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Italian Wine Scholar: Central & Southern Italy > Umbria: Appellations > Flashcards

Umbria: Appellations Flashcards

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1
Q

How many DOC/Gs are there in Umbria?

A
  • 2 DOCGs
  • 13 DOCs
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2
Q

How can the appellations of Umbria be divided?

A

Two groups:
1. Those lying in the northern and central part of the region (province of Perugia)
2. Those lying in the southwestern part of the region (province of Terni)

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3
Q

What is the relationship between grape varieties and appellations in Umbria?

A

Some appellations are based on unique varieties that have a strong link to a specific territory such as Sangrantino, Grechetto di Todi and Trebbiano Spoletino.
Most DOCs are based on a similar range of grapes that include the ubiquitous Sangiovese, Grechetto, Trebbiano Toscano, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Consequently, the similar array of grapes results in a certain level of repetition in the DOCs, which is accentuated by the partial overlapping of a few of the appellations’ boundaries.

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4
Q

Name the appellations of North-Central Umbria.

A
  • Torgiano Rosso Riserva DOCG
  • Torgiano DOC
  • Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG
  • Montefalco DOC
  • Colli Martani DOC
  • Spoleto DOC
  • Todi DOC
  • Colli del Trasimeno (Trasimeno) DOC

Minor appellations:
* Assisi DOC
* Colli Altotiberini DOC
* Colli Perugini DOC

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5
Q

Where is Torgiano located?

A

This medieval village that was built from the remains of an ancient Roman castrum (military fortification) lies on a hill overlooking the confluence of the Tevere and Chiascio Rivers. It is situated in the centre of Umbria.

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6
Q

How big is Torgiano?

A

The winegrowing area is one of Umbria’s smallest.
There are less than a handful of producers in this area; wine production remains almost a virtual Lungarotti exclusive.

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7
Q

What types of soils are found in Torgiano?

A

Largely composed of sand and clay over a sub-soil of either limestone or tufo.

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8
Q

Which appellation in Umbria was the first to receive DOCG status?

A

Torgiano Rosso Riserva DOCG
It was separated from the Torgiano DOC in 1990.

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9
Q

What are the requirements of wines produced in Torgiano Rosso Riserva DOCG?

A
  • min. 70% Sangiovese
  • min. 12.5% abv
  • min. 3 years aging
  • min. 6 months in bottle

This DOCG has slightly more restricted boundaries and more stringent production standards than the DOC.

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10
Q

Which specific wine is the embodiment of Torgiano Rosso Riserva DOCG?

A

Lungarotti’s iconic single-vineyard wine Rubesco Vigna Monticchio.
It is matured in oak for approx. 12 months and aged in the bottle even longer.

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11
Q

What grapes are used to produce wines under Torgiano DOC

A
  • Trebbiano Toscano
  • Sangiovese
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12
Q

What styles of wines are produced in Torgiano DOC?

A
  • spumante
  • bianco
  • rosato
  • rosso
  • vendemmia tardiva
  • vin santo
  • varietal

Each style can be labeled with the words “di Torgiano” (i.e. Rossi di Torgiano DOC).

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13
Q

Which village is defined as “La Ringhiera dll’Umbria” and why?

A

Translating to “the Balcony of Umbria”, this refers to Montefalco because of its position on a hill affords a panoramic view of the river valleys below and the mountain ranges in the distance.

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14
Q

Where is Montefalco located?

A

This remarkable medieval hill-top village lies near the foothills of the Central Apennines about 30mi/50km southeast of Perugia.

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15
Q

How old is wine culture in Montefalco?

A

The winegrowing area of this village was already well-known in the 11th century.
As early as the 14th century, vines and wines were of such importance that they were regulated by village government statutes. Documents dating from 1540 indicate that even the start of harvest was regulated by municipal law.

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16
Q

Why was Montefalco unanimously recognized at the beginning of the 20th century as one of Umbria’s most important viticultural centers?

