Tuscany Flashcards
Number DOCG, DOC in Tuscany, production
11 DOCG, 41 DOC. 60% DOC/DOCG , 85% red
Tuscany: neighboring regions, bodies of water
Liguria to the NW corner, Emilia-Romagna to the North, Marche to the NE corner, Umbria to the East, Lazio to the SE, the Tyrrhenian Sea to the West.
When was Chianti first delimited? expanded? DOCG?
1716 by Grand Duke Cosimo III de’ Medici. 4 original Classico villages: Radda, Castellina, Greve, Gaiole. One of the first delimited zones in Europe. The modern zone est in 1932 w/ 7 subzones; elevated to DOCG status with Classico in 1984, one of the 1st
Chianti subzones
8: Classico, Rufina, Colli Senesi, Colline Pisane, Colli Fiorentini, Colli Aretini, Montalbano, Montespertoli (added in 1997)
DOCGs of Tuscany
11: Chianti, Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Carmignano, Montecucco Sangiovese, Morellino di Scansano, Val di Cornia Rosso, Suvereto, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Elba Aleatico Passito
Major cities of Tuscany
Firenze, Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano, Arezzo, Montepulciano, Montalcino, Grosseto
Villages of Chianti Classico DOCG
Original 4: Greve in Chianti, Radda in Chianti, Castellina in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti, +: Castelnuovo Berardenga, San Casciano in Val di Pesa, Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, Barberino Val d’Elsa, Poggibonsi
Chianti Classico soils
Two common soil types, galestro: soft, friable, marl-like, Sang thrives on it, & alberese: sandstone
Chianti Classico rules
Rosso: 80-100% Sang; no white grapes allowed; min 12% abv; min 1 yr aging; Riserva: min 12.5% abv; min 2 yrs aging, often aged in barriques but not mandated; Gran Selezione (introduced in 2013): min 13% abv; min 30 mnths aging
Chianti rules
70-100% Sang; max 10% white grapes: Trebbiano Toscano, Malvasia; max 30% other Toscana grapes; max 15% CS, CF; min 11.5% abv;
Normale: released 3/1 after harvest;
Riserva: min 2 yrs aging;
Superiore: min 12% abv, lowered yields; governo permitted
Tuscany climate
Dry, maritime-influenced climate w/ sometimes harsh winter and long, hot summers, wide variation in mesoclimate throughout; Soil structure diverse, respective to the width of the region and altitides
governo
refermentation with the juice of dried grapes, to strengthen the wine and initiate malolactic fermentation. must be indicated on labels as Governo all’uso Toscano, although most quality-minded producers avoid it
Chianti subzones with additional requirements beyond the basic DOC
The Florentine subzones of Rùfina, Montespertoli, and Colli Fiorentini require additional Aging. Colli Senesi requires min 75% Sang (instead of 70%) and max 10% CS, CF (instead of 15%)
Pomino
Tusacny DOC. Tiny appellation partially w/in Rufina, E of Florence. Red & White; permits higher % of Intern’l grapes than the Chianti DOCG; also a rangeof varietal wines
The First and 2nd Super Tuscans
Sassicaia released in 1968 by Marquis Mario Rocchetta, Tignanello released in 1971 by nephew Piero Anitnori
Sassacaia
released 1968 by Marquis Mario Rocchetta of Tenuta San Guido. The original Super Tuscan. 85% CS, 15% CF. Recieved its own DOC: Bolgheri Sassacaia
Tignanello
released in 1971 by Antinori The 2nd super tuscan. 75-85% Sang + CS, CF
Anitnori Super Tuscans
Tignanello (Sang + CS, CF), Solaia (CS + Sang + CF), Guado Al Tasso (CS + Merlot +)
il Blu
Brancaia super tuscan. 50 sang, 45 Merl, 5 CS
Fontalloro
Felsina super tuscan, 100% Sang
Maestro Raro
Felsina super tuscan, 100% CS
Cepparello
Isole e Olena super Tuscan. 100% Sang
Nemo
Monsanto super tuscan. 100% CS
Le Pergole Torete
Montevertine super Tusacn. 100% Sangioveto
Avvoltore
Moris Farms super Tuscan. Sang + CS, Syrah
Ornellaia
Tenuta dell’Ornellaia super Tuscan. bordeaux blend: CS, Merl, CF, PV
Masseto
Tenuta dell’Ornellaia super Tuscan. 100% Merlot
Sammarco
Castello dei Rampolla super Tuscan. mostly CS
Paleo Rosso
Le Macchiole super tuscan. 100% CF
Messorio
Le Macchiole super tuscan. 100% Merlot
Scrio
Le Macchiole super tuscan. 100% Syrah
Le Macchiole super tuscans
Paleo Rosso (CF), Messorio (Merlot), Scrio (Syrah)
Vigorello
San Felice super tuscan. 100% Sang when released in 1968 as the 1st all Sang super-tuscan. CS, Merl, PV today
The “only monopole” in Italy
Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC
Tuscany most planted white
Trebbiano Toscano
Tuscany white grapes
Trebbiano Toscano, often blended with Malvasia. Vermentino in Bolgheri, Vernaccia in San Gimignano. Occasional Chard, SB. Less than 15% of production is white wine
Who created the Chinati blend and what is it
Baron Bettino Ricasoli, outlined in an 1872 letter to Professor Cesare Studiati at the University of Pisa, mandated the inclusion of white grapes Trebbiano and Malvasia along with Sang, Colorino, Canaiolo
Who invented the Brunello style
Clemente Santi of Tenuta Greppo’s Biondi-Santi, was the first to isolate the Brunello clone and bottle it alone in 1865
What region does the Brunello DOCG overlap with? Vino Nobile?
