Central Italy

Question 1

What varietal is Central Italy most known for?

Answer 1

Sangiovese

Question 2

What is the most famous wine made from Sangiovese?

Answer 2

Chianti

Question 3

Where is Central Italy located

Answer 3

South of the Po valley. dominated by the Apennine Mountains which run the length of the Italian Peninsula.

Question 4

Where are grapes planted in Central Italy

Answer 4

in the hills and valleys of the mountain range which has altitude to provide moderating of the hot climate

Question 5

What do coastal regions in Central Ital benefit from?

Answer 5

cooling sea breezes

Question 6

Where is Tuscany in Italy

Answer 6

stretches down the western coast and is divied into 3 parts

Question 7

what are the three parts Tuscany is divided into?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What grape dominates and is the most prestigious grape throughout the 3 areas of Tuscany?

Answer 8

Sangiovese

Question 9

Describe a Sangiovese wine from Tuscany

Answer 9

high levels of acidity and tannins. late to ripen, so needs the warm climate. aromas of red cherries, plums and dried herbs

Question 10

How is Sangiovese from Tuscany aged?

Answer 10

usually aged for a period of time in oak to soften tannins and sometime add spicy flavors. Both small barrels and larger casks can be used.

Question 11

What can develop with bottle age in Sangiovese from Tuscany?

Answer 11

meaty, gamey, aromas

Question 12

What wine styles are made in Tuscany

Answer 12

red wine dominates, but some white wines are made as well.

Question 13

Where is Chianti located?

Answer 13

based at the foothills of the Apennines between the cities of Pisa, Florence, and Siena.

Question 14

How many sub zones is Chianti divided into

Answer 14

7

Question 15

What is the dominant grape in Chianti?

Answer 15

Sangiovese, but wines are often blends of black grapes of both French and Italian origin

Question 16

Producers of large volumes of Chianti source their grapes from where?

Answer 16

the greater region and label it Chianti DOCG

Question 17

What are wines that are higher quality CHianti DOCG made from grapes of a particular sub zone is labelled how?

Answer 17

with the sub zone on the label

Question 18

What two sub zones are well known in Chianti

Answer 18

Chianti Ruffina DOCG and Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG

Question 19

Is Chianti Classico DOCG a sun zone of Chianti DOCG?

Answer 19

no - it has its own DOCG

Question 20

Where is Chianti Classico DOCG located

Answer 20

higher altitude then Chianti DOCG.

Question 21

Describe wines from Chianti Classico DOCG

Answer 21

due to slower ripening of Sangiovese the wines result in more acidity and herbal aromas.

Question 22

How long must a Chianti Classico wine be aged for?

Answer 22

12 months before released to market

Question 23

How long must a Chianti Classico Riserva wine be aged for?

Answer 23

24 months with at least 3 of those months being spent in the bottle before it is released to market.

Question 24

what is the highest designation of Chianti Classico wines?

Answer 24

Gran Selezione

Question 25

what does Gran Selezione refer to

Answer 25

wines that have been made from grapes which have been sourced from a single estate and aged for 6 months longer than Riserva. however there is no stipulation on oak aging. vast majority of wines are aged in oak for at least some part of the aging process.

Question 26

Where are the vineyards of Southern Tuscany located?

Answer 26

lower altitudes then those in the north.

Question 27

What is the climate of Southern Tuscany?

Answer 27

warm climate, however cool maritime breezes from south west can moderate temperatures

Question 28

What are the two best known regions in S. Tuscany?

Answer 28

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG

Question 29

describe wines from S> Tuscany region

Answer 29

due to climate more intense and fuller bodied than Chianti.

Question 30

What are wine regulations of Brunello di Montalcino DOCG ?

Answer 30

wines must be made from Sangiovese and undergo at least aging of 5 years before they are sold, 2 of which must be spent in oak.

Question 31

What are wine regulations Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG

Answer 31

wines can be blends of Sangiovese and other permitted varieties and must be aged for a minimum of 2 years before it is sold.

Question 32

What can producers from Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG and Brunello di Montalcino DOCG if they have a poor vintage or vines are young?

Answer 32

they have the option of declassifying their wines to DOC as necessary

Question 33

Describe the coastal region of Tuscany

Answer 33

relatively flat, cooled by sea breezes instead of altitude.

Question 34

what varietals are grown in the Coastal region of Tuscany?

Answer 34

Black Bordeaux and a number of other international grapes.

Question 35

What is the coastal region of Tuscany known for?

Answer 35

the birth of the "Super Tuscan"

Question 36

what was the original Super Tuscan made from

Answer 36

cabernet sauvignon and sold for premium price despite no PDO status.

Question 37

What are many of the Super Tuscans bottled as?

Answer 37

Toscana IGT

Question 38

what recently formed appellations permit wines to be made entirely from non-Italian varieties

Answer 38

Bolgheri DOC and Maremma Toscana DOC

Question 39

Describe Umbria's climate

Answer 39

similar to Tuscany but Is more continental. without influences from the Mediterranean.

Question 40

What are the varietals used in Orvieto DOC?

Answer 40

Blend of Grechetto, Trebbiano and often other local grapes.

Question 41

Describe wines from Orvieto DOC

Answer 41

light bodied, with med to high acidity, and flavors of ripe grapefruit and peaches. Best examples have most grechetto in the blend

Question 42

How are wines produced from Orvieto DOC?

Answer 42

protectively and undergo cool stainless steel fermentation

Question 43

What is Umbria's most prestigious red wine?

Answer 43

Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG - made from thick skinned Sagrantino grapes.

Question 44

Where is Lazio

Answer 44

to the south of Tuscany

Question 45

what is the best known wine from Lazio?

Answer 45

Frascati DOC

Question 46

Where is Frascati DOC located?

Answer 46

in the hills to the south of Rome

Question 47

describe the climate of Frascati DOC

Answer 47

cooled by both altitude and a number of small nearby lakes offering perfect conditions for white grapes

Question 48

What are the varietals used in Frascati DOC?

Answer 48

blends of Malvasia and Trebbiano

Question 49

describe Frascati style wines

Answer 49

fresh unoaked, med in body with med to high acidity and flavors of citrus fruit. the Malvasia provides floral and orange blossom aromas.

Question 50

Where is Marche located?

Answer 50

on the eastern side of the Apennines

Question 51

What is Marche best known for>?

Answer 51

wines made by Verdicchio grape

Question 52

what is the most famous white wines made in MArche

Answer 52

Verdicchio Dei Castelli di Jesi DOC

Question 53

Describe the Verdicchio variety

Answer 53

naturally high in acidity with flavors of green apples, lemons and sometimes notes of fennel and almonds. most are simple and fruity but the best have greater concentration and can develop notes of honey and almonds with bottle age

Question 54

describe the red wines of Verdicchio?

Answer 54

blends of Montepulciano and Sangiovese

Question 55

what is the best know red in Verdicchio

Answer 55

Conero DOCG

Question 56

Where is Abruzzo?

Answer 56

south of Marche

Question 57

what is Abruzzo famous for?

Answer 57

red varietal Montepulciano

Question 58

what is the main wine in Abruzzo

Answer 58

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC (no relation to the town in Tuscany)

Question 59

Describe the Montepulciano grape

Answer 59

high levels of color and tannins, medium acidity, and flavors of black plums and cherries.

Question 60

how is Montepulciano aged

Answer 60

many are not aged with any oak giving a simple and fruity taste. but most are concentrated and often matured for a short time in oak.