A

It was one of the few winegrowing areas with a high concentration of grapevine-only vineyards

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17
Q

Historically, what style of wine was produced from the Sagrantino grape in Montefalco?

A

Sweet passito; it was made in very tiny quantities throughout much of the 20th century.

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18
Q

By the 1960s, few Sagrantino vineyards remained in Montefalco. How was this grape saved from the brink of extinction?

A

Through the dedicated efforts of a few producers in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Such as:
* Cantina
* Foligno
* Adanti
* Tardioli
* Arnaldo Caprai

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19
Q

When were the DOC/Gs of Montefalco created?

A

The Montefalco DOC was introduced in 1979 and included 3 wines:
1. Montefalco Sagrantino Secco (dry)
2. Montefalco Sagrantino Passito (sweet)
3. Montefalco Rosso (red blend)

The Sagrantino varietal wines were elevated to a separate DOCG in 1992.

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20
Q

Who is Marco Caprai?

A

Owner of the Arnaldo Caprai estate in Montefalco, his efforts contributed to the popularity of Sagrantino di Montefalco in the 1990s. He researched and experimented with different clones, viticulural practices and aging techniques in order to tame Sangrantino’s sturdy tannins and enhance its potential.

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21
Q

The Montefalco winegrowing area includes the hills around which 5 villages?

A
  1. Montefalco
  2. Bevagna
  3. Gualdo Catteneo
  4. Castel Ritaldi
  5. Giano dell’Umbria
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22
Q

What is the elevation of the vineyards in Montefalco?

A

Between 700-1,500ft/220-450m.

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23
Q

What is the climate in Montefalco?

A

More continental; because it is further east than most other appellations in Umbria.
Winter snow is common.

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24
Q

What types of soils are found in Montefalco?

A

Majority consist of lacustrine deposits comprised of yellow sand or a sandy-clay mix.
There are also pockets of sandy-gravelly alluvial soils.
In the northwestern portion there is marl and sandstone.

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25
Q

What grapes are used in the production of wines from Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG

A

100% Sagrantino

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26
Q

What are the requirements of the dry version of Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG?

A
  • min. 13% abv
  • min. 37 months ageing
  • min. 12 months in oak
  • min. 4 months in bottle
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27
Q

What type of vessel is used in the ageing of wines from Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG?

A

Some winemakers rely on small oak barrels (including new oak).
Others prefer more neutral large botti.
Some use a combination of the two.

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28
Q

What are the characteristics of the dry style of Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG?

A

Dark ruby in colour, tannic, full-bodied and high in alcohol with long aging potential.

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29
Q

How can you differentiate between the dry and sweet styles of wines produced from Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG?

A

Secco may appear on labels for the dry version.
Passito must always appear on the label for the sweet version.

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30
Q

How is the sweet passito version of Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG made?

A

Via appassimento from grapes left to dry on graticci for at least 2 months.

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31
Q

What are the requirements of sweet passito wines made in Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG?

A
  • min. 37 months aging (same as dry)
  • oak aging is not mandated
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32
Q

What are the characteristics of sweet passito wines from Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG?

A

The wine’s sweetness is surprisingly balanced by the drying effect of tannin.

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33
Q

How was the Montefalco DOC modified in 2016?

A

To include new wines and different blending regulations.

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34
Q

What are the 3 wines produced under the Montefalco DOC?

A
  1. rosso
  2. bianco
  3. Grechetto
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35
Q

What grapes are used to produce wines from Montefalco Rosso DOC?

A
  • 60-80% Sangiovese
  • 10-25% Sagrantino
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36
Q

What are the aging requirements for Montefalco Rosso DOC?

A
  • min. 18 months aging

Riserva:
* min. 30 months aging
* min. 12 months in oak

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37
Q

What grapes are used in the production of wines from Montefalco Bianco DOC?

A
  • min. 50% Trebbiano Spoletino

Historically, this DOC was largely based on Grechetto and Trebbiano Toscano, but this changed in 2016.

