General Tuscany Flashcards
What river runs through Florence?
Arno river
What is Italy’s most planted grape?
Sangiovese
Who demarcated Chianti and in what year, making it among the first defined wine regions in the world.
Cosimo III de Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1716
What is the traditional bottle called that Chianti was bottled in dating back to the 16th century?
Fiaschi or Fiasco
When did producers begin to move away from traditional chianti bottles and what reasons motivated this move? What was the new bottle of choice?
Starting in 1870, producers started using the Bordeaux bottle, pointing to its success in international markets and reputation for quality, it was a brand image/marketing move. Also, by the 1950’s and after 2 world wars there wasn’t enough skilled labor to make many Fiaschi.
Who created the original Chianti blend? What other job did he hold a couple times in his life?
Bettino Ricasoli
He was Prime Minister of Italy for two short stints right after the modern country formed in the 1860’s.
What major change did Bettino Ricasoli make in the vineyard in tandem with the Chianti blend?
What was the thought process behind blending white with red?
He made Sangiovese the lead grape over Canaiolo.
White grapes in the blend softened the tannins, easier for early drinking.
What was the purpose of the Gallo Nero?
It was a symbol designed to be a sort of trademark for Chianti, during a time (early 20th century) when copycatting and counterfeiting were widespread.
What’s the island DOCG in Tuscany and whats made?
Elba Aleatico Passito DOCG
Red Muscat, dried at least 10 days, sweet
Montecucco Sangiovese DOCG requires how much Sangiovese in the blend?
Where in the region is it located?
min 90% Sangiovese
In the South, between Montalcino and Morellino
What is Morellino di Scansano DOCG and where is it?
Whats the most famous wine from here?
Its a Sangiovese (Morellino) wine, min 85%. In the far South of Tuscany.
Saffredi, a cab/merlot blend bottled as IGT by Fattoria le Pupille
Where is Carmignano DOCG and whats the blending rules? Why might this be?
In the North, across the Arno NW of Florence. Its a Sangiovese based wine (min 50%) but Cab Franc/Cab Sauv have to be 10-20% also. You can blend up to 10% white in.
Ugo Contini Bonacossi (Capezzana) stole some Lafitte cuttings and planted them here.
What is Suvereto DOCG and where is it located?
For varietally labeled Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cab Sauv. A Rosso is allowed also (min 85% Merlot+Cab)
Along the Tuscan coast in the SW but at higher elevation.
Where is Rosso Della Val di Cornia DOCG and what is it?
Twin DOCG to Suvereto, which it sits next door to in the SW, but the blend is emphasized instead. Min 40% Sangio, Max 60% Cab Sauv + Merlot
When was Vernaccia di San Gimignano famous? What style wine was it then?
in late Medieval and Renaissance times.
sweet white historically
