Tuscany

Question 1

Tuscany DOCGs (11)

Answer 1

DOCGs

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
Carmignano DOCG
Chianti DOCG
Chianti Classico DOCG
Elba Aleatico Passito (Aleatico Passito dell’Elba) DOCG
Montecucco Sangiovese DOCG
Morellino di Scansano DOCG
Rosso della Val di Cornia (Val di Cornia Rosso) DOCG
Suvereto DOCG
Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG

Question 2

Tuscan Grapes

Answer 2

Grapes
White
Vernaccia
Trebbiano
Malvasia
Chardonnay
Vermentino

Red
Sangiovese Synonyms:
Sangioveto
Prugnolo Gentile
Brunello-Sangiovese Grosso
Morellino di Scansano

Other Reds
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Syrah
Colorino
Canaiolo

Question 3

Tuscan Climate

Answer 3

Dry, maritime-influence climate, with a wide variation of meso climates

Question 4

State the aging requirements for Brunello and Brunello Riserva

Answer 4

Brunello
min. 2 yrs. in wood (+ 4 mos. in bottle)
may not be sold before Jan. 1 of the 5th yr. following harvest

Brunello Riserva
min. 2 yrs. in wood (+ 6 mos. in bottle)
may not be sold before Jan. 1 of the 6th yr. following harvest

Question 5

What is Chianti Fiasco

Answer 5

Bulb-shaped bottle covered with straw (because of flawed bottle)

Came to symbolize image of inexpensive, rustic Italian wine in the 1960’s –1980’s

Question 6

Chianti DOCG

Answer 6

DOCG since 1984

Provinces: Firenze, Siena, Arezzo, Prato, Pisa, Pistoia

Varietals

• Chianti: 70-100% Sangiovese
• Max. 10% white grapes
• Max. 15% combined Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc

Question 7

Chianti DOCG

Aging Requirement

Answer 7

Aging
Chianti
may be released on Mar. 1 of the year following harvest. However, the sub-zones of R fina, Montespertoli, and Colli Fiorentini require additional aging

Riserva
cannot be released until Sept. 1 of the year following harvest
min. 11.5/12%ABV required (same as Chianti)

Superiore

min. 2 yrs. aging from Jan. 1 following harvest
min. 12% ABV required

Question 8

Chianti DOCG

Subregions

Answer 8

Subzones/subregions:

• Classico
• R fina (Firenze)
• Colli Fiorentini (Firenze)
• Colli Senesi (Siena)
• Colline Pisane (Pisa)
• Colli Aretini (Arezzo)
• Montalbano (Prato, Pistoia, Firenze)
• *In 1997, Montespertoli became the eighth sub-region of Chianti.

Question 9

Chianti Classico DOCG

Answer 9

Provinces: Firenze and Siena

Communes of Production:
Siena:
-Radda in Chianti
-Gaiole in Chianti
-Castellina in Chianti
-Castelnuovo Berardenga
-Poggibonsi

Firenze:

• Greve in Chianti
• Barberino Val d’Elsa
• San Casciano Val di Pesa
• Tavernelle Val di Pesa

Varietals
Chianti: 80-100% Sangiovese
Maximum 20% other red grapes authorized by Siena & Firenze (i.e. Colorino, Canaiolo Nero, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot)

As of the 2006 vintage, Trebbiano Toscano & Malvasia Bianco are no longer allowed

Question 10

Chianti Classico DOCG

Aging Requirements

Answer 10

Aging

Chianti
May be released after Oct. 1 of the year following harvest
min. 12% ABV

Riserva
Min. 24 mos. aging from Jan. 1 of the year following harvest, including 3mos. in bottle
min. 12.5%ABV

Gran Selezione
(category added in 2013)
Must be produced from estate fruit; min. 30 mos. aging from Jan. 1 of the year following harvest, including at least 3 mos. in bottle
min. 13% ABV

Question 11

Tuscan Producers

Answer 11

Marchesi Antinori
Estate history dates back to 1385
Lead player in Super Tuscan movement

Félsina
Founded 1966
Vineyards developed over 1000 years
Practicing biodynamic

Querciabella
Founded 1974
Biodynamic
Vineyards in Chianti Classico& Maremma

Marchesi de Frescobaldi
Proud history as viticulturists –producing wine for approx. 700 years –more than 30 generations
Family dominates the R fina sub-zone
Bought Ornellaiain 2005

Badiaa Coltibuono
Vinicultural history shows evidence of winemaking on the property from the first century A.D. Roman period
Estate is located in the commune of Gaiolein Chianti, and is led by the fifth generation of family members

Castello di Ama
Est. in the 1980’s
Labels depcit the knight Guidoriccio da Fogliano, painted by Simone Martini, in the 1330 fresco at Siena City Hall.

