C28 - Central Italy

Question 1

Describe the topography of Central Italy

Answer 1

South of the Po valley, the wine regions here are dominated by the Apennine Mountains, which run the length of the Italian peninsula

Question 2

Where in Central Italy are grapes usually planted?

Answer 2

In the hills and valleys of the Apennine Mountain range

Question 3

How is temperature generally moderated within Central Italy?

Answer 3

Either by the altitude of the Apennine foothills or coastal sea breezes

Question 4

Where in Italy is Tuscany?

Answer 4

Stretching down the western coast of Central Italy

Question 5

How can Tuscany be topographically divided?

Answer 5

Into three parts:
The mountainous Chianti region in the north
The hills and valleys to the south
The flat coastal plain

Question 6

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

Answer 6

Sangiovese

Question 7

What are the main characteristics of Sangiovese in Tuscany?

Answer 7

High tannins
High acidity
Aromas of red cherries, plums and dried herbs
Late ripening
Usually aged in oak to soften tannins and sometimes add spicy flavours

Question 8

What kind of oak containers are used to age Sangiovese in Tuscany?

Answer 8

Small barrels and/or larger casks

Question 9

What aromas can Sangiovese develop with bottle age?

Answer 9

Meaty and gamey aromas

Question 10

What colour of grapes is grown in Tuscany?

Answer 10

Predominantly red, but some white is grown

Question 11

Where in Italy is Chianti?

Answer 11

In the foothills of the Apennines between the cities of Pisa, Florence and Siena

Question 12

How is Chianti divided?

Answer 12

Into seven sub-zones

Question 13

What is the dominant grape of Chianti?

Answer 13

Sangiovese

Question 14

True of False: Wines of Chianti are often blends

Answer 14

True

Question 15

How will producers of large volumes of Chianti, with grapes from the larger area, usually label their wines?

Answer 15

Chianti DOCG

Question 16

How may higher quality Chianti producers label their wines?

Answer 16

Depending on where the grapes are from, they may label their wines with the name of the sub-zone

Question 17

Which of Chianti’s sub-zones are best known for their quality?

Answer 17

Chianti Rufina DOCG

Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG

Question 18

What is unusual about Chianti Classico?

Answer 18

It’s NOT a sub-zone of Chianti

Question 19

Describe the vineyards of Chianti Classico

Answer 19

At higher altitudes than those of Chianti

Question 20

What is the effect of Chianti Classico’s higher vineyards?

Answer 20

Greater acidity

More herbal aromas

Question 21

What is the role of ageing on Chianti Classico?

Answer 21

Must be aged for 12 months before release

Question 22

What is the role of ageing for Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG?

Answer 22

Must be aged for 24 months, with at least 3 months of bottle ageing

Question 23

What is the highest designation for Chianti Classico wines?

Answer 23

Gran Selezione

Question 24

How may a Chianti Classico qualify for Gran Selezione status?

Answer 24

Grapes must be sourced from a single estate

Wines must be aged for six months longer than Riserva

Question 25

What is the role of oak ageing for Gran Selezione wines in Chianti?

Answer 25

There are no stipulations concerning oak ageing, so it is entirely up to the producer

Question 26

What is the reality regarding oak ageing for Gran Selezione wines in Chianti?

Answer 26

The vast majority of wines are matured in oak for at least part of the time before their release

Question 27

Describe the vineyards of Southern Tuscany

Answer 27

Lower than the north Warmer climate Cool, maritime breezes from south-west

Question 28

What are the best known appellations of Southern Tuscany?

Answer 28

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG | Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG

Question 29

Describe the general difference between wines from this part of Tuscany and from further north

Answer 29

More intense and fuller-bodied than those from Chianti

Question 30

What are the key legal stipulations for Brunello?

Answer 30

The wines must be entirely Sangiovese | Must be aged for at least five years before release, with at least two years in oak

Question 31

What are the key stipulations for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG?

Answer 31

Can be a blend of Sangiovese and other permitted varieties | Must be aged for a minimum of two years before release

Question 32

What may producers of Brunello or VNdM do with their legal classifications? Give an example of when they might do this?

