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Tuscany Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the climate of Tuscany?

A

Moderate mediterranean to Moderate Continental with Mediterranean Influence.

Winters can be harsh with significant inland snowfall
& Summers can be long and hot.

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2
Q

What is the geography of Tuscany?

A

From the low-lying sandy plains near the Tyrrhenian Sea, to the inland rolling hills, to the Apennine mountains in west central Italy, this region has great geological and climate diversity.

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3
Q

What is the symbol of cheap, low-quality Italian wine from the 50’s & 60’s that Tuscany has worked hard to shake off in the modern era?

A

The Fiasco, or the squat, straw-covered Chianti bottle that decorated Italian restaurant tables with the mass export of Chianti after WWII.

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4
Q

What are the major red & white grapes of Tuscany?

A

Red: Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Cabernet, Cab Franc, Merlot.
White: Trebbiano, Vernaccia, Vermentino

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5
Q

What are the minor red & white grapes of Tuscany?

A

Red: Colorino & Canaiolo
White: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Malvasia

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6
Q

What are the major cities of Tuscany?

A

Pisa, Sienna, Florence, Livorno

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7
Q

When, where, and by who was the first commercial Sassicaia wine released?

A

By Marquis Mario Rochetta in 1971 (1968 vintage), in Northern Maremma

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8
Q

What can you tell me about Tignanello?

A

It was a commercial wine released by Rochetta’s nephew, Piero Antinori, in 1974 (1971 vintage)

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9
Q

How many DOCs and DOCGs does Tuscany have? Where does it land among Italy’s top quality regions?

A

41 DOCs & 11 DOCGs, ranking it just behind Piedmont & Veneto.

60% of its massive 2.7 million hectoliter commercial production is DOC+

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10
Q

What is Vernaccia de San Gimignano’s ties to the fine arts?

A

Dante Alligheri references it in purgatorio in reference to Pope Martin IV’s gluttony. He ate Bolsena eels pickled in the wine.

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11
Q

What is Tuscany’s ancient winemaking history?

A

Etruscans first planted vines in 8th century BCE
Greeks take over viticulture in 3rd century BCE
Romans take over in 1st century AD

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12
Q

What is Tuscany’s early wine bureaucracy history?

A

In 1282, Arte dei Vinatierri guild is formed to regulate wine sales
In 14th century sees rise of famous winemaking families like Frescobaldi, Ricasoli, & Antinori
In 1716 Chianti’s first designated as a growing region.

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13
Q

When was Chianti first legally designated as a growing region? When were its modern boundaries solidified with the 8 subzones we know today? When did Chianti and Chianto Classico achieve DOCG Status?

A

1716 & 1932.
1984!

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14
Q

What were the varieties of the first super tuscans? What were they classified as?

A

Sassicaia was cab & cab franc, Tignanello was sangiovese & merlot. Both were declassified to Vino de Tavola

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15
Q

When did Brunello become a thing? Thanks to who?
When did it acheive DOCG status?

A

In 1865, Clementi Santi of Bondi-Santi isolated & bottled the first brunello clone of Sangiovese.

Brunello riserva dates back to 1888, but production remained minute and obscure until the 1970s. Brunello Achieved DOCG status in 1980.

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16
Q

What is the soil composition in San Gimignano?

A

Sandy clay

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17
Q

What is the soil composition in Maremma?

A

Gravely clay & sand, similar to Bordeaux

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18
Q

What is the soil composition around the Apennines?

A

Sand & clay-limestone with sandstone

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19
Q

What are the 2 soil types of Chianti Classico?

A

Sandstone (Macingo & Piestraforte) & Marl (Abarese)

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20
Q

What are the dominante types of Sandstone soils in Chianti Classico?

A

Macingo & Piestraforte

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21
Q

What is Albarese?

A

The main type of Marl in Chianti Classico

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22
Q

What is Goria’s Law? When was it enacted and why does it matter?

A

In 1992, Goria’s Law created Italy’s IGT system in response to the popularity and acclaim of declassified Super Tuscan wines in comparison to Chianti. It created a middle grounds that offered a more prestigious designation than Vino while allowing more freedom and creativity than DOC.

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23
Q

What was Chianti Classico 2000? When did it begin?

