D3 - Tuscany Flashcards
What is the general climate of Tuscany?
Warm Mediterranean.
What provides the cooling influence in inland Tuscany?
Altitude (Apennines).
When does most of the rain fall in Tuscany?
Autumn and winter.
What are the climate hazards of Tuscany?
- Spring frost (occasional);
- Hail;
- Rain at harvest;
- Summer drought;
- Prolonged high temperatures in some years (which leads to incomplete ripening due to photosynthesis stopping).
What is the main grape variety (of either color) grown in Tuscany?
Sangiovese.
Give a quick profile of wine made from Sangiovese.
- Medium ruby;
- Red cherry/plum, herbal notes;
- Med-Full body;
- High Acid;
- High Tannin.
What is Sangiovese known as in Montepulciano?
Prugnolo Gentile.
In Tuscany, why is Sangiovese prone to late spring frosts and early autumn rain?
Because it buds early and ripens late.
- Because Sangiovese is a late ripener, where should it be planted and in which direction should the vineyard face?
- At what elevation are the better vineyards planted?
- On slopes facing south or south-east.
- Planted 200-550m asl which helps grapes achieve full ripeness.
- Sangiovese grows best on what types of soil?
- What other soil type does it grow just ok on?
- Best on friable shale and limestone soils;
- Does ok on clay.
Select the correct answer.
Sangiovese is a:
a. non-vigorous variety so canopy management is not necessary
b. vigorous variety and its canopy needs to be managed regularly to avoid shading
b. Vigorous variety and its canopy need to be managed regularly to avoid shading.
Sangiovese can produce high yields so vignerons need to determine whether they want to go for quantity or quality.
Sangiovese has thin or thick skins?
What is Sangiovese susceptible to?
Thin skins, susceptible to botrytis bunch rot.
What is the main type of vine training seen in Tuscany?
Cordon trained and either spur- or cane-pruned with VSP.
Trebbiano Toscano is a white grape variety that buds ____.
Late.
It’s not at risk to spring frosts!
Select the correct answer.
Trebbiano Toscano is a variety that is:
a. Vigorous and high yielding
b. Vigorous and low yielding
c. Non-vigorous and high yielding
d. Non-vigorous and low yielding
a. Vigorous and high yielding
Why does Trebbiano Toscano perform so well in Tuscany?
It grows and ripens well in sun and heat while retaining acidity.
In Tuscany these days, what is the typical maceration time for Sangiovese meant for early consumption?
And for Sangiovese meant for bottle aging?
7-10 days of maceration for early consumption (medium tannins)
15-25 days of maceration for age-worthy wines (high tannins)
Chianti DOCG requires a minimum of what percent Sangiovese?
70-100%
Chianti DOCG does not allow Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Franc to be more than ___% of the blend.
15%
Which of the following statements is true?
- Today, white grapes are still allowed in Chianti DOCG.
- Today, white grapes are still allowed in Chianti Classico DOCG.
Today, white grapes are still allowed in Chianti DOCG.
Though they are rarely used
Note that no white grapes are allowed in Chianti CLASSICO.
What is the maximum percent of white grapes allowed in Chianti DOCG?
10%
It’s usually Trebbiano Toscano.
The minimum abv in Chianti DOCG is __%.
The minimum abv in the Chianti subzones is __%
Chianti DOCG: 11.5% minimum
Chianti subzones: 12% minimum
The maximum permitted yield in Chianti DOCG is ___hL/ha.
63 hL/ha (moderately high)
When can Chianti DOCG be released to market?
The March following harvest.
Is oak aging required for Chianti DOCG or Chianti DOCG Riserva?
No.
What is the minimum aging requirement for Chianti DOCG Riserva?
2 years.
Name 3 Chianti subzones you should know for the exam.
- Chianti Colli Fiorentini DOCG
- Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG
- Chianti Rufina DOCG
The maximum permitted yield in the seven Chianti subzones is ___hL/ha.
56 hL/ha
Riserva-level wines from Chianti Colli Fiorentini, Chianti Colli Senesi, and Chianti Rufina must spend at least ___ months in oak.
6 months
- Which of the seven Chianti subzones is the coolest?
- What makes it cool?
- Chianti Rufina DOCG
- Elevation and cool Apennine downdrafts (result in higher acid)
Which of the seven Chianti subzones is seen as the warmest?
Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG is the warmest.
Chianti Colli Senesi requires a minimum of ___% Sangiovese and a maximum of ___% of either Cabernet in the blend.
Minimum 75% Sangiovese
Maximum 10% of either Cabernet
The best Chianti Classico wines come from vineyards planted at this elevation range.
200-500m asl
What does the elevation of Chianti Classico (cool nights) contribute to the wines?
- Longer growing season, promoting full ripeness;
- Higher acidity.
What are the 3 soils found in Chianti Classico?
- Schistous, crumbly rock with clay and marl (known as galestro);
- Calcareous soils with clay (known as alberese);
- Sandstone and sandy soils.
