Umbria

Question 1

Orvieto is interregional between

What important style is it made in?

Answer 1

Lazio and Umbria

Sweet noble rot wines

Question 2

What is the topography of Umbria?

Answer 2

“The green heart of Italy”
-5th smallest region
-Hills 70%
-Mountains 29%
-Lake Trasimento: 4th largest lake overall. Largest lake in central and southern Italy

Question 3

What factors contribute to Umbria’s climate?

Answer 3

Mediterranean to continental transitional:
-Inland: Central Apennines protect from cold air
-Mediterranean breezes moderate
-Lakes moderate

Question 4

What are the 4 main soil types in Umbria?

Answer 4

1. Alluvial and lacustrine deposits
2. Clay, sand, gravel (Orvieto)
3. Sandstone, marl, clay (Montefalco)
4. Volcanic - tuffo (Orvieto)

Question 5

What is the difference between Tuff, Tuffeau, and Tufa?

Answer 5

Tufo/tuff - soft, porous volcanic rock. Orvieto and Bolsena caldera
Tuffeau - marine limestone like in Loire
Tufa - limestone rock from calcium carbonate (not marine skeleton based)

Question 6

Describe Sangrantino

Answer 6

Native to Montefalco (Umbria)
Late ripening, cold resistant, thick skin, deep color, full-bodied, powerful
One of Italy’s most tannic wines
Irregular yields
Appassimento

Means “sacred”

Question 7

What is the difference between Grechetto di Orvieto and Grechetto di Todi

Answer 7

Todi - identical to Pignoletto from ER.
Light, crisp, delicate, high acid. Often used for sparkling

Orvieto - from Umbria.
Light, citrusy
Mildew resistant, used for botrytis

Note: it is not required to specify which variety is used so it can be one or a blend of both

Question 8

What are the need to know white grape varieties from Umbria?

Answer 8

Trebbiano Toscano
Grechetto: di Todi and Orvieto
Trebbiano Spoletino

Question 8

What international varieties are important in Umbria?

Answer 8

Merlot, Cabernet Sauv
Chardonnay

Can be in some blend or single varietal

Question 8

What was the traditional wine and style in Montefalco? What is the modern?

Answer 8

Traditionally - Sagrantino based sweet passito

Modern - DOCG 100% Sagrantino dry (must be labeled secco) or sweet (must be labeled passito)
DOC Rosso can be 60 - 80% Sangio, rest Sagrantino
Bianco - 50% Trebbiano Spolentino
Varietal Grechetto

Question 9

What is the white only Umbrian DOC?

Answer 9

Spoleto

Also Umbria’s easternmost appellation

Question 10

What are the modern vine training systems in Umbria

Answer 10

spur cordon
Guyot

Question 11

What are the two important IGTs in Umbria?

Answer 11

Umbria IGT - Treb Spolentin, Grechetto, Ciegilo varietal. Sangiovese, Merlot, Cab blens

Narni IGT - varietal Ciliegiolo

Question 12

What were the traditional styles of wine in Orvieto?

Answer 12

White wines - golden and intensely perfumed.
“Abbocato”
Sold in pulcianella (straw covered flasks)

Question 13

How did the Etruscans use tunnels and caves to make wine?

Answer 13

Bored holes in Umbria volcanic rock
Ground level: grapes pressed
Second level: Terracotta pipes carried juice down for fermentation
Third level: Maturation and cellaring

Question 14

What DOC is muffa nobile style and regulated by disciplinare?

Answer 14

Orvieto, Orvieto Superiore, Orvieto Classico

Question 15

What grapes are allowed in Orvieto DOC?

Answer 15

White only - Grechetto and Procanico (Trebbiano Toscana)

Inter-regional between Umbria and Lazio

Question 16

What bodies of water allow for botrytis in Umbria?

Answer 16

Paglia and Tevere rivers
Lake Corbara and Lake Bolsena

Question 17

What is Trebbiano Toscana called in Orvieto?

Answer 17

Procanico

Question 18

What is the blend for Montefalco Bianco DOC?

Answer 18

Minimum 50% Spoletino

Question 19

Orvieto Classico covers more strict production rules, T/F?

Answer 19

False
It was given for historical reasons

Question 20

How much wine does Umbria contribute to Italy’s wine industry? (%)

Answer 20

2%

Question 21

What is the most important river in Umbria?

Answer 21

Tevere

Question 22

What is the appellation on volcanic soils in Umbria?

Answer 22

Orvieto