Central and Southern Italy

Question 0

Central Italy Taurasi DOCG

What grape varietal and aging regimen?

Who are the best producers of the region?

Answer 0

Taurasi DOCG: Aglianico

Aging: 3 years, one in wood
Reserva: 4 years, 18 months in wood

Best Producers: Mastroberardino, Terredora, Feudi San Gregorio

Question 1

Campania: What are the main red and white varietals for wine?

Answer 1

Reds: Aglianico, Piedirosso

Whites: Falanghina, Greco di Tufo, Coda di Volpe

Question 2

Southern Italy: Basilicata

Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG
Aging regimen:

Answer 2

Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG
Must show 13.5 % alcohol;

3 years aging, with 1 in wood
Reserva: 5 years aging, with 2 in wood

Question 3

Southern Italy: Where is Apuglia located and what are its main grape varietals?

Answer 3

Apuglia is “the heel of the boot” in Italy-

Main red varietals are Nera (Uva) de Troia, Primativo, Negroamaro

Question 4

Italy: Where is Calabria located in Italy and what is the main grape varietal?

Answer 4

Calabria is the “toe of the boot”.

Gaglioppo is the main red grape varietal for Ciro DOC. Gaglioppo has been genetically linked with Sangiovese.

Question 5

Central Italy: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC’s most famous producers.

What is the name of DOCG and the percentages of grape varietals in DOCG and DOC?

Answer 5

Emidio Pepe and Edoardo
Valentini most famous producers but choose to bottle their wines under DOC level–

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colline Termine DOCG–90% Montepulciano with 2 years aging, 1 year in oak;

DOC–85% Montepulciano

Cerasuolo is rose version; region’s whites produced from Trebbiano d’Abruzzo made from Trebbiano Toscano or Trebbiano d’Abbruzzo, also known as “Bombino.”

Question 6

Who are the main Super-Tuscan producers?

Answer 6

Solaia–Antinori’s Cabernet based wine

Ornellaia–Bordeaux Blend

Masseto–Merlot based wine

“Paleo Rosso” from Le Macchiole–100% Cab Franc

Question 7

Central Italy: What are the DOCG’s of Umbria?

Answer 7

Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG–produced from 100% Sagrantino; high alcohol and tannin; aged min 30 months with 12 months wood.

Best producers are Marco Caprai (modern); Paulo Bea (traditional)

Torgiano Rosso Riserva DOCG–
70-100% Sangiovese; min 3 yr aging including 6 months in bottle; LUNGAROTTI is famous producer.

Question 8

What is the general recipe for Brunello di Montalcino?

Answer 8

Produced from 100% Sangiovese Grosso;
Aged in cask for 2 years and bottled an additional 4 months; released Jan 1st, the 5th year after harvest

Riserva-aged for extra 6 months in bottle; released January 1st, the 6th year after harvest.

Question 9

What are the main soil types of Chianti Classico DOCG?

Answer 9

Galestro, which is soft and marl-like

Albarese, which is sandstone

Question 10

What is Chianti Classico recipe?

Answer 10

80-100% Sangiovese

Max 20% minor reds Colorino, Canaiolo Nero, Cab Sauv, Merlot

As of 2006, white grapes no longer allowed (Trebbiano Toscana, Malvasia)

Like Chianti, may be 100% pure Sangiovese

Question 11

What are the four villages of Chianti Classico?

Answer 11

Radda, Gaiole, Castellina, Greve

Question 12

What is special and different about the Carmignano DOCG?

Answer 12

Historically, winemakers added Cab to native grapes–

Minimum 50% Sangiovese

10-20% Cab Sauv and Cab Franc REQUIRED in blend

Question 13

What are the sub zones of Chianti DOCG?

Answer 13

Colli Fiorentini
Colli Rufina (most consistent in quality)
Colli Aretini
Colli Senesi
Montespertoli (added in 1997)
Montalbano
Colline Pisane

Question 14

Pomona DOC lies within which sub zone of Chianti DOCG?

Answer 14

Pomino DOC lies within Rufina

Frescobaldi and Fattoria Selvapiana are its most famous producers.

Question 15

What is significant about Chianti Classico DOCG and Colli Rufina?