All combined = good drainage with sufficient water holding capacity.
Chianti Classico must be a minimum ___% Sangiovese.
80%
What are the maximum yields for Chianti Classico?
52.5 hl/ha
When is the soonest Chianti Classico can be released?
The Riserva category must be aged for __ years from __ after the harvest.
- Chianti Classico – Oct 1 the year after harvest;
- Riserva – 2 years from the Jan 1st after harvest.
In what year was the designation Chianti Classico Gran Selezione introduced?
2013
What are the regulations around Chianti Classico Gran Selezione?
- Grapes must come from a single vineyard or an estate owned by the producer;
- Wine must be aged a minimum of 30 mos (no requirement to age in wood);
- From 2021, the wines must be a minimum 90% Sangiovese and international grape varieties are no longer allowed;
- If the grapes were grown within one of the 11 UGAs, producers can put the UGA on the label.
Brunello di Montalcino is in the northern or southern part of Tuscany?
Southern.
What are the environmental factors that contribute to Brunello di Montalcino being ripe with full body and high alcohol?
- Warmer + drier than Chianti;
- Protected from rain by Monte Amiata;
- Does get some cooling Mediterranean breezes at night which help retain acidity.
Elevation and soils vary in Brunello di Montalcino.
In the appellation, where are the vineyards in the longest established growing area and what are its soils?
Historic area – just south of the town of Montalcino at >500m asl with more clay soils.
The northern part of Montalcino has more galestro-based soils with higher elevations leading to Brunello wines that are more ______.
Aromatic.
The southern part of Montalcino, which is lower and warmer (and has more clay in its soils), typically produces Brunello wines that are ____ bodied.
Fuller.
The maximum yield for Brunello di Montalcino is ___ hl/ha.
54 hl/ha
What are the aging requirements for Brunello and when can it be released?
- Brunello may not be released until January 1st 4 years after harvest;
- Aging must include 2 years in oak.
In other words, Brunello must age for a minimum of 5 years total before its release: a minimum of 24 months in barrels and 4 months in bottles (remember, these are MINIMUMS!)
What are the aging requirements for Brunello Riserva and when can it be released?
- Brunello Riserva may not be released until January 1st 5 years after harvest;
- Aging must include a minimum of 2 years in oak.
In other words, Brunello Riserva must age for 6 years before its release: a minimum of 24 months in barrels and 6 months in bottles (remember, these are MINIMUMS!)
Both Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino must be ___ % Sangiovese.
100%
Rosso di Montalcino is often made
from young vines or from less promising sites
What are the exposures and elevations for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano?
- East/southeast;
- 250-600m asl.
What are the 2 main soils of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and what kind of wines do they produce?
- Heavy, cool clay (producing fuller bodied wines);
- Sand (more aromatic wines).
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano must be made from ____% Sangiovese.
70 - 100%
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
- What is its maximum yield?
- What are its aging requirements?
- 56 hl/ha;
- 2 years from Jan 1 the year after harvest, with 12-24 mos in wood.
What is the aging requirement for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva?
3 years from Jan 1 the year after harvest, with 12-24 mos in wood.
Morellino di Scansano
- What is its elevation?
- What is its maximum yield?
- It must be a minimum ___% Sangiovese.
- 250m asl;
- 63 hl/ha;
- 85%
Bolgheri DOC focuses on what kind of grape varieties?
Bordeaux grape varietals.
Bolgheri is a warm appellation, and grapes are planted at a variety of elevations. Grapes have no trouble ripening here.
What helps the grapes in Bolgheri retain their acidity is their proximity to the ____ .
Sea.
What grape dominates the blends in Bolgheri DOC?
Cabernet Sauvignon.
Bolgheri DOC regulations allow up to ___% of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot;
and up to ___% of Syrah and Sangiovese;
and up to ___% of other varieties.
- 100% CS, CF, Merlot;
- 50% Syrah, Sangiovese;
- 30% other.
Bolgheri Rosso’s max yield is ___ hl/ha.
Bolgheri Rosso Superiore’s max yield is ___ hl/ha.
- Bolgheri Rosso – 63 hl/ha;
- Bolgheri Rosso Superiore – 56 hl/ha.
Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC is a separate DOC for this single estate.
Tenuta San Guido.
Maremma Toscana DOC makes a wide range of wines with high yields.
What are the main grapes grown here and what are the yields?
- Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Vermentino;
- 77 hl/ha (moderately high).
What are the two grapes allowed to be blended into Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, and what is the maximum?
Sauvignon Blanc + Riesling (max 10%).
When can Rosso di Montepulciano be released?
March 1 the year after harvest.
The Consorzio of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano will soon introduce a new, higher quality, category from defined zones within the appellation.
What are the regulations surrounding this new category?
- Wines must be minimum 85% Sangiovese;
- Cannot include international varieties;
- If the grapes were grown within one of the 12 pieve (defined zone), that pieve may be used on the label.
