Tuscany (Toscana) Flashcards
fiasco
Historically, due to the inferior quality of Italian glass, Chianti was sold in squat, straw-covered bottles (fiascos) that came to epitomize the rustic, cheap nature of Italian wine in the late 1960’s, 70’s, and 80’s
Year legislation first delimited the Chianti zone
1716
Tuscany
Number of hl produced annually
3 million hl
- Forefront of quality and large-scale comm winemaking in Italy
Tuscany
% of wine at DOC/DOCG level
45%
Tuscany
Climate
dry, maritime-influenced
- Can be harsh winters, long hot summers
- Wide variation in mesoclimates
- Montalcino - S province Siena, more arid
- Montepulciano - further inland, more seasonal, continental
Italy’s most planted red varietal
Sangiovese
Sangiovese clone of Montepulciano
Prugnolo Gentile
Italy’s most planted white grape
Trebbiano Toscano
Tuscany
Regions for Vernaccia
San Gimignano
Tuscany
% of vineyards devoted to red wines
70%
Year Chianti was elevated to DOCG status
1984
Chianti
7 original subzones
8th subzone
- Classico
- Rufina
- Colli Fiorentini
- Colli Senesi
- Colline Pisane
- Colli Aretini
- Montalbano
- 8th subzone, Montespertoli, 1997 decree
Chianti
Year boundaries of the modern zone were established
1932
Chianti
Major firm of Rufina subzone
Frescobaldi
- Rufina, exception of Classico, most consistent subzone in quality
- Frescobaldi, Fattoria Selvapiana - only producer of tiny Pomino DOC w/in Rufina
- Red and white w/ higher % international grapes than Chianti DOCG
- Range of varietal bottlings
governo
refermentation with juice of dried grapes
- Strengthen wine, initiate malolactic fermentation
- Traditional practice, legally permitted Chianti DOCG, most quality-minded avoid it
governo
label indicaton
‘Governo all’uso Toscano’
Chianti Normale
Aging requirements
March 1 year following harvest
- Florentine subzones Rufina, Montespertoli, Colli Fiorentini require additional aging
Chianti riserva
Aging requirement
2 years
Chianti Superiore
- Extra 1/2 degree alcohol
- Lowered yields
Chianti DOCG
min % Sangiovese
70%
- June 2009 DOCG regulations
- Colli Senesi subzone - min 75%
Chianti Classico DOCG
min alcohol %
12%
- vs 11.5% Chianti DOCG
Chianti Classico DOCG
Aging requirement
1 year
Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva
Aging requirement
24 months
Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva
Min alcohol %
12.5%
vs
- Chianti Classico: 12%
- Gran Selezione: 13%
‘Gran Selezione’
Year category was introduced for Chianti Classico
Aging requirements
‘Gran Selezione’
- 2013
- Aged 30 mon
First to release Brunello
Clemente Santi of Tenuta Greppo’s Biondi-Santi
- First to isolate Brunello clone and bottle it alone in 1865
Year Biondi-Santi first released Brunello Riserva
1888
Brunello di Montalcino
Aging requirements
2 yrs cask, 4 mon bottle, Jan 1st 5th yr
- riserva - min 2 yrs cask, 6 mon bottle, Jan 1st 6th yr
“junior” Brunello
Aging requirements
Rosso di Montalcino DOC
- 1 yr, cask not required
- 100% Sangiovese
Montalcino
DOC for “Super-Tuscan” wines
Year Est
Sant’Antimo DOC
- Est 1996
- Any grape authorized in Tuscany may be used for Sant’Antimo DOC
- Red or White
Montalcino
DOC for white wines
Moscadello di Montalcino DOC
- Moscadello (Moscato Bianco) grape
- Often sweet, may be still or sparkling
Vintage of Antinori’s ‘Tignanello’ 1st release
1971
Montalcino
Soil in higher altitude vineyards
galestro - marl and limestone
- In many of the best vineyard sites of Tuscany
Antinori’s Cabernet-based “Super Tuscan”
Solaia
Vin Santo
Barrels used for aging
caratelli barrels
(small wooden barrels, 50 liters)
Vintage for Marquis Mario Rochetta’s Tenuta San Guido first release of ‘Sassicaia’
1968
- Sassicaia, barrique-aged Cabernet blend from Bolgheri in Northern Maremma
Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC
Year established
Beginning with the 1994 vintage
Trebbiano Toscano
a.k.a.
Ugni Blanc
Trebbiano di Soave
a.k.a.
Verdicchio Bianco
Why is Brunello production in Torrenieri controversial?
- The heavy clay soils are considered unsuitable for quality production
- 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
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
Montalcino
Highest elevation point for vineyards
500 m
(total elevation 667M)
Montalcino
Main type of vine training
- 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
“Brunellogate”
Main firms involved
- 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
Major producer responsible for pushing Brunello onto the world stage in the 1970’s
John and Harry (pictured) Mariani, founders of Villa Banfi (Lambrusco)
- Landed in Brunello in 1978
Rosso di Montalcino DOC
Grape and aging requirements
- 100% Sangiovese
- 1 year aging
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
3 Rivers that delimit the region
3 Rivers:
- Ombrone (N)
- Asso (E)
- Orcia (S)
What was revolutionary about the creation of the Rosso di Montalcino DOC?
- 1st 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