A

In 1987, the Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico started researching sangiovese clones for historical context and viticultural applications like disease resistance.

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24
Q

How are white wines usually styled in Tuscany?

A

Tuscan whites are easy-drinking with no or neutral oak for varietal purity, except a few high end chardonnays.

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25
Q

Why does Brunello have long aging requirements?

A

To soften the very tannic wines

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26
Q

How does wine maker preference differ between traditional and modern in Tuscany?

A

Most wines undergo traditional extended masceration and extended aging in large neutral Botti. Modernist supertuscan producers favor cold-soak and new french barrique aging.

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27
Q

What does Governo mean? Where is it allowed? Is it relevent?

A

In Chianti, Governo is refermenting a wine with dried grapes to increase body & alcohol. It’s irrelevent and looked down on by superior chianti producers.

28
Q

What special label terms exist for Brunello di Montalcino?

A

Reserva & Vigna (single vineyard).
Reservas are aged 6 years total with at least 2 years in wood and 6 months in bottle, counted after January 1st following harvest.

29
Q

What rules govern standard Brunello di Montalcino?

A

5 years total minimum aging, with at least 2 years in wood and 4 months in bottle.

30
Q

What is normale Chianti DOC?

A

Dry red wine with a minimum 70% Sangiovese,
Can be released after March 1st the year after harvest.

31
Q

What regulated terms can appear on Chianti DOC labels?

A

Riserva, Vigna, Superiore, or 1/7 Subzones
Riserva wines must be aged at least 2 years prior to release
Superiore wines require lower yields and .5% higher alcohol.

32
Q

What are the 7 subzones of the Chianti DOCG?

A

Rufina, Montalbano, Montespertoli, Colli Fiorentini, Colli Senesi, Colli Aretini, Colline Pisane

33
Q

What rules govern Chianti Classico DOCG?

A

Dry red wine with minimum 80% Sangiovese.
Normale can be released Oct 1 year after harvest
and must be minimum 12% abv
Riserva wines must be aged 2 years, 3mo in bottle.
with 12.5% abv
Gran Selezione must be estate wines at least 90% sangiovese
aged 30mo, 3mo in bottle, minimum 13%

34
Q

Where is Pomino? Who makes wine there and what sorts of wines?

A

A tiny DOC within Rufina. Frescobaldi & Fattoria Selvapiana. They make red & white wines that allow for a higher % of international grapes than Chianti, as well as varietal bottlings.

35
Q

Who invented the original Chianti blend?

A

Baron Bettino Ricasoli in 1872. His original formula mandated addition of white grapes trebbiano & malvasia, but now that’s optional.

36
Q

What DOCG rules are unique to Colli Senesi?

A

75% Sangiovese, with max 10% cabernet

37
Q

What are the 4 original villages of Chianti Classico?

A

Radda
Gaiole
Castellina
Greve

38
Q

Where is Montalcino?

A

In southern Tuscany, overlapping with Colli Senesi, in Siena.

39
Q

What are the soils of Montalcino

A

Galestro at altitude
Clay in the south
Fossilized marine deposits scattered throughout

40
Q

How does Brunello differ in profile from Chianti?

A

It’s stronger, with more alcohol, extract, & tannin.

41
Q

What divides modernist vs traditional producers in Montalcino?

A

Modernists try to make their wine more approachable on release with smaller barrels & shorter mascerations.

42
Q

What are Montalcino’s 3 important frazioni?

A

Saint Angelo
Castelnuovo Abate
Torrenieri

43
Q

Who are the modernist Montalcino producers? The traditionalists?

A

Casanova di Niri and Mastrojanni are modernists
Biondi-Santi, Talenti, & Soldera are traditionalists.

44
Q

What rules govern Rosso di Montalcino DOC?

A

Baby brunello aged for 1 year prior to release with no oak requirement.

45
Q

What is the Sant’Antimo DOC?

A

As of 1996 Allows montalcino producers to make super tuscan wines, either red or white from any grape allowed in Tuscany.

46
Q

What rules govern Moscadello di Montalcino DOC?

A

Montalcino DOC that allows still or sparkling white wines from Moscato bianco (Moscadello), that are usually sweet.

47
Q

What rules govern the VIno Nobile de Montepulciano DOCG?

