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