Tuscany Flashcards
8 subzones of Chianti
7 subzones created in 1932. An eighth subzone, Montespertoli, was added in a 1997 decree.
Classico, Rufina (Firenze), Colli Fiorentini (Firenze), Montespertoli (Firenze), Montalbano (Prato, Pistoia, Firenze), Senesi (Siena), Colli Aretini (Arezzo), Colline Pisane (Pisa)
Chianti DOCG approved grape varieties
70-100% Sangiovese, Colli Senesi subzone min 75%. Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia now optional rather than mandatory. Other red grapes (Ciliegiolo “Chee-lee-eh-JOH-lo”, Canaiolo (softens sangio attack), Colorino, etc) are remainder of the blend,
Cabernet grapes may not exceed a max 15%.
White grapes may not exceed 10%
Two main soils found in Chianti Classico?
Two other soils found?
—Galestro: Marl; soft friable clay/schist; characterizes some of the best vineyards in Chianti
—Albarese: Harden; compact marl/limestone, solid, heavy
Other soils:
—Macigno “ma-CHEEN-yo”: a hard grey/blue sandstone
—Calcareous tufa: found throughout the south
Chianti DOCG (zone specific) Aging and min alcohol for: Normale Superiore Riserva
Chianti: May not be released until March 1 following harvest ( Colli Aretini, Montalbano, Colline Pisane and Colli Senesi), 11.5%
Montespertoli until June 1
Colli Fiorentini and Rufina until September 1
Chianti Superiore: May not be released until September 1 of the year following the harvest, 12%
Chianti Riserva: Minimum 2 years aging from Jan 1 following harvest; 12%
For Colli Fiorentini Riserva and Rufina Riserva, a minimum 6 months of the total aging period must occur in wood
For Senesi Riserva, a minimum 8 months of the total aging must occur in wood and 4 months in bottle (Senesi also has the highest min alcohol 12/13%)
Montalcino soils
- galestro (marl) for higher-altitude vineyards
- clay predominant in warmer southern reaches
- fossilized marine deposits scattered throughout.
11 DOCGS of Tuscany
7 Sangio principal grape: Chianti, Chianti Classico, Carmignano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Morellino di Scansano, and Montecucco Sangiovese, Brunello
Val di Cornia Rosso
Non Sagio: Suvereto, Elba Aleatico Passito, and Vernaccia di San Gimignano
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
Who was the first to protect Chianti as a region?
What are the four original villages of Chianti?
What are areas were protected (3)?
Grand Duke Cosimo III de’ Medici classified Chianti as a protected region.
The Classico area contains the original Chianti zone delimited by Grand Duke Cosimo III de’ Medici in 1716, including the four original villages of Radda, Gaiole, Castellina, and Greve
Pomino, Valdarno di Sopra, and Carmignano
What is Vin santo?
Name the 4 appellations for Vin Santo wines in Tuscany.
“Holy wine” high alcohol, almond and honey-toned dried grape wine produced from Trebbiano and Malvasia. Grechetto is sometimes authorized. The grapes are hung from rafters to dry for a specified time set by each DOC-the grapes are usually raisinated until December 1, at least. Slow fermentation and aging in caratelli (chestnut allows for rapid oxidation) barrels follows, for 3-8 years depending on the style. Barrels are never topped. May be dry or sweet.
Vin Santo del Chianti DOC
Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC
Vin Santo di Carmignano DOC
Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC
What is “Occhio di Pernice”?
“Eye of the Patridge”, a rose version of vin santo with a minimum 50% Sangiovese added to the white grapes.
What sea is on the coast of Tuscany?
Tyrrhenian Sea
Historically, what were the bottles in Chianti called?
Fiasco- squat, straw-covered bottle.
Who released the first commercial Super Tuscan, when, and what was it?
Marquis Mario Rochetta released Sassicaia in 1968
Who released the second commercial Super Tuscan, when, and what was it?
Piero Antinori, Tignanello, 1971
Who is Giacomo Tachis? (“tok-kees”)
One of Italy’s most famous oenologists. He became world-famous as Antinori’s head oenologist from 1961 to 1999 and for his contribution to the creation of Sassicaia. Although Sassicaia was the brainchild of Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, it was Tachis who modernised the wine and introduced stainless steel for its fermentation. Both Mario and he agreed on making a Bordeaux-style wine aged in barrique, but Tachis’s regular trips to Bordeaux and his encounters with the hugely influential Bordeaux oenologist Émile Peynaud gave him the knowledge to fine-tune the approach and improve the wine.
In Sassicaia’s wake, Tachis was also instrumental in the creation of Antinori’s Tignanello and Solaia.
Tachis’s interest was not confined to Tuscany, however. He also acted as a consultant for Sardinian producers Argiolas and Santadi. The latter, a ‘mere’ co-op, saw its quality soar while its Terre Brune, made from the local Carignano variety and aged in new French barriques, became an instant success.
What is governo?
The technique consisted of setting aside and drying grapes from the September and October harvest, pressing them in mid to late November, and introducing the resulting unfermented grape juice into young wines which had just completed their alcoholic fermentation, thereby restarting the fermentation. This practice led to a slight increase in the alcoholic strength of the wines, but its principal and most desirable effect was to encourage the malolactic conversion, which was not always easy in the cold cellars of the past, with wines made from a grape as high in acidity as sangiovese.
Chianti Classico DOCG
Aging and min alcohol for
Classico?
Riserva?
Gran Selezione?
—Chianti Classico: May not be released until October 1 of the year following the harvest with min 12 %
—Riserva: Min 24 months aging from Jan 1 year following harvest, 3 months in the bottle with min 12.5%
—Gran Selezione: Wines must be produced from estate fruit. Min 30 months aging from Jan 1 year following the harvest, including at least 3 months in the bottle (new category introduced in 2013) with min 13%