Tuscany Flashcards
Tuscany is located on which coast of Italy?
The Tyrrhenian Coast.
Who bottled the first Super Tuscan, and when?
Marquis Mario Rocchetta (Tenuta San Guido) released the first commercial vintage of Sassicaia in 1968.
What % of Tuscan vineyards are devoted to red wine?
70.00%
When was Chianti first delimited? When was it elevated to DOCG?
1932
1984
What are the eight subzones of Chianti DOCG?
Classico, Colli Fiorentini, Rùfina, Montalbano, Montesperoli, Colline Pisane, Colli Senesi, Colli Aretini
Which subzone was added to the original seven in 1997?
Montesperoli Chianti
Where and what is Pomino DOC?
Within Rùfina Chianti; Pomino DOC authorizes both reds and whites. Reds are >50% Sangiovese plus Pinot Nero and Merlot, and varietal bottlings are permitted (at 85%).
What is the varietal makeup of Chianti DOCG?
70-100% Sangiovese
Max. 30% other grapes authorized for Toscana
Max 10% white grapes
Max 15% cabernet sauvignon/franc
What is the minimum Sangiovese for wines from Colli Senesi?
75.00%
What does Governo all’uso Toscano indicate?
The traditional practice of governo, which is refermenting with the juice of dried grapes to strengthen the wine and initiate malolactic fermentation (similar to ripasso).
When may Chianti normale be released?
March 1st following the harvest.
How long does Chianti Riserva age for?
2 years
What does Chianti Superiore indicate?
Plus .5% minimum abv (minimum abv varies by subzone from 11.5-12%); may not be released until September 1st following the harvest.
Which Chianti subzones require longer aging?
Montesperoli (June 1st)
Colli Fiorentini, Rùfina (September 1st)
What are the two main soil types of Chianti Classico?
Albarese (sandstone)
Galestro (friable marl)
What are the requirements for Chianti Classico DOCG?
> 80% Sangiovese (no white grapes permitted), >12% abv, and one year of aging
What are the requirements for Chianti Classico Riserva?
2 years of aging; 12.5% minimum abv
What does Gran Selezione indicate? When was it introduced?
Produced from estate fruit. 30 mos of aging from January 1 following the harvest, with at least 3 mos in bottle. Introduced in 2013.
Which Chianti subzone overlaps with Montalcino?
Colli Senesi
Who is credited with creating the Brunello style? When?
Clemente Santi of Biondi-Santi in 1865.
What is the varietal makeup of Brunello di Montalcino DOCG?
100% Sangiovese Grosso (brunello)
Aging requirements for Brunello di Montalcino DOCG? For Riserva?
Normale: At least two years in cask, 4mos in bottle, released after January 1st five years after harvest.
Riserva: At least two years in cask, 6mos in bottle, released after January 1st six years after harvest.
What is the soil makeup of Montalcino?
Galestro in the higher altitude vineyards.
Clay to the south.
Scattered marine fossil deposits.
Created by the collision of the African and European plates, which created the hills, and repeated incursions and retreats of the ocean, which laid fossil deposits and also cause erosion and landslides.
What are the fraziones (sub-communes) of Montalcino?
Montalcino: central, high elevation (300-400M), cooler
Sant Angelo in Colle: south-central, high elevation (444M), calcareous soils
Castelnuovo Abate: Southeast, protect from the hot mediterranean wind by a mountainous ridge, calcareous marl with shale
Torrenieri: north east, high elevation, heavy clay
What is Sant’Angelo?
The larger area made up of Sant’Angelo in Colle (tiny, high elevation) and Sant’Angelo Scalo (southern, hot, dry, flat, sprawling).
35-40% of production comes from Sant’Angelo, Scalo in particular is home to Banfi, Il Poggione, Argiano, Col d’Orcia.
Why is brunello production in Torrenieri controversial?
The heavy clay soils are considered unsuitable for quality production; it was originally included only because it falls with the Montalcino municipality. Called the Crete Senesi, until the 1990’s nothing was planted there; similar soils in the chianti classico zone have been excluded from the DOCG boundaries.
What is Montosoli?
A hill of 280-350M north of the town of Montalcino, which is spared the autumnal fog of lower altitudes. Generally produces wines with the power and concentration of vineyards in the southern part of the appellation.
What delimits the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG?
3 rivers: Ombrone, Asso, Orcia
What is the highest vineyard altitude in Montalcino?
500M (total elevation 667M)
Major vine training in Montalcino
Spurred single cordon, to increase competition between vines and encourage smaller bunches with thicker skins.
Previously (1970’s/80’s) Guyot was popular, but created too much production/vigor and diluted the wines.
What and when was “Brunellogate?” Who were the main firms involved?
A scandal involving the seizure of many bottles of Brunello by the Italian government under the allegations that other grapes were being blended into the wine; wines seized were the 2003 vintage, in 2008.
Antinori, Argiano, Banfi, Frescobaldi
Who was responsible for pushing Brunello onto the world stage in the 1970’s?