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38
Q

What grapes are used in the production of wines from Montefalco Grechetto DOC

A

Grechetto

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39
Q

Where is Colli Martani DOC located?

A

This appellation covers the central Umbrian hills that stretch southward from Perugia towards Todi and Spoleto. It overlaps the winegrowing area of Montefalco as well as a large part of the Spoleto and Todi DOCs.

40
Q

What are the main grapes of Colli Martani DOC?

A
  • Grechetto
  • Trebbiano Toscano
  • Sangiovese
41
Q

Which wine is Colli Martani DOC particularly known for?

A

Varietal Grechetto (most often Grechetto di Todi)

42
Q

What styles of wine are produced in Colli Martani DOC?

A
  • spumante
  • bianco
  • rosso
  • riserva
  • Grechetto di Todi (grown around Todi)
  • Vernaccia di Cannara (from Vernaccia Nera grown around Todi)
  • varietal wines
43
Q

Where is Spoleto DOC located?

A

This is Umbria’s easternmost appellation and overlaps portions of the Montefalco and Colli Martani winegrowing areas.

44
Q

Why was the Spoleto DOC created?

A

To protect and regulate the production of wines made from the promising Trebbiano Spoletino.

45
Q

What styles of wine are produced in Spoleto DOC?

A
  • Trebbiano Spoletino
  • Trebbiano Spoletino superiore
  • Trebbiano Spoletino spumante
  • Trebbiano Spoletino passito
  • bianco
46
Q

Todi DOC is considered to be the historic home of which grape variety?

A

Grechetto di Todi; and it is celebrated for the wines from its native grape.

47
Q

Where is Todi DOC located?

A

This beautiful medieval town surrounded by hillside vineyards is located in southwest Umbria, situated on the Tevere River. The winegrowing area overlaps the western section of Colli Martani.

48
Q

What types of soils are found in Todi DOC?

A

Clay and sandstone.

49
Q

What styles of wine are produced in Todi DOC?

A
  • bianco
  • rosso
  • superior
  • Grechetto passito
  • varietal
50
Q

Where is Colli dei Trasimeno DOC located?

A

This appellation entirely surrounds Lake Trasimeno and stretches from the western border with Toscana to the Western outskirts of Perugia.
The area includes gentle, rounded hills and small valleys where vines grow alongside olive trees.

51
Q

What grapes are used to produce wines under Colli dei Trasimeno DOC?

A

This DOC grows more red than white varieties.
* Sangiovese is considered traditional
* Gamay del Trasimeno produces some of the DOC’s most distinctive wines
* Grechetto dominates and crafts the most interesting white wine

52
Q

What is the story behind Gamay del Trasimeno?

A

This traditional red grape is only found in the Umbrian hills surrounding Lake Trasimeno.
Also called Gamay Perugino, it is not related to the French Gamay Noir.
It has been identified as a local biotype of Cannonau/Grenache.

53
Q

What styles of wine are produced in Colli dei Trasimeno DOC?

A
  • frizzante
  • spumante metodo classico
  • bianco
  • bianco scelto (scelto=selected)
  • rosato
  • rosso
  • rosso scelto
  • riserva
  • novello
  • vin santo
  • varietal
54
Q

Where is Assisi DOC located?

A

This appellation lies on hills east of Perugia.

55
Q

What grapes are used for the production of wines from Assisi DOC?

A

This DOC is mainly known for light, easy-drinking white wines made from Grechetto.
Reds are predominantly Sangiovese.
Merlot is a common blending partner.

56
Q

What styles of wine are produced in Assisi DOC?

A
  • bianco
  • rosso
  • rosato
  • novello
  • riserva
  • varietal wines
57
Q

Where is Colli Altotiberini DOC located?

A

This is Umbria’s northernmost appellation. It runs the length of the Tevere River from the Toscana border to the town of Perugia.

58
Q

What grapes are grown in Colli Altotiberini DOC?

A
  • Sangiovese
  • Grechetto
  • Trebbiano Toscano
  • international varieties
59
Q

What styles of wine are produced in Colli Altotiberini DOC?

