Tuscany Flashcards
What happened in the 1930s in the Chianti region?
The appellation area was enlarged in a big way, it is now called Chianti DOCG, with 7 sub-zones.
The original hilly Chianti area is now Chianti Classico
What inspired the category of Super Tuscans?
The creation of Sassicaia and Tignanello in late 60s and early 70s
What is the general climate of Tuscany?
Warm Mediterranean with adequate rainfall
Summers can be hot and winters cold in inlands
What are the natural factors impacting Tuscany?
Inland areas cooled by altitude
Risks are spring frost, hail and rain during harvest
Summer drought and prolonged high temperatures could lead to incomplete ripening due you cessation of photosynthesis
What is the most plated variety in Italy but also key grape in Tuscany?
Sangiovese
What is the typical style of Sangiovese wines?
Medium ruby, High acidity, high tannins, medium to full body, red cherry, red plum, herbal notes
Acceptable to outstanding
Inexpensive to premium
What are the key characteristics of Sangiovese?
Early budding and late ripening
Difficult to grow successfully
Best in south/SE aspects at 200-550m altitude
Vigorous
Thin skinned
High yields
Best on well drained soils like shale and limestone, ok on clay
What is the name of the project that produced 7 Sangiovese clones that have been widely planted?
The Chianti Classico 2000 project
Aim was to produce berries with thicker skins, small berries and open bunches
What are the training options for Sangiovese vines?
Cordon pruned
Spur/cane pruned with VSP
InTuscany, What variety used to be the most popular before the 19th century and what do they add to a blend?
Canaiolo
Promote floral and red berries character of sangiovese
What are the key characteristics of Trebbiano Toscana?
Late budding
Vigorous
High yielding
Retains acidity even in hotter conditions
What is the general style of wines from Trebbiano Toscana?
High acidity, neutral flavours of lemon and herbal, low intensity
Historically Sangiovese was part of a blend that could include white grapes, with a month or more skin maceration and aged in large neutral oak to soften tannins. More recently what is the general winemaking approach?
A week or so maceration for early drinking or up to a month for higher tannins wines for ageing. Certainly no white grapes are used
What is the general choice for fermentation vessel for Sangiovese?
Temperature controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve primary fruit, with some concrete tanks making a comeback
In terms of maturation of Sangiovese,what are the key changes in recent decades?
Move to older barriques and larger neutral oak casks to ensure subtle sour cherry fruit is the main interest rather than oak.
Previously there was a widespread use of a proportion of new French barriques
What the the blend allowed for Chianti DOCG?
70-100% Sangiovese
Max 15% cab sauv and/or cab franc
Max 10% white grapes
What is the general style of Chianti DOCG?
Medium body, medium alcohol, light to medium intensity
Inexpensive to mid-priced
Acceptable to very good
How many years of of ageing for Chianti wines to be classed as Chianti Reserva DOCG?
Two years but no oak ageing is required
Try to name some of the 7 sub-zones of Chianti DOCG?
Chianti Rufina DOCG
Chianti Colli Fiorentini DOCG
Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG
What is the name of the coolest Chianti DOCG sub-zone
Chianti Rufina DOCG
Cool due to altitude and cooling winds.
Wines higher acidity and more restrained in youth.
Capacity to age in bottle for complexity.
Not had the same investments as Montalcino and Chianti Classico.
Generally Mid-priced with some premium, good to outstanding
Which Chianti sub-zone is the largest?
Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG
Generally warmer than other sub-zones.
Wines fuller bodied and richer.
More Sangiovese in blend and less Cabernets.
Inexpensive to mid-priced, acceptable to very good
In the Chianti Classico DOCG area, what are the natural factors impacting viticulture?
Altitude of 200-500m provides cool nights, so lengthening growing season with full ripeness and high acidity.
Soils combine good drainage and water holding capacity.
Galestro soils give aromatics and ageing potential.
Clay soils give structure and body.
Some work by hand on hillsides.
What is the blend for Chianti Classico DOCG?
Min 80% Sangiovese
No white grapes allowed
Local red grapes like Canaiolo and international ones like Merlot for remaining proportion.
Can grapes grown in the Chianti Classico area be bottled as Chianti DOCG?
No
How long Chianti Classico wines must be aged for so the term Reserva could be used?
2 years
What are the labelling rules in Chianti Classico when it comes to villages and vineyards?
Village names not allowed but single vineyards can be in labels
For Chianti Classico wines, in recent trend which style has been more popular, international or traditional?
Traditional, which is pale coloured, medium intensity, sour cherry, restrained oak
Very good to outstanding
Mid-priced to premium
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione introduced in 2013, what rules apply?
Aged for 2.5 years and from single vineyard or an estate owned by the producer.
In Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, before the Second World War there was only one commercial producer, who were they?
The Biondi-Santi family, who were the first to bottle and sell Montalcino wines
The expansion of Brunello di Montalcino after the Second World War was led by one particular producer, who were they?
Banfi. Originally planted Muscat but due to lack of success, grafted Sangiovese and led to export success to USA and other markets.
What is the climate like in Montalcino and what are the natural influences?
Warmer and drier than Chianti Classico but have sufficient rainfall.
Cooling breezes from the Mediterranean Sea to preserve acidity.
Mountains to the south provide protection from rain
Other parts of Montalcino are in lower altitudes, at what elevation is the traditional area?
500m+
What impact do soil types have in Montalcino?
Galestro based soils in the north with higher altitudes lead to more aromatic wines.
