C28 - Central Italy (reviewed)

Question 1

Describe the topography and climate of Central Italy

Answer 1

• South of the Po valley, the wine regions here are dominated by the Apennine Mountains, which run the length of the Italian peninsula
• Grapes are planted in the hills and valleys of the Apennine Mountain range
• Hot climate moderated either by the altitude of the Apennine foothills or coastal sea breezes

Question 2

Where in Italy is Tuscany? Describe its topographically

Answer 2

Stretching down the western coast of Central Italy and divided into three parts:

1. The mountainous Chianti region in the north
2. The hills and valleys to the south
3. The flat coastal plain

Question 3

What are the key subregions and DOC/DOCG of Tuscany?

Answer 3

Chianti (Sangiovese)

• Chianti DOCG
• Chianti Classico DOCG, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG

Souther Tuscany - (Sangiovese)

• Brunelo Di Montalcino DOCG
• Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG

The Coast - (international varieties)

• Toscana IGT
• Bolgheri DOC
• Maremma Toscana DOC

Question 4

What is the dominant and most prestigious grape throughout the areas of Tuscany?

Answer 4

Sangiovese

Question 5

What are the main characteristics of Sangiovese in Tuscany?

Answer 5

• Late ripening
• High acidity
• High tannins
• Aromas of red cherries, plums and dried herbs
• Usually aged in oak to soften tannins and sometimes add spicy flavours
• With age, develops meaty and gamey aromas

Question 6

What kind of oak containers are used to age Sangiovese in Tuscany?

Answer 6

Small barrels and/or larger casks

Question 7

What colour of grapes is grown in Tuscany?

Answer 7

Predominantly red, but some white is grown

Question 8

Describe Chianti region

Answer 8

• In the foothills of the Apennines between the cities of Pisa, Florence and Siena
• Chianti Classico DOCG usually at higher altitues, slowing down the ripening of Sangiovese
• Divided into seven sub-zones
• Mostly Sangiovese but often Chianti are blends

Question 9

How will producers usually label their wines in Chianti DOCG?

Answer 9

Large producing vienyards:

• Grape sourced from the greater region - Chianti DOCG

Higher quality:

• Label their wines with the name of the sub-zone (Depending on where the grapes are from)
• Best known Sub-zones:
  
  • Chianti Rufina DOCG
  • Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG

Question 10

What is unusual about Chianti Classico?

Answer 10

It’s NOT a sub-zone of Chianti

Question 11

Describe Chianti Classico

Answer 11

• At higher altitudes than those of Chianti
• Greater acidity More herbal aromas
• Must be aged for 12 months before release

Question 12

Describe aging requirements for the different Chianti DOCG?

Answer 12

Chianti Classico DOCG: at least 12 months before release

Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG: at least 24 months and at least 3 months of bottle ageing

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG: 30 months (for six months longer than Riserva)

Question 13

What is the highest designation for Chianti Classico wines? Describe.

Answer 13

• Gran Selezione
• Grapes must be sourced from a single estate
• Wines must be aged for six months longer than Riserva
• There are no stipulations concerning oak ageing, so it is entirely up to the producer but the vast majority are matured in oak for at least part of the time before their release

Question 14

Describe the vineyards and climate of Southern Tuscany

Answer 14

• Lower altitude than the north
• Warmer climate
• Some cool, maritime breezes from south-west

Question 15

What are the best known appellations of Southern Tuscany?

Answer 15

• Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
• Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG

Question 16

Describe the general difference between wines from Southern Tuscany and from Chianti

Answer 16

More intense and fuller-bodied than those from Chianti

Question 17

What are the key legal stipulations for Brunello and VNdM?

Answer 17

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG:

• The wines must be entirely Sangiovese
• Must be aged for at least 5 years before release, with at least 2 years in oak

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG

• Can be a blend of Sangiovese and other permitted varieties
• Must be aged for at least2 years before release

Question 18

What may producers of Brunello or VNdM do with their legal classifications? Give an example of when they might do this?

Answer 18

• They can declassify their wines to DOC If the vintage is particularly poor or if the vines are young
• Rosso di Montalcino DOC Rosso di Montepulciano DOC

Question 19

Describe the Tuscan coast

Answer 19

• It is relatively flat and cooled by sea-breezes
• Black Bordeaux varieties and a number of other international varieties are planted
• It is where the Super Tuscan came from - first one made from Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 20

In which area did the first ‘Super-Tuscan’ come about?

Answer 20

The coast

Question 21

Describe Super-Tuscan

Answer 21

• First Super Tuscan was sold at a premium price despite not being eligible for PDO status
• They were a turning point for Italian wines as they re-established Italy’s reputation for excellence
• Typically international varieties, but sometimes with Italian varieties as part of the blend
• Can be labelled: Toscana IGT, Bolgheri DOC, Maremma Toscana DOC

Question 22

What is special about Bolgheri DOC and Maremma Toscana DOC?

Answer 22

The relatively new appellations permit wines to be made from entirely non-Italian varieties, such as Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah

Question 23

What is the climate of Umbria?

Answer 23

Similar to Tuscany’s but more continental without any influence from the Mediterranean

Question 24

Describe Umbria

Answer 24

Located in Central Italy, between Tuscany and Marche on the respective coasts

Most famous wine is Orvieto DOC - white wine

• Grechetto, Trebbiano and often, a few other local grapes (Best examples have more Grechetto)
• Made protectively, cool fermentation in stainless steel
• Light body
• Medium to high acidity
• Flavours of ripe grapefruit and peaches

Question 25

What is Umbria’s most prestigious red wine?

Answer 25

Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG made from the thick-skinned Sagrantino grape

Question 26

What is the next region to the south of Tuscany?

Answer 26

Lazio

Question 27

Describe Frascati

Answer 27

Most famous region is Frascati DOC

• Located in the hills to the south of Rome
• Vineyards are cooled by altitude and a number of small nearby lakes
• Grape varieties - Malvasia and Trebbiano

Wines are:

• Fresh and fruity in style
• Medium body
• Medium to high acidity
• Flavours of citrus fruit, with Malvasia sometimes providing floral, orange blossom aromas

Question 28

Describe Marche

Answer 28

• Located on the eastern side of the Apennines
• Known for white wines made from Verdicchio
• Most famous wine - Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC
• Red wines: Usually blends of Montepulciano & Sangiovese: Conero DOCG

White Wines from Verdicchio

• High acidity
• Green apple and lemon, sometimes fennel & almonds notes
• Usually simple and fruity, but the best have greater concentration and can develop notes of honey and almonds with bottle age

Question 29

Which region is below Marche?

Answer 29

Abruzzo

Question 30

Describe Abruzzo region

Answer 30

• Located just below Marche on the Ardiatic sea shore
• Most faomous for Montepulciano grape / Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC

Wines of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC:

• High levels of colour and
• Medium acidity
• High tannins
• Flavours of black plums and cherries
• Many simple and fruity with no oak ageing
• Most concentrated examples matured for a short time in oak