Tuscany COPY Flashcards
When were the first geographical production zones delimited? How? When? By who?
In 1716 by Grand Duke Cosimo III de’ Medici. There were 4 zones: Carmignano, Pomino, Chianti, Valdarno.
What disasters affected Italian wines at the end of the 1800s?
Oidium, Peronospera, and Phylloxera
What is mezzadria?
The cultivation of land for a proprietor by one who receives a proportion of the produce.
When did the mezzadria get abolished?
1963
What can Sangiovese often be like in Maremma? Why?
Jammy and flabby, because it is warmer.
What is Invaiatura?
Change of color of the grapes.
What is the ideal soil for Sangiovese?
Limestone based, with a balance content of clay and schist, and perhaps a bit of sand, not too low a pH, so not too acidic.
What is the soil of Bolgheri?
Layers of sand, clay and gravel.
What is the Tramontana?
The cold wind that blows across from the north in the direction of Emilia-Romagna.
How much Sangiovese is in Tuscany?
40,000 hectares
How was Sagarantino used until the late 1970s?
In uvaggi di vigneto (vineyard grape mixes).
What does “Mammolo” mean?
Violet
What is Vitiarium?
A vineyard experimental site at the large San Felice estate at Castelnuovo Berardenga in Chianti Classico.
What is an appropriate altitude range for Sangiovese in Tuscany?
650-1650 ft
How many approved Sangiovese clones are there?
70.
What are measurements of the Fregoni principle?
Ideal weights of 1 gram for the berry, 100 grams for the bunch, 1,000 grams for the vine.
What are macchine scavallanti?
Large, but now slim tractors that farm vineyards.
What is the general consensus for Tuscan vineyard planting density?
5,000-7,000
Chianti is between which two cities?
Florence and Siena
What of soils are in Greve?
Clay
Which wine subzone in Chianti Classico makes the “finest” wines?
Panzano in Greve
Which Chianti Classico zone is known for power and intensity?
Castelnuovo Berardenga
What is the soil of Rufina like?
Clay and limestone marl
Where is Bolgheri located?
On the Maremma coast
What is the DOC for “young” Carmignano?
Barco Reale
What assigned Carmignano to the nearby zone of Chianti Montalbano? When?
Dalmasso Commission in 1932.
What is the general altitude range of Carmignano?
160-650 feet
Does harvest happen earlier in central Tuscany or Maremma?
Maremma
What does Livorno mean?
leghorn
What is a common fault in Vin Santo?
volatility
What is madre?
A starter culture of yeast used in Vin Santo
What does Occhio di Pernice translate to?
“Eye of the partridge”
In which direction are most Vino Nobile di Montepulciano vines facing?
east to southeast
Where is Montepulciano in relation to Florence?
75 miles southeast
What was the first ever DOC?
Vernaccia di San Gimignano
What kind of soil is in Vernaccia di San Gimignano?
sandstone
Is harvest early in the north or south of Montalcino? By how much?
South…by a week
Where in Montalcino are the higher elevation vineyards?
the North
How many vintages were declared in the first 57 years of production of Biondi-Santi?
4
What wine factor helps wine in Montalcino?
A cool maritime breeze from the southwest
How does Montalcino’s climate compare to Florence?
It is warmer and drier than Florence
About how many acres are in use in Elba?
250 acres
In which direction is Montepulciano from Montalcino?
east
Most of Montalcino’s best vineyards are where?
in the south
Near what river are most of the Tuscan plains?
Arno
What are the highest mountains in Tuscany?
Apennines
Who are some key producers of Barberino Val d’Elsa?
Isole e Olena
Fattoria di Monsanto
Who are some key producers in Castelnuovo Berardenga?
Fattoria di Felsina
Castell’In Villa
Who are some key producers in Gaiole in Chianti?
Castello di Ama
Badia A Coltibuono
Who are some key producers in Radda in Chianti?
Castello di Volpaia
La Brancaia
Who are some key producers in Greve in Chianti?
Castello di Querceto
Podere Poggio
Who are top producers of Vin Santo?
Villa Sant’Anna
Avignonesi
Rocca di Montegrossi
Who are some notable producers of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano?
Avignonesi
Fattoria del Cerro
Boscarelli
Poliziano
Who are some notable producers of Vernaccia di San Gimignano?
Montenidoli
Falchini
Who are some key producers of Chianti Classico?
Montevertine Castello di Ami Fattoria di Felsina Rocca di Montegrossi Barone Ricasoli
Who are key modernist producers in Brunello di Montalcino?
Antinori
Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona
Poggio Antico
Castello Banfi
Who are key traditionalist producers in Brunello di Montalcino?
Biondi-Santi
Val di Suga
Talenti
Il Poggione
What label does fortified Vin Santo have?
Liquoroso
Why is chestnut wood often used for Vin Santo?
rapid oxidation
Where was Napoleon’s exile of 1814?
Elba
When was the IGT category created?
1992
How did southern Maremma become hospitable to wine?
Mussolini drained it in the 1930s
What Brunello leaders are more traditional, keeping maceration periods longer?
Biondi-Santi, Talenti, Soldera
What are Montalcino’s fraziones?
Sant Angelo in Colle, Castelnuovo Abate, Torrenieri
What is a frazione?
Sub-commune
How long is Brunello di Montalcino aged?
2 years in cask, 4 months in bottle
Riserva - 6 months in bottle instead of 4
Which is the Brunello clone?
Sangiovese Grosso
Who historically is considered the inventor of Brunello’s style?
Clemente Santi of Tenuta Greppos Biondi-Santi
What are the four original villages of Chianti?
Radda, Gaiole, Castellina, Greve
What are the two most common soils of Chianti?
Galestro and alberese
Who delimited the original Chianti zone? When?
Grand Duke Cosimo III de Medici, 1716
Generally, what is the minimum amount of Sangiovese in Chianti?
70%
After Chianti Classico, which Chianti subzone is considered the most reliable?
Rufina
What percentage of Tuscan vineyards are devoted to red wine production?
70%
Why has Canaiolo historically been added to Sangiovese?
To soften its hard attack
How much of Tuscan wine is made at the DOC/DOCG level?
45%
Who bottled Sassicaia?
Marquis Mario Rocchetta
When was the first commercial vintage of Sassicaia?
1968
Legislation delimiting the Chianti zone dates back to when?
1716
What are aging requirements of Vin Santo di Montepulciano?
Minimum 3 years in caratelli of no more than 300 liters capacity.
Riserva - 5 yeras in caratelli of no more than 125 liters capacity
Occhio di Pernice - 8 years in caratelli of no more than 75 liters capacity