A
  • spumante
  • bianco
  • bianco superiore
  • rosato
  • rosso
  • riserva
  • novella
  • varietal wines
60
Q

Where is Colli Perugini DOC located?

A

This appellation is found on the hills to the immediate southwest of Perugia, west of the Tevere River.

61
Q

What grapes are used to produce wines in Colli Perugini DOC?

A
  • Trebbiano Toscano-based bianco
  • Sangiovese-based rosso
  • and others
62
Q

What styles of wine are produced in Colli Perugini DOC?

A
  • spumante
  • bianco
  • rosato
  • rosso
  • novello
  • vin santo
  • varietal
63
Q

Name the appellations of South-West Umbria.

A
  • Orvieto DOC
  • Rosso Orvietano (Orvietano Rosso) DOC
  • Lago di Corbara DOC

Minor appellation:
* Amelia DOC

64
Q

Where is Orvieto located?

A

This hill-top town is on a tuff cliff (locally called la rupe) overlooking the Paglia River Valley.
The winegrowing area extends north to Colli Perugini, abuts Todi to the west, and borders Lazio to the southwest.

65
Q

What is significant about the town of Orvieto?

A

During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, it became one of the most important centers of art and culture in central Italy.
Today it is still one of Umbria’s most notable towns.

66
Q

What is the history of wine in Orvieto?

A

This area’s potential for quality wine production was well-know during the time of the Etruscans. It was in the Middle Ages that the wines acquired their prestigious status. For a long time, the white wines of this town were the only Umbrian wines with a longstanding reputation. That is until the emergence of Torgiano and Montefalco.

67
Q

How did the Etruscans use their underground caves to produce wine in Orvieto?

A

They introduced a gravity-fed vinification system that utilized 3 floors/levels. Grapes were pressed at ground level. The must then drained through terracotta pipes to an underground middle level cave where a cool fermentation took place. Afterwards, the wine was transferred to a lower (and cooler) cave where maturation and cellaring took place.
Due to the cool temperatures, fermentations were often incomplete resulting in delicately sweet and lightly fizzy wines.

These caves were further expanded during the Middle Ages and remained the most common system for making/keeping wine in Orvieto for centuries.

68
Q

What were the characteristics of the ancient wines of Orvieto?

A

They were described as golden in colour, intensely perfumed, prickly and with a characteristic soft sweetness that made them highly valued. This wine was referred to as abboccato in the 20th century.
The best wines often had a touch of noble rot.
This remained the traditional style of Orvieto for hundreds of years.

69
Q

What are pulcianella?

A

Straw-covered flasks; the tradtional wines of Orvieto were bottled in these during the 20th century. They were similar to Chianti, but a bit more oblate in shape.

70
Q

When did drier wines begin to appear in Orvieto?

A

In the second half of the 19th century. They became the dominant wine style in the late part of the 20th century.

71
Q

When was the winegrowing area of Orvieto officially delimited?

A

1931

72
Q

When was Orvieto awarded DOC status?

A

1971; the DOC enlarged the winegrowing area by extending beyond the historic zone of production set 40 years prior (1931).
To give the historic zone its due recognition, the original winegrowin area was given the classico designation.

73
Q

What altitude are vineyards planted at in Orvieto?

A

From 300-1,600ft/100-500m.

74
Q

What bodies of water contribute to the climate in Orvieto?

A
  • Paglia River
  • Tevere River
  • Lake Corbara
  • Lake Bolsena

These moderate the local climate and provides extra humidity, promoting the formation of early morning fog in autumn.

75
Q

What types of soils are found in Orvieto?

A
  • Volcanic tufo and basalt lie south of the city.
  • Clay soils are found in the central and northern areas.
  • The northeast is comprised of sandier soils rich in marine fossils.
  • Alluvial soils are found near the Paglia and Tevere Rivers.
76
Q

Which DOC is Umbria’s largest and most productive?