Clay heavier soils in the south with warmer temperatures give fuller bodied wines
What the the blend in Brunello di Montalcino and can producers blend grapes from different parts of the area?
100% Sangiovese.
Many producers do blend from several parts of the area for their wines.
What is the ageing requirements for Brunello?
5 years with 2 years in oak.
Extra one year for Reserva
What vessels do Brunello producers generally use for maturation?
Large oak formats but there was a period of ageing in new French barriques, similar to what happened in Chianti Classico
What is the typical style of Brunello di Montalcino DOCG?
High acidity, high tannins, intense sour cherry with tertiary notes
Outstanding
Premium and super-premium
Comment on Rossi Di Montalcino DOC
100% Sangiovese.
Can be in Brunello and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano areas.
Younger vines and less favourable sites.
Sold after a year after brief ageing in stainless steel or oak.
Primary fruit focused.
Good to very good
What is the blend in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano?
70-100% Sangiovese
What type of soils are there in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG?
Heavy cool clay, producing fuller wines.
Sandy soils, more aromatic wines
What are the aspects and altitudes of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG vineyards?
East and SE facing.
250-600m elevation.
What is the ageing requirements for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano?
Minimum 2 years with 12-24 months in wood
What was the traditional style of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG?
Full bodied and austere, needing bottle age.
Recently producers trying to make wines to be drunk young with shorter extraction periods and small French oak ageing vessels.
What is the general price and quality of Vino Mobile di Montepulciano?
Mid-prices to premium
Very good to outstanding
Why do Sangiovese based wines of Morellino de Scansano DOCG have lower acidity and some black fruit notes?
Warmer area in southern Tuscany but moderated by altitude and cooling winds from the sea at night.
Medium to medium (+) acidity, ripe medium (+) tannins, ripe fruits of sour cherry and some black fruits
Good to very good
Inexpensive to mid-priced
Roughly what is the percentage of plantings in Bolgheri DOC is occupied by Bordeaux blends?
80%
What is the climate and natural influences in Bolgheri DOC?
Warm climate but cool nights due to proximity to the sea.
Sea breezes help to reduce risk of fungal diseases.
Lower altitudes plantings started after realisation that lower elevated areas also impacted by cooling winds.
Sufficient rain, spread throughout the year, with little rain during harvest
In which Tuscany DOC(G) is irrigation widely installed?
Bolgheri DOC
Due to vineyards were relatively recently planted
How is the concentration of the final wine raised in Bolgheri DOC?
By having a higher density (increase competition) planting then traditional areas of Tuscany.
How are vines typically trained in Bolgheri DOC?
Cordon rained
Spur pruned
VSP
What is the allowed blend of Bolgheri DOC?
Upto 100% Cab Sauv, Cab Franc and Merlot
Upto 50% Syrah abs Sangiovese
Upto 30% other varieties (eg Petit Verdot)
What are the differences between Bolgheri Rosso and Bolgheri Rosso Superiore?
Lower yields.
Aged for 2 years rather than 1.
Aged in French barriques, with significant proportion of new.
What is the main grape behind white Bolgheri DOC?
Vermentino
What is the general style
If Bolgheri Rosso Superiore DOC?
Deep ruby, medium (+) acidity, high tannins, medium (+) to pronounced intensity, blackberry, red plum, green bell pepper in cooler vintages, vanilla, sweet spice
Very good to outstanding
Premium to super-premium
Who are Tenuta San Guido?
Producer of Sassicaia, which is the wine within the single estate DOC of Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC
What is the blend and ageing requirements of Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC?
Min 80% Cabernet Sauvignon
2 years ageing of which 1.5 years in 225L oak barrels
What Bolgheri wines are wines by the Frescobaldi family?
Sassicaia and Ornellaia
What are the key grapes behind Maremma Toscana DOC and the wine’s general price?
Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and vermentino.
Inexpensive to mid-priced
What is the name of the historic white wine region in Tuscany?
Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG
Where can grapes be grown for Toscana IGT and name some of the premium wines of the appellation
Grapes can be grown anywhere in Tuscany.
Masseto and Solaia
How is Vin Santo made and what are the key grapes behind the wine?
Via the appassimento method
Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia
What is the general style of Vin Santo?
Sweet, high acidity, medium (+) to high alcohol, dried fruits (lemon, apricot), nutty notes and varying levels of virile acidity
Premium or super premium in price
In volume terms, what is the proportion of Tuscany DOC(G) production is from Chianti DOCG?
Just under 50%
In value terms, what are the leading 3 regions of Tuscany?
Chianti Classico, Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino
Which Tuscany DOGCs export nearly 80% of production?
Chianti Classico and Montepulciano
Main markets for Chianti Classico are USA, Germany and Canada
Montepulciano Germany, USA and Switzerland
Which Tuscany regions export around 70% of production?
Montalcino and Chianti
USA and Germany for Montalcino
USA, Germany and Canada for Chianti
Which Tuscany regions market themselves based on Their place in Tuscan wine history?
Chianti, Chianti Classico and Montepulciano
Which Tuscany regions promote them selves based on their world-class quality?
Montalcino and Bolgheri
In Tuscany, what is the route to market for inexpensive wines and what about mid-priced and above wines?
Inexpensive via supermarkets and bars
Mid-priced and above via specialist wine shops and restaurants
Give an example of an event where Tuscany region as a whole promote its wines
Tuscan anteprima
What is the top 5 export markets for Tuscan DOC(G) wines?
USA, Germany, Canada, UK and Switzerland
