Week 8: Central and Southern Italy

Question 1

When did phylloxera hit Italy?

Answer 1

1890’s

Question 2

Where did phylloxera hit hardest in Italy?

Answer 2

Sicily and Sardinia

Question 3

Why was Italy able to mitigate the worst effects of phylloxera?

Answer 3

Slow pace of infestation allowed Italy to mitigate

Question 4

Heartland of Sangiovese wines:

Answer 4

Tuscany

Question 5

Tuscan landscape:

Answer 5

Rolling hills or mountainous foothills

Question 6

Tuscan climate:

Answer 6

Hot to moderate depending on whether coastal or inland

Question 7

1960’s Chianti reputation:

Answer 7

Thin and uninteresting

Question 8

Number of DOCG’s in Tuscany:

Answer 8

11

Question 9

List 4 Tuscan DOCG’s

Answer 9

Brunello di Montalcino
Chianti
Chianti Classico
Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Vino Nobile de Montepulciano

Question 10

Notable fact about Chianti and Chianti Classico DOCG’s - when were these established?

Answer 10

One of the oldest formally delimited wine regions in Italy.

Done in 1716

Question 11

Who defined the Chianti Classico area?

Answer 11

Cosimo de Medici (1716)

Question 12

Did history mandate the inclusion of white grapes Chianti Classico?

Answer 12

Yes.

Eliminated in 1996: only 100% Sangiovese after that.

Question 13

Who created the “recipe” for Chianti Classico?

Answer 13

Baron Bettino de Ricasoli

Question 14

Number of subzones in Chianti:

Answer 14

7

Question 15

List the 7 Chianti sub-zones:

Answer 15

Ruffina
Colli Senesi
Colli Pisane
Colli Aretini
Colli Fiorentini
Montesportoli
Montalban

Question 16

Brunello di Montalcino location:

Answer 16

On the hill of Montalcino near Siena

Question 17

What does Brunello overlap?

Answer 17

Chianti Colli Senesi

Question 18

Grape in Brunello:

Answer 18

Sangiovese Grosso clone

Question 19

When was Sangiovese Grosso isolated and bottled solo?

Answer 19

1865

Clementi Santi

Question 20

Soil in Brunello di Montalcino:

Answer 20

Galestro and clay cover the best vineyards.

Question 21

What is galestro soil?

Answer 21

Rocky, schistous clay soil

Question 22

Brunello di Montalcino Normale ageing:

Answer 22

Normale: (2/4/5)
2 years wood
4 months bottle
5 years total

Riserva (2/6/6)
2 years wood
6 months bottle
6 years total

Rosso di Montalcino
Typically younger
6 months oak
1 year ageing

Question 23

Brunello di Montalcino Riserva ageing:

Answer 23

Normale (2/4/5)
2 years wood
4 months bottle
5 years total

Riserva (2/6/6)
2 years wood
6 months bottle
6 years total

Rosso di Montalcino
Typically younger
6 months oak
1 year ageing

Question 24

Rosso di Montalcino ageing:

Answer 24

Normale:
2 years wood
4 months bottle
4 years total

Riserva:
2 years wood
6 months bottle
5 years total

Rosso di Montalcino
Typically younger
6 months oak
1 year ageing

Question 25

"Vigna" meaning on a bottle of Italian wine:

Answer 25

Single vineyard

Question 26

What caused Tuscan winemakers to revolt in the 1960's?

Answer 26

Tuscan producers were required to include Malvasia

Question 27

What did revolting Tuscan winemakers do in the 1960's?

Answer 27

Created their own wines and released them Could only label them as Vino di Tavola until IGT created in 1992

Question 28

Who released the first Super Tuscan?

Answer 28

Marquis Mario Incisca della Rochetta

Question 29

What was the first Super Tuscan called?

Answer 29

Sassicaia from Bolgheri ## Footnote Sausage bulging.

Question 30

Who was the nephew of Marquis Mario Incisca della Rochetta? What did he release?

Answer 30

Marchesi Antinori released Tignanello.

Question 31

What other wine region heavily influences Tuscany?

Answer 31

Bordeaux

Question 32

Where is Maremma?

Answer 32

Coastal DOC in Tuscany

Question 33

Maremma soil:

Answer 33

Sandier soil in some areas Sand and clay in other parts

Question 34

Bolgheri in relation to Maremma:

Answer 34

North

Question 35

Wine style(s) of Bolgheri:

Answer 35

Super Tuscan style blends Vermentino

Question 36

Sole monopole in Italy:

Answer 36

Bolgheri Sassicaia

Question 37

Morellino di Scansano wine:

Answer 37

Used to be a swamp with sandy soils Uses a Sangiovese clone that is typically softer overall.

Question 38

Important Super Tuscans to know:

Answer 38

Sassicaia Tignanello Masseto Orenellaia Solaia Pergola Torte

Question 39

Does Tuscany make sweet wines?

Answer 39

Yes

Question 40

Where is Vin Santo made?

Answer 40

Throughout Tuscany

Question 41

Process for making Vin Santo:

Answer 41

Passito method Aged in tiny Caratelli barrels Cherry or chestnut Highly porous Ageing: 3 years: Normale 4 years: Riserva

Question 42

Process for making Elba Aleatico Passito DOCG

Answer 42

Passito method Red grape related to Muscat Blanc à Petit Grains Only made on Elba

Question 43

Location and geography of Umbria:

Answer 43

Landlocked and mountainous.

Question 44

Native red grape of Umbria

Answer 44

Sagrantino

Question 45

Sagrantino: more or less tannic than Nebbiolo:

Answer 45

About the same

Question 46

Ageing requirements for Montefalcon Sagrantino:

Answer 46

1 year wood 3 years total

Question 47

Rosso de Montefalco: grape percentages in the blend?

Answer 47

Min of 60% Sangiovese Sagrantino

Question 48

White grapes of Umbria:

Answer 48

Grechetto Trebbiano Spoletino Trebbiano Toscana

Question 49

Location of Marche:

Answer 49

East coast

Question 50

Marche reds grapes:

Answer 50

Montepulciano blended with smaller amounts of Sangiovese

Question 51

Marche white grapes:

Answer 51

Verdicchio

Question 52

White appellations in Marche

Answer 52

Verdicchio di Matelica Verdicchio de Castelli Jesi

Question 53

Verdicchio di Matelica and Verdicchio de Castelli Jesi styles:

Answer 53

Dry, sweet or Spumante

Question 54

Abruzzo location:

Answer 54

Adriatic coast, central Italy.

Question 55

Abruzzo whites: quality? Quantity?

Answer 55

High volume, lower quality whites

Question 56

Abruzzo reds:

Answer 56

Based on Montepulciano

Question 57

Abruzzo whites:

Answer 57

Based on Trebbiano

Question 58

What grape is becoming more important in Abruzzo?

Answer 58

Pecorino ## Footnote An indigenous white grape rescued from obscurity, Pecorino is found across eastern central Italy, producing very fresh, nutty-flavored wines.

Question 59

What is the Classico zone for Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOCG?

Answer 59

Colline Teramane