Toscana - No Chianti Flashcards
(150 cards)
Where does Toscana stand in Italian wine production?
4th in areas under vine behind Sicilia, Puglia, Veneto and 7th for production
What is the percentage DOC/G, IGT and bulk?
How may DOCGs and DOC?
DOC/G 60% / IGT 25% / Bulk 25%
DOCG - 11 / DOC - 41
When was Toscana 1st inhabited?
2000 bc;
Etruscans were 1st in 9th c BC
They brought advanced know how in wine making including commercial trade for wines starting in 7th c BC
What is the name for the road connecting Italy to France?
Via Francigena
Name the oldest wine making Florentine families in Toscana?
Ricasoli - 12th c AD
Frescobaldi - 14th c AD
Antinori - 14th AD
Oldest continually run family wineries
What did the small villages morph into in the 12th c AD? And what were the two most prominent towns?
Morphed into communi or city-states.
After 13th c AD - Republic of Siena and Republic of Firenze became super powers.
Who is the oldest, continuously run family vineyard in Tuscany?
Ricasoli - 12th c AD
What is the Renaissance in Italia?
Rinascimento - marked the end of the Middle Ages and the start of the Modern era
What city during the Rinascimento became most important?
Firenze
Who was the most important family in Rinascimento Firenze?
Medici family
Defeated Sienna in 1555 AD
FIrenze declared Grand Duchy of Toscana
Cosimo d’Medici became 1st Grand Duke (ruled until 1730)
What was Grand Duke Cosimo de’Medici’s claim to fame?
Issued the Bando in 1716 which protected Toscana wines.
4 Delimited Geographic Boundaries
Chianti
Pomino
Carmignano &
Val d’Arno di Sopra
Tried to protect names and reputation from being produced elsewhere
What, where and when was the 1st attempt to introduce delimitation on wine making regions?
Firence, Toscana
The Bando (Edict) in 1716 to Protect Chianti, Pomino, Carmignano and Val d’Arno di Sopra
What is the Accademi dei Georgofili?
1753, Founded in Firenze - goal to improve and advance agriculture in Toscana
It is still active
Who was the 1st Tuscan to write about Oenology?
Cosimo Villifranch
Florentine physician & scholar
Published “Oenologia Toscana”
1st Accurate work about enology in Toscana
What happened to Grand Duchy of Toscana after the Medici reign ended without an heir?
Was assigned to the House of Lourraine of France 1737
Eventually became the Kingdom of Sardegna
When did phylloxera hit Toscana?
1920s
What is Mezzadria and what is its significance
Share cropping - Agriculture system since 9th c BA
Abolished by Italy in 1960s.
Was devestating for wine industry since there was not the work force to help the vineyards.
What is the name of the island chain Elba belongs?
Toscana Archipelago
How is Tuscany divided?
3 main areas
- Alta Maremma - Northern Toscana MAremma
- Meremma Grossetana - Southern Toscana Maremma or the “real Maremma”
- Maremma Laziale
What was Maremma like prior to 20th century?
Was swampy, malaria infested land
Reclaimed in 20th century
What is considered the “true” Meremma
Southern Tuscany Maremma or
Maremma Grossentana
What is the climate of Toscana?
Transition point on the peninsula between Continental Climate of Padana Plain
and
Mediterranean in Central and Southern Italy
Ligura/Tyrrhenian Sea exert Mediterranean influence which decrease inland
Apennines in North protect from cool northern air currents and a rain barrier making coastal and central/southern drier.
Large number of macro & meso-climates with sea and altitude influences
What are the wettest and driest months in Toscana?
July is driest, November wettest
Where are the wettest areas of Toscana?
Apennines and Apuan Alps (1,400-20,00mm of rain)