16. Central Italy

Question 1

Overview

Answer 1

• Warm Mediterranean with cooling influences (altitude, inland)
• Sangiovese and Trebbiano Toscano are the most planted grapes
• Soils -> marl (galestro), calcareous clay (alberese), sandstone and sand

Question 2

Tuscany
-> Chianti

Answer 2

o Chianti DOCG
§ 70–100% Sangiovese, CS/CF, white grapes
§ Lower elevations than Chianti C
§ 7 subzones
§ High-volume -> mid-priced

o Chianti Classico DOCG
§ Min 80% Sangiovese, Canaiolo Nero, Merlot
§ Hilly
§ Small batches, prem

Question 3

Tuscany
-> Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

Answer 3

§ 100% Sangiovese
§ Hilly, warmer than Chianti C
§ Small batches of prem
§ Rosso di Montalcino DOC -> early-drinking, young vines

Question 4

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG

Answer 4

§ 70-100% Sangiovese
§ Hilly
§ Small batches of prem
§ Rosso di Montepulciano DOC -> early-drinking, young

Question 5

Tuscany
-> Morellino di Scansano DOCG

Answer 5

§ Min 85% Sangiovese (Morellino)
§ Mid-priced to small batches (prem)

Question 5

Tuscany
-> Morellino di Scansano DOCG

Answer 5

§ Min 85% Sangiovese (Morellino)
§ Mid-priced to small batches (prem)

Question 6

Maremma Toscana DOC

Answer 6

§ Sangiovese (50%), CS and Vermentino
§ Early-drinking (inexp to mid-priced)

Question 7

Tuscany
->Bolgheri

Answer 7

o Bolgheri DOC
§ Bordeaux blends (80% of plantings)
§ CS (dominant), CF, Merlot, Syrah, Sangiovese, Petit Verdot
§ Bolgheri Rosso Superiore à premium to super-prem

o Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC
§ Single estate Tenuta San Guido à Sassicaia
§ Min 80% CS, aged 24 months

Question 8

Tuscany
-> Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG

Answer 8

§ min 85% Vernaccia. SB and Riesling
§ Early-drinking (inexp to mid-priced)

Question 9

Tuscany
-> Vin Santo

Answer 9

§ Appassimento
§ Blend of Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia
§ Three separate DOCs for Vin Santo -> Chianti, Chianti
Classico and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
§ Small batches -> prem to super-prem

Question 10

Marche

Answer 10

o Sangiovese and Montepulciano -> reds
o Verdicchio, Biancame, Trebbiano Toscano, Passerina (Offida Passerina DOCG), Pecorino (Offida Pecorino DOCG) -> whites
o Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio DOC -> early-drinking
o Verdicchio di Matelica DOC -> more structure, inland
o Rosso Piceno DOC -> early-drinking, 35-85% Montepulciano
o Offida DOCG -> Rosso is 85–100% Montepulciano
o Rosso Conero DOC and Conero Riserva DOCG -> min 85% Montepulciano

Question 11

Umbria

Answer 11

o Orvieto
§ Min 60% Trebbiano Toscano and/or Grechetto

o Montefalco Rosso DOC and Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
§ Montefalco -> Sangiovese 60–70%, Sagrantino 10– 15%, early-drinking
§ Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG -> 100% Sagrantino,
prem wine (small batches)

Question 12

Lazio

Answer 12

o Malvasia Bianca di Candia, Malvasia del Lazio, Cesanese
o Frascati DOC -> Malvasia Bianca di Candia, Malvasia del Lazio, Trebbiano Toscano
§ Early-drinking style

Question 13

Abruzzo

Answer 13

o Most early-drinking wines
§ Trebbiano d’Abruzzo -> crisp white with high acidity,
unoaked
* Trebbiano Abruzzese and Trebbiano Toscano
§ Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo -> rosé from Montepulciano
§ Montepulciano d’Abruzzo -> red from Montepulciano

o Colline Teramane Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOCG -> best wines from Montepulciano, small batches