A

Orvieto DOC; it is also Umbria’s most widely exported wine.

77
Q

What area does the Orvieto DOC cover?

A

This inter-regional, white wine only, appellation is shared between Umbria and Lazio. Most of the DOC area is in Umbria which has the larger production volume.

78
Q

What grapes are used to produce wines from Orvieto DOC?

A

Grechetto & Procanico (Trebbiano Toscano) must account for a min. 60% of the blend.
With some exceptions, the best wines are usually produced with a higher proportion of Grechetto.
Traditionally, Procanico and Grechetto were - and in many cases still are - complemented with small quantities of local grapes such as:
* Verdello
* Drupeggio
* Malvasia Bianca Lunga

79
Q

What styles of wine are produced from Orvieto DOC?

A

The most common continues to be dry, but sweeter versions are made as well.

  • bianco
  • superiore
  • classico
  • classico superiore
  • abbocato
  • amabile
  • dolce
  • vendemmia tardiva
80
Q

Does Orvieto DOC incorporate the use of oak?

A

These wines are usually unoaked.

81
Q

What are the requirements of superiore wines from Orvieto DOC?

A

More stringent production criteria:
* lower maximum yields
* higher min. alcohol level

82
Q

What is muffa nobile?

A

Sometimes called vino muffato, it is a style of Orvieto produced in small quantities from botrytus affected grapes. It is the only Italian botrytized wine entirely regulated by a disciplainare.

83
Q

Which wines from Orvieto DOC are permitted to use the classico classification?

A

Only wines made from in the historic winegrowing region surrounding the town of Orvieto in the central Paglia River Valley.
This classification only regulates the origin of the grapes and does not require stricter production standards.
This can be applied to all sweetness levels.

84
Q

What are some of the best examples of wines from Orvieto DOC?

A

Wines from the classico sub-zone that are usually within the superiore category.

85
Q

Where is the Rosso Orvietano DOC located?

A

This red only appellation overlaps the Orvieto and Lago di Corbara DOCs.

86
Q

When was the Rosso Orvietano DOC introduced and why?

A

1998; to include and regulate red wines made by producers of white Orvieto.

87
Q

What grapes are used to produce wines in Rosso Orvietano DOC?

A

Red blends based on:
* Sangiovese
* Canaiolo
* and/or Merlot

88
Q

What styles of wine are produced in Rosso Orvietano DOC?

A
  • rosso
  • varietal wines
89
Q

Where is Lago di Corbara DOC located?

A

This small DOC is situated on the northern and western shores of Lake Corbara just a few miles east of Orvieto. It overlaps part of the Orvieto classico sub-zone.

90
Q

What grapes are used to produce wines in Lago di Corbara DOC?

A

Varietal & blends:
* Sangiovese
* Merlot
* Cabernet Sauvignon

This area is particularly suitable for red wines.

91
Q

What styles of wine are produced in Lago di Corbara DOC?

A
  • bianco
  • rosso
  • riserva
  • vendemmia tardiva
  • passito
  • varietal
92
Q

Where is Amelia DOC located?

A

This DOC lies on the hills around Terni to the east of the Tevere River in the region of Umbria.

93
Q

What grapes are used to produce wines in Amelia DOC?

A

It is known for pleasant varietal wines made from Malvasia Bianca Lunga.

94
Q

What styles of wine are made in Amelia DOC?

A
  • bianco
  • rosato
  • rosso
  • riserva
  • vin santo
  • vin santo occhio di pernice
  • varietal
95
Q

What are the IGTs of Umbria?

A
  • Umbria IGT: covers the entire region and is the most common IGT on the market. Production ranges from simple, straightforward wines to some of the best examples of varietal Trebbiano Spoletino, Grechetto and Ciliegiolo. Several high-quality red wines based on Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are also made under this IGT.
  • Narni IGT: covers a large part of the Terni province in southern Umbria. It has become known for excellent examples of varietal Ciliegiolo.

Italian Wine Scholar: Central & Southern Italy (29 decks)

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