What is significant about Pomino DOCG?

Answer 15

Classico and Rufina are regarded as the best in quality. Rufina is dominated by Frescobaldi.

Pomino DOC- Frescobaldi and Selvapiana are the only producers in Pomino–these wines permit a higher percentage of international grapes than Chianti DOCG

Question 16

Minimum alcohol levels In Chianti Classico DOCG?

Answer 16

Chianti Classico DOCG–12%

Chianti Classico Riserva–12.5%

Question 17

Climate of Central Italy:

Answer 17

Dry, maritime-influenced climate; winters can be harsh and summers long and hot.

Question 18

Describe Sangiovese:

Answer 18

Sangiovese is redolent of sour cherry and herbs, light in color, naturally high in acidity, firmly tannic, medium to full-bodied.

Question 19

Sangiovese is the principal grape in the following DOCG’s:

Answer 19

Chianti
Chianti Classico
Carmignano
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Morellino di Scansano
Montecucco Sangiovese
Brunello di Montalcino

Question 20

Minimum alcohol of Chianti DOCG

Answer 20

Chianti DOCG: 11.5%

Question 21

What does Chianti “Superiore” signify?

Answer 21

An additional 1/2 degree of alcohol and lowered vineyard yields.

Question 22

Montalcino’s Fraziones (sub-communes)

Answer 22

Sant Angelo in Colle
Castelnuevo Abate
Torrenieri

Question 23

DOC’s of Montalcino

Answer 23

Rosso di Montalcino DOC–100% SanG; aged one year prior to release–cask not required

Sant’Antimo DOC-provides Montalcino producers an outlet for “Super-Tuscan” wines

Muscadelle di Montalcino–from Moscato Bianco grapes; sweet, still, sparkling

Question 24

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano recipe and aging The wines tend to be less firm than Chianti and less aggressively tannic than Brunello.

Answer 24

Minimum 70% Sangiovese (Prugnolo Gentile clone) Max 30% other native Tuscan varietals No more than 5% white varieties Aging 2 years; 1 in wood Riserva 3 years

Question 25

How and why did the "Super Tuscan" revolution come about?

Answer 25

Constrained by the DOCG regulations of the time, Marquis Mario Rocchetta's Tenuta San Guido released the 1968 "Sassicaia", a Bordeaux blend, as a vino da tavola. Piero Antinori followed with "Tignanello" in 1971.

Question 26

What is significant about Rosso della Val di Cornia DOGG?

Answer 26

Cab Sauv and Merlot May be added in higher proportions.

Question 27

What are the red grapes of Sicily?

Answer 27

``` Reds: Nero d'Avola Frappato Perricone Nerello Mascalese Nerello Cappucio ```

Question 28

What are the white grapes of Sicily?

Answer 28

``` Grilling Catarrato Inzolia Grecanico Malvasia Carricante Zibbibo (Muscat of Alexandria) ```

Question 29

Famous producers of Sicily:

Answer 29

Marco de Bortoli in Marsala Planeta Palari COS

Question 30

What are the DOCG's of the Marches region of Italy:

Answer 30

For white wines: Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva DOCG (coastal) Verdicchio di Matellica Riserva DOCG For red wines: Conera Rosso Reserva DOCG Vernacchia di Serrapeteona Still white and reds: Offida

Question 31

White wine only DOCG's of the Marches: Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Reserva and Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva: Grape varietal, aging, and description of wine:

Answer 31

Both "Riserva" aged for min 18 months; "Normale" released as DOC Both from Verdiccio, most important grape from Marches--Jesi-fuller, rounder character---

Question 32

What is significant about Conero Rosso Riserva, Vernaccia di Serrapetrona, and Offida DOCG's?

Answer 32

Both red-wine appellations: Conero- min 85% Montepulciano, 15% SanG; 2yrs prior to release; barrique rather than old botti Vernacchia di Serrapetrona--sparkling reds, dry or sweet, made from passito grapes-- Offida-red from Montepulciano; whites from Pecorino and Passerina

Question 33

DOC's of Molise:

Answer 33

Biferno Molise Tintilla del Molise Pentro di Isernia