A

at least 70% prugnolo gentile clone of sangiovese
no more than 30% other tuscan grapes, no more than 5% white grapes

Must be aged at least 2 years, 1 in oak
Riserva must be aged 3 years total.

48
Q

What is the primary grape variety of Montepulciano? How does Montepulciano’s wines differ from Chianti’s or Montalcino’s?

A

Prugnolo Gentile clone of Sangiovese
Less tannic than brunello, less firm than Chianti, creating softer, smoother wines.

49
Q

What were 2 of the first DOCGs in Italy?

A

Brunello di Montalcino
& Vino Nobile di Montepulciano in 1980

50
Q

Where is the Morellino di Scansano DOCG located?
What kind of wines are made there?

A

in coastal Southern Maremma.
Reds with minimum 85% sangiovese
Riservas aged at least 2 years.

51
Q

How did the Scansano region come about?

A

Mussolini drained the swampland in 1930s, and the area benefits from interest & investment based on proximity to Maremma & Bolgheri, but its wines aren’t unique.

52
Q

Where is Carmignano DOCG? What wine is made there?

A

In Tuscany, overlapping with Montalbano.
reds with at least 50% sangiovese & at 10-20% cab & cab franc.

53
Q

What is Rosso de la Val di Cornia DOCG? Where is it made?

A

at least 40% sangiovese with up to 60% merlot & cab, and up to 20% other grapes. It’s between Pisa and Livorno

54
Q

What is Suvereto DOCG?

A

A former subzone of Val di Cornia, makes a cab & merlot dominant rosso, and several allowed varietal wines.

55
Q

What are the other 4 important super tuscans to know?

A

Antinori’s Cab-based “Solaia”
Ornelaia: Bordeaux-style blend
Merlot-based “Masseto”
Varietal Cab Franc “Paleo Rosso” from Le Macchiole

56
Q

What are the 3 important 100% Sangiovese Super Tuscans?

A

San Felice’s “Vigorello”
Montevertine’s “Le Pergole Torte”
Isole e Olena’s “Cepparello”

57
Q

Why were the coolest and priciest wines in Tuscany released as VdT in the 1980s?

A

Because the DOC system is flawed and tuscan vintners were mocking it.
1992 Gora’s law created the IGT category
1994 saw Bolgheri DOC added red wines to its allowed whites & rosados and allowed super tuscan producers a DOC.

58
Q

What is the history of the Bolgheri DOC?

A

Became a white and rosado DOC in 1983
Made Bolgheri Sassicaia an official subzone in 1983
Added red wines to its charter in 1994
Made Bolgheri Sassicaia its own DOC in 2013

59
Q

What is unique about Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC?

A

It’s the only true monopole in Italy

60
Q

What rules govern Bolgheri DOC?

A

Can make red, white, or rosado. White are vermentino or sauvignon blanc
reds can be varietal cab, merlot, or cab franc, or can be bordeaux-style blends allowing syrah & sangiovese
superiore wines must be aged 2 years with 1 year in oak and with minimum 12% abv

61
Q

What rules govern Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC?

A

Red wine only
Must be at least 80% cab with up to 20% allowed tuscan grapes
Must be aged 2 years, 18mo in barriques.

62
Q

Where is the Isle of Elba and what is it known for?

A

Just off the coast of Maremma, famous for housing Napolean during his exile in 1814.

63
Q

What is Elba’s notable DOCG?

A

Elba Aleatico Passito: sweet red wine from Aleatico, a red-skinned relative of moscato bianco. Grapes are dried for at least 10 days before pressing.

64
Q

What is the only notable white wine DOCG in Tuscany?

A

Vernaccia di San Gimignano: a crisp, pink grapefruit-tinged white wine produced on sandy, rock strewn soils in the hilltops of San Gimignano in Sienna.

65
Q

What is Tuscany’s most famous dessert wine, despite not being DOCG?

A

VIn Santo: White or red sweet passito wine from Trebbiano and malvasia (sometimes grechetto) or Sangiovese. Red version is Occhio de Pernice. Can be reserva. Most fall under Vin Santo del Chianti DOC. It’s on the decline because it takes so long to produce: it ferments & ages for between 3 & 8 years.

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