Ch 28 - Central Italy

Question 1

What is the most famous wine from Central Italy and what grape is it made from?

Answer 1

Chianti - Sangiovese.

Question 2

What is the climate in Central Italy and what are the moderating influences?

Answer 2

Warm Mediterranean climate. Grapes are planted in the hills and valleys of the Apennine Mountains with altitude providing a moderating influence on the hot climate. Coastal regions on both sides of the country benefit from cooling sea breezes.

Question 3

What are the three parts of Tuscany?

Answer 3

The mountainous Chinati region in the north, hills and valleys to south and flat coastal plain.

Question 4

What is the dominant grape throughout Tuscany? What wines does it make?

Answer 4

Sangiovese - most prestigious too. Makes wines with high acidity and tannin with aromas of red cherries, plums and dried herbs. Usually aged for a period in oak to soften the tannins and add spicy flavours. Barrels and large casks can be used. Develops meaty and gamey aromas.

Question 5

What is notable about Sangiovese when growing it?

Answer 5

Late to ripen so it needs a warm climate, hence its home is part of Italy.

Question 6

How is Sangiovese often used in Chianti?

Answer 6

For blends with small amounts of other black grapes.

Question 7

What is the labelling term for wines made with grapes sourced from the greater region?

Answer 7

DOCG.

Question 8

What are higher quality chianti DOCGs made from?

Answer 8

May be from grapes form a particular sub-zones, the name will appear on the wine label e.g. Chianti Rufina DOCG.

Question 9

What is Chianti Classico and what natural factors make its wines distinct?

Answer 9

Has its own DOCG - not a sub zone of Chianti DOCG. Its vineyards are at higher altitudes, which slows the ripening and results in wines with greater acidity and more herbal aromas.

Question 10

What are the ageing requirements for Chianti Classico?

Answer 10

12 months before they are released onto the market.

Question 11

What are the ageing requirements for Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG?

Answer 11

24 months of which at least three months must be spent bottle ageing.

Question 12

What is Gran Selezione?

Answer 12

The highest designation for Chianti Classico. Wines must be from grapes sourced from a single estate and aged for six months longer than Riserva.

Question 13

What is the use of oak with Chianti Classico (including Riserva and Gran Selezione)?

Answer 13

No stipulations concerning oak - producer’s decision as to whether to use it and for how long. Vast majority of wines are matured in oak for at least part of their time before release.

Question 14

What are the natural influences in Southern Tuscany?

Answer 14

At lower altitudes than those in the north and have a warmer climate, cool maritime breezes from the SW can moderate the temperatures.

Question 15

What are Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG?

Answer 15

The best known appellations in the region.

Question 16

What impact does climate have when considering Southern Tuscany vs Chianti?

Answer 16

The wines in Southern Tuscany are often more intense and fuller-bodied than those from Chianti.

Question 17

What are the requirements for Brunello di Montalcino DOCG?

Answer 17

Must be 100% Sangiovese and undergo min ageing of 5 years before sale, 2 of which must be in oak.

Question 18

What are the requirements for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano?

Answer 18

Can be a blend of Sangiovese with other permitted varieties - must be aged for min of 2 years before sale.

Question 19

Why might producers from Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano declassify their wines? What would they be called instead?

Answer 19

If there is a poor vintage or vines are very young. Rosso di Montalcino DOC or Rosso di Montepulciano DOC.

Question 20

What natural influences effect the climate of the flat coastal region of Tuscany?

Answer 20

Cooled by sea breezes rather than altitude.

Question 21

What varieties are grown in the coastal region of Tuscany?

Answer 21

Black Bordeaux e.g. Cab Sav along with other international varieties.

Question 22

What is a Super Tuscan?

Answer 22

a wine made from Cab Sav sold at premium price despite not having PDO status.

Question 23

What is the IGT for the region of Tuscany? What might you expect this wine to be?

Answer 23

Toscana IGT - might be high quality wine from international varieties.

Question 24

What wines are permitted in Bolgheri DOC?

Answer 24

Wines can be made from non-italian varieties (entirely) e.g. Cab Sav, Merlot, Syrah.

Question 25

What is the climate in Umbria?

Answer 25

Similar to Tuscany but more continental without any influence from the Mediterranean sea.

Question 26

What is Umbria known for and what are the grapes used? What is the style of the wines? How are these wines made?

Answer 26

White wine from Orvieto DOC - blend of Grechetto and Trebbiano perhaps with some local grapes. Light bodied with medium to high acidity and flavours of ripe grapefruit and peaches. Best examples tend to be those with the most Grechetto in the blend. Made protectively and undergo cool fermentation in stainless steel.

Question 27

What is the best known wine from Lazio?

Answer 27

Frascati DOC.

Question 28

Where is Frascati DOC located and what are the natural factors influencing the wines?

Answer 28

Situated in the hills to the south of Rome. Vineyards are cooled by both altitude and a number of small nearby lakes offering perfect conditions for white grapes.

Question 29

What are the wines in Frascati DOC made from and what is their character?

Answer 29

From blends of Malvasia and Trebbiano. Fresh unoaked style. Medium in body with medium to high acidity and flavours of citrus fruit, sometimes with Malvasia providing floral, orang blossom aromas.

Question 30

What is Marche known for?

Answer 30

White wines from the Verdicchio grape.

Question 31

What is the most famous wine from Marche? What is its character?

Answer 31

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC. Natrually high in acidity with green apple, lemons and sometimes notes of fennel and almonds. Many are simple and fruity but the best have greater concentration and can develop notes of honey and almonds with age in bottle. Reds are blends of Montepulciano and Sangiovese.

Question 32

What is the most famous black variety from Abruzzo?

Answer 32

Montepulciano - high levels of colour and tannins, medium acidity and flavours of black plums and cherries. Many are simple and fruity without any oak but the most concentrated examples are often matured for a short time in oak.