Answer 32

They can declassify they wines to DOC | If the vintage is particularly poor

Question 33

What will Brunello or VNdM become if declassified?

Answer 33

Rosso di Montalcino DOC | Rosso di Montepulciano DOC

Question 34

Describe the Tuscan coast

Answer 34

It is relatively flat and cooled by sea-breezes

Question 35

What kinds of varieties are grown on the Tuscan coast?

Answer 35

Black Bordeaux varieties and a number of other international varieties

Question 36

In which area did the first 'Super-Tuscan' come about?

Answer 36

The coast

Question 37

What was the first Super-Tuscan made from?

Answer 37

Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 38

What was groundbreaking about the first Super-Tuscan?

Answer 38

It was sold at a premium price despite not being eligible for PDO status

Question 39

Why were Super-Tuscans so important?

Answer 39

They were a turning point for Italian wines as they re-established Italy's reputation for excellence

Question 40

What varieties go into Super-Tuscans?

Answer 40

Typically international varieties, but sometimes with Italian varieties as part of the blend

Question 41

How are Super-Tuscans usually labelled?

Answer 41

Toscana IGT Bolgheri DOC Maremma Toscana DOC

Question 42

What is special about Bolgheri DOC and Maremma Toscana DOC?

Answer 42

The relatively new appellations permit wines to be made from entirely non-Italian varieties, such as Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah

Question 43

What is the climate of Umbria?

Answer 43

Similar to Tuscany's but more continental without any influence from the Mediterranean

Question 44

Where is Umbria?

Answer 44

Central Italy, between Tuscany and Marche on the respective coasts

Question 45

What is Umbria's best known wine?

Answer 45

Orvieto DOC

Question 46

What is Orvieto?

Answer 46

A white wine, made from Grechetto, Trebbiano and often, a few other local grapes

Question 47

Describe Orvieto DOC wines

Answer 47

Light body Medium to high acidity Flavours of ripe grapefruit and peaches

Question 48

How are the best examples of Orvieto often composed?

Answer 48

They tend to be the examples with the most Grechetto in the blend

Question 49

How are Orvieto wines vinified?

Answer 49

They are made protectively and undergo cool fermentation in stainless steel

Question 50

What is Umbria's most prestigious wine?

Answer 50

Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG

Question 51

What is Sagrantino di Montefalco made from?

Answer 51

The thick-skinned Sagrantino grape

Question 52

What is the next region to the south of Tuscany?

Answer 52

Lazio

Question 53

What is the best known wine of Lazio?

Answer 53

Frascati DOC

Question 54

Where are the vineyards of Frascati DOC?

Answer 54

The hills to the south of Rome

Question 55

What are the growing conditions like in Frascati DOC?

Answer 55

Vineyards are cooled by altitude and a number of small nearby lakes

Question 56

What are the grapes of Frascati DOC?

Answer 56

Malvasia and Trebbiano

Question 57

Describe wines of Frascati DOC

Answer 57

Fresh and fruity in style Medium body Medium to high acidity Flavours of citrus fruit, with Malvasia sometimes providing floral, orange blossom aromas

Question 58

Where is Marche?

Answer 58

On the eastern side of the Apennines

Question 59

What wines is Marche best known for?

Answer 59

White wines made from Verdicchio

Question 60

What is Marche's most famous wine from the Verdicchio grape?

Answer 60

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC

Question 61

Describe wines from the Verdicchio grape

Answer 61

High acidity Green apple and lemon flavours Sometimes notes of fennel and almonds Usually simple and fruity, but the best have greater concentration and can develop notes of honey and almonds with bottle age

Question 62

What are Marche's red wines typically made from?

Answer 62

Usually blends of Montepulciano and Sangiovese

Question 63

What is the best known of Marche's red blends?

Answer 63

Conero DOCG

Question 64

Which region is below Marche?

Answer 64

Abruzzo

Question 65

For which variety is Abruzzo most famous?

Answer 65

Montepulciano

Question 66

What is Abruzzo's most famous wine?

Answer 66

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC

Question 67

Describe wines from the Montepulciano grape

Answer 67

High levels of colour and tannins Medium acidity Flavours of black plums and cherries Many simple and fruity with no oak ageing Most concentrated examples matured for a short time in oak