Capalbio DOC located?
It surrounds the medieval village of Capalbio in close proximity to the sea in southern Maremma/Toscana, bordering Lazio.
What styles of wines are produced in Capalbio DOC?
- bianco
- rosato
- rosso
- rosso riserva
- vin santo
- varietals
What grapes are used to produce wines in Capalbio DOC?
- White wines based on Trebbiano
- Red wines based on Sangiovese
Where is Parrina DOC located?
This tiny appellation is completely surrounded by the Ansonica Costa dell’Argentario DOC and is situated in southern Maremma/Toscana.
What styles of wine are produced in Parrina DOC?
- bianco
- rosso
- riserva
- vin santo
- varietals
What grapes are used to produce wines in Parrina DOC?
White wines based on:
* Trebbiano
* Ansonica
* Vermentino
Red wines based on:
* Sangiovese
What is Italy’s third larged island?
Elba
Where is the island of Elba located?
It lies about 6mi/10km off the coast of Tuscana, sandwiched between the Ligurian Sea to the north and the Tyrrhenian Sea to the south.
What does insula vini ferax mean? What is its significance?
“The island fertile of wine.” This is how Pliny the Elder described the island of Elba during Roman times.
The sweet Passito wines made in Elba have been highly praised by illustrious figures like the Medici family and Napoleon. (Napoleon was kept in exile on the island between 1814 and 1815).
Where in Elba are vineyards planted?
The island is mainly hills and rocks with a massif on its western side. Most vineyards lie on steep narrowly terraced slopes sustained by dry-stone walls, a small percentage of vines are located on relatively flatter inland areas.
Name the apellations of Elba.
- Elba Aleatico Passito DOCG
- Elba DOC
When was Elba Aleatico Passito separated from the Elba DOC and elevated to DOCG status?
2011
What wine is produced in Elba Aleatico Passito DOCG?
Sweet red passito wines from 100% Aleatico.
What are the requirements for the grapes used in winemaking in Elba Aleatico Passito DOCG?
Grapes must be air-dried for a minimum of 10 days.
What are the characteristics of wines from Elba Aleatico Passito DOCG?
Ruby-garnet with purple highlights. They are intensely aromatic with a distinctive grapey-Muscat character that hints of rose, violet, cherry and jam.
What styles of wine are produced from Elba DOC?
- bianco
- rosso
- rosso riserva
- rosato
- spumante
- passito
- vin santo
- vin santo occhio di pernice
- varietals
What grapes are used to produce wines in Elba DOC?
Blends:
* Elba Bianco: a white blend based on Trebbiano (locally called Procanico)
* Red wine based on Sangiovese
Varietal:
* Elba Ansonica (one of the most distinctive)