John and Harry Mariani, founders of Villa Banfi (landed in Brunello in 1978)
What is the varietal makeup and aging requirement for Rosso di Montalcino DOC?
100% Sangiovese; 1 year aging.
What was revolutionary about the creation of the Rosso di Montalcino DOC?
First instance of two controlled appellations applying to the same vineyards (Brunello and Rosso), paving the way for Rosso di Valtellina, etc. Vineyards must be registered with the consorzio; you may declassify your brunello to rosso, but not vice versa.
DOC was established in 1983.
What is the purpose of Sant’Antimo DOC?
Super Tuscans in the area of Montalcino; all authorized Tuscan grapes are permitted.
What is Moscadello di Montalcino DOC?
A DOC for white wines of Moscadello (Moscato Bianco); Tranquillo, Frizzante, VT
What are the varietal requirements for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano?
> 70% Sangiovese (Prugnolo Gentile), max 5% non-aromatic white grapes/malvasia bianca lunga
What is the aging regimen for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano? Normale and Riserva.
Normale: two years (at least one in wood)
Riserva: three years (at least 6mos in bottle)
Where is Morellino di Scansano DOCG? What is its varietal makeup and aging regimen?
In southern Maremma.
>85% Sangiovese
2 years in barrel for Riserva
What is the varietal makeup of Carmignano DOCG?
> 50% Sangiovese
10-20% Cabernet Sauvignon/Franc
What Chianti subzone overlaps with Carmignano DOCG?
Monalbano Chianti
What three Tuscan DOCG’s were elevated in 2011
Suvereto DOCG
Rosso della Val di Cornia DOCG
Montecucco Sangiovese DOCG
What is unusual about Suvereto and Rosso della Val di Cornia DOCG’s?
High proportions of Bordeaux varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot); varietal wines permitted in Suvereto.
Name three Sangiovese dominant Super Tuscans
Le Pergole Torte (Montevertine) Cepparello (Isole e Olena) I Sodi di San Niccolò (Castellare di Castellina) Fontalloro (Felsina) Flaccianello (Fontodi) Il Carbonaione (Poggio Scalette) Percarlo (San Giusto a Rentennano) Anfiteatro (Vecchie Terre di Montefili)
Where is Bolgheri? What is the style of the wines?
Northern Maremma, producing mostly BDX based blends. Cab Sauv/Merlot/Cab Franc Varietal wines; max 50% Sangiovese, Syrah. Also permits bianco (vermentino based), rosato, and varietal Vermentino and Sauvignon.
What is the single-estate subappellation in Maremma?
Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC, in the town of Castagneto Carducci
Min 80% Cab Sauv, plus.
2 years aging, 18mos in wood
What are the communes of Chianti Classico?
Radda, Gaiole, Castellina, Greve
What style are the wines of Elba Aleatico Passito DOCG?
Passito red Aleatico
What white grape is Aleatico genetically linked to?
Moscato Bianco
What grapes are used for Tuscan vin santo?
Trebbiano and Malvasia, plus Grechetto (sometimes).
Rosé is produced with >50% sangiovese grapes
What is Occhio di Pernice?
Rosé vin santo, called “Eye of the Partridge” for its color.
What is the traditional barrel for vin santo?
Caratelli: 50-225L, in chestnut or oak
What is the only white wine DOCG in Tuscany?
Vernaccia di Sangimignano DOCG
What does Liquoroso indicate on a bottle of vin santo?
That the wine has been fortified.
Name the 11 DOCG’s of Tuscany
Chianti DOCG Chianti Classico DOCG Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG Morellino di Scansano DOCG Carmignano DOCG Suvereto DOCG Rosso della Val di Cornia DOCG Montecucco Sangiovese DOCG Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG Elba Aleatico Passito DOCG
What was the first DOC in Italy?
Vernaccia di San Gimignano in 1966.
What are the two main types of Sangiovese?
Sangiovese Grosso: large berried, including Prugnolo and Brunello
Sangioveto: small berried, seen in Chianti
When and by whom was Chianti originally delimited?
The 14th century by Florentine noblemen.
When was the Chianti recipe updated to its current iteration?
1996 (white grapes are no longer mandatory).
The recipe was first updated in 1984 with the elevation to DOCG, to include >2% white grapes and
Who produces Ornellaia? What else do they produce?
Lodovico Antinori (brother to Piero) at his Tenuta all'Ornellaia estate. Classic CS based BDX blend. Also produces Masseto (Merlot)
What is the Tuscan synonym for Grenache?
Alicante
Excellent vintages in Chianti Classico
1985, 1988
1990, 1997-2001
2004
Excellent vintages in Brunello di Montalcino
1980, 1982, 1985, 1988
1990, 1995-1997, 1999-2001
2004
Excellent vintages in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
1985, 1988
1990, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999
2000, 2001, 2004
Excellent vintages in Bolgheri
1982, 1985, 1988-1990
1995, 1997, 1999-2001
2004
What is latifondo?
The system of land ownership in Italy, overturned by the Agrarian reforms of the 1950’s.
What is mezzadria?
Sharecropping; more prevalent in the north than the south of Italy.