Chianti DOCG subone Colli Senesi, Chianti DOCG
Brunello grape aka
Sangiovese Grosso
Montalcino soils
Galestro (friable, marl-like) in the higher altitudes, clay in the warmer southern reaches. fossilized marine sediment in strewn throughout the region
Brunello di Montalcino: most important frazione
Sant Angelo in Colle, Castelnuovo Abate and Torrenieri
Brunello producers
Traditionalists: Biondi Santi, Soldera, Talenti. Modernists: Mastrojanni, Casanova di Neri. Also: Caparzo, Altesino, Ciacci Piccolomini, Castelgiocondo, Argiano, Luce, Podere le Ripi, Palazzo, Tenuta di Sesta, Campogiavanni, Il Poggione, Uccelliera, Fuligni, Banfi, Silvio Nardi
Chianti Classico producers
Radda: Volpaia, Montevertine, Val delle Corti, Castello d’Albola
Castelnouvo Berardenga: Felsina, San Felice, Rocca di Montegrossi
Greve: Querciabella, Rampolla, Villa Caffagio, Il Molino di Grace, Casaloste, Vignamaggio
Baberino val d’Elsa: Isole e Olena, Monsanto
Gaiole: Barone Ricasoli
Castellina: Castellare di Castellina, Nittardi
Brunello di Montalcino rules
100% Sangiovese Grosso (Brunello); min 2 yrs in wood + 4 mnths in bottle, released 1/1 the 5th yr after harvest; Riserva: min 2yrs inwood + 6 mnths in bottle, released 1/1 the 6th yr after harvest
Brunello Normale current release. Riserva?
Normale: 2014. Riserva: 2013
Chianti Classico current release
Normale: 2018 released 10/1/19. Riserva: 2016 released 1/1/19. Gran Selezione: 2016 released 7/1/19
Rosso di Monatlcino
Tuscany DOC. same delimted area as Brunello. 100% Sangiovese, min 1 year aging, cask aging is not required
Sant’Antimo
Tuscany DOC, same delimited area as Brunello. Created in 1996; provides Montalcino producers an outlet for Super Tuscan wine. Red or white, any grapes allowed in Tuscany
Tuscany DOCGs for Sangiovese
Chianti, Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Carmignano, Morellino di Scansano, Montecucco Sangiovese
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Tuscanu DOCG. Min 70% Sang (Prugnolo Gentile clone), max 30% other Tuscan grapes, max 5% white grapes, min 2 yrs aging, min 1 yr in wood; Riserva: min 3 yrs aging
Morellino di Scansano
Tuscany DOCG. Min 85% Sang; Riserva: min 2 yrs aging
Montecucco Sangiovese
Tuscany DOCG. Min 90% Sang, min 1 yr in oak, 4mnths in btl; Riserva: min 2 yrs in oak, 6 mnths in btl
Carmignano
Tuscany DOCG, directly west of Firenze, overlaps the Chianti Montalbano DOCG. Min 50% Sang, 10-20% CS, CF, max 20% Canaiolo, max 10% other white & red
Val di Cornia Rosso
Tuscany DOCG, near the coast, neighbors the Bolgheri DOC, encompasses the Suvereto DOCG. Min 40% Sang, Max 60% CS, Merlot, max 20% other Tuscan grapes
Suvereto
Tuscany DOCG, near the coast, w/in the Val di Cornia DOCG. Red: CS, Merlot + max 15% other Tuscan grapes; Varietal (min 85%): Sang, Merlot, CS
Bolgheri
Tuscany DOC.
Red: varietal or blended CS, Merlot, CF; max 50% Syrah, max 50% Sang, max 30% other tuscan grapes,
White: max 70% Vermentino, max 40% SB, max 40% Trebb Tosc, max 30% other Tuscan grapes; varietal Vermentino, SB
Elba Aleatico Passito
Tuscany DOCG. Island 12 miles of the coast. Sweet red passito made from the Aleatico grape. Only DOCG in Tuscany for sweet wines
Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Tuscany DOCG, overlaps the Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG. min 85% Vernaccia. The only white wine DOCG in Tuscany
Tuscany regions for Van Santo
All DOC: del Chianti (most exported Vin Santo comes from this zone), del Chianti Classico, di Carmignano, di Montepulciano
Tuscan Vin Santo producers
Cappezzana makes a Vin Santo di Carmignano
Vin Santo process
Appasimento process dried grape wine from Trebbiano & Malvasia; Grechetto is sometimes authorized; Occhio di Pernice: rose from Sang; Ferment slowly and aged for 3-8 years in Caratelli barrells, which are never topped off, alcohol is concentrated through evaporation. Chestnut: traditional aging, rapid oxidizing; Oak: modern aging vessel; may be dry or sweet depending on the length of drying process; may be fortified & labeled “Liquoroso.” Often served with biscotti
Vino Nobile producers
Dei, Avignonesi, Santa Pia “La Bracessca”, Tenuta di Gracciano della seta, Boscarelli
Super Tuscans that use Bolgheri DOC
Anitnori’s Guado Al Tasso, Ornellaia, Grattamacco (CS + Merl, Sang)
Italy’s 1st DOCG
Brunello in 1980, followed later that year by Vino Nobile., Barolo and Barbaresco