Question 12

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

Answer 12

Province Siena

Comune Montalcino

Varietals
100% Sangiovese (referred to as Brunello)
Min. ABV 12.5%

Question 13

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

Aging

Answer 13

Brunello
min. 2 yrs. in wood (+ 4 mos. in bottle)
may not be sold before Jan. 1 of the 5th yr. following harvest

Brunello Riserva
min. 2 yrs. in wood (+ 6 mos. in bottle)
may not be sold before Jan. 1 of the 6th yr. following harvest

Question 14

Rosso di Montalcino DOC

Answer 14

From young vines, or declassified Brunello

Question 15

Moscadello di Montalcino DOC

Answer 15

Sweet Muscats

Question 16

Top Brunello Producers

Answer 16

Biondi-Santi
Gianni Brunelli
Case Basse
Soldera
Lisini
Mastrojanni
Salvioni
Pian dell’Orino
Poggio di Sotto
Salvioni-Cerbaiola
Tenuta Il Poggione
Il Marroneto

Question 17

Name 1 of the DOCs created to include the Super Tuscans

Answer 17

Sant’ Antimo DOC
Created in 1996 to bring other Super Tuscans into DOC system specifically from Montalcino

Bolgheri DOC
Appellation created in 1994 which includes sub-zone ‘Bolgheri Sassicaia

Question 18

Recommend a red Tuscan DOCG other than Chianti and name the grape

Answer 18

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG

Province: Siena

• Varietals:
  min. 70% Prugnolo Gentile (Sangiovese)
  (max. 5% of non-aromatic white grapes and Malvasia Bianca Lunga permitted)

Blends similar to Chianti with max. 30% other Tuscan red varieties permitted
-Min. ABV: 12.5% ; 13% Riserva

Question 19

Describe the production and style of Vin Santo

Answer 19

Vin Santo DOC
-Dessert wine from passito Trebbiano di Toscana, Malvasia, & Grechetto grapes fermented slowly in small wooden barrels (caratelli)

• Included in few DOCs i.e. Chianti Classico
• Matured min. 3 yrs. up to 6 yrs.
• Occhio de Pernice–min. 50% Sangiovese added to white grapes

Question 20

Tuscany only white DOCG

Answer 20

Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG

-Dry white from Vernaccia Grape with up to 10% Chardonnay & Trebbiano di Toscana

Question 21

Super Tuscan

Answer 21

“Super Tuscan” is a term used to describe red wines from Tuscany that may include non-indigenous grapes, particularly Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. The creation of super Tuscan wines resulted from the frustration winemakers had towards a slow bureaucracy in changing Italy’s wine law during the 1970s. Winemakers began mixing ‘unsanctioned’ wine varieties (like Merlot) into their blends to make high-quality wines. The legal system eventually yielded in 1992 with the creation of IGT, a new designation that gave winemakers the ability to be more creative.

Question 22

Super Tuscans Wines & Producers

Answer 22

Sassicaia (Tenuta San Guido)
Tignanello (Marchesi Antinori)
Solaia (Marchesi Antinori)
Ornellaia (Tenuta dell’ Ornellaia)

Question 23

First Super Tuscan and its non traditional grape

Answer 23

The most famous super Tuscan wine was called “Tignanello” and was created by Antinori in 1971. It was the first super Tuscan wine, and today Tignanello is a blend of 80% Sangiovese 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc.

Tignanello (Marchesi Antinori)
• 1st vintage 1970
• Typical blend: 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc

Question 24

Sangiovese

Answer 24

 Place of Origin: Southern Italy
 Parentage: Ciliegiolo x Calabrese di Montenuovo
 
Origin of grape name: Suggested that Sangiovese is derived from the Latin Sanguis Jovis “blood of Jove”
“Blood of Jupiter”

Question 25

governo?

Answer 25

governo—refermentation with the juice of dried grapes, to strengthen the wine and initiate malolactic fermentation

The technique involves saving a parcel of harvested grapes and allowing them to partially dry.