The Wines of Central Italy

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Regions – Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio, Emilia Romana,

History – ?

Climate and Geography – Warm Continental to Warm Mediterranean

Soils – Limestone, marl

Grapes – Sangiovese,

Viticulture – ?

Vinification – Don’t know

Top producers – Banfi,

Regions of Northeast Italy

TOSCANA

Chianti DOC

Chianti Classico DOCG

Chianti Rufina

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

Rosso di Montapulciano DOC and Rosso di Montalcino DOC

Vernaccia di San Gimigano DOCG

Bolgheri DOC

Toscana IGT

Carmignano DOCG

Vin Santo

EMILIA ROMAGNA.

Colli Piacentini DOC – Corvina…

Romagna Sangiovese DOC  – Crovina…

Romagna Trebbiano DOC – T

MARCHE

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC

Conero DOCG

UMBRIA

Orvieto DOC

Sagrantino di Montefalco DOC

LAZIO

Frascati DOC

ABRUZZO

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

Trebbiano d’Abruzzo  – Oddly does not use Trebbiano d’Abruzzo but rather Bombino Bianco to produce high volumes of neutral dry wine

Colli Euganei DOC – D

The wines of Tuscany

Toscana (Tuscany) is the quintessential image we all have of Italian wine country – rolling hills, olive trees, umbrella pines and of corse, vines, lots of vines.  Tuscany is the 4th most planted region in Italy with x ha of vines.  Tuscany was also the economic, political, and cultural center of Italy for many centuries including Medieval times with few small landholders but mostly the wealthy landowners or monestaries. The 14th century represented the height of the wine trade in Tuscany with families like the Frescobaldis, Ricasolis, and the Antinoris becoming established wine producers.  In the 1950s this system of noble landowners with sharecroppers working the land came to an end and the vineyards and wine took a downturn.  Begining in the 1980s investors from other parts of Italy and foreigners invested in the region and modernized the faciliites and vineyards moving aways from some of the tradtional winemaking and introducing international varietals.  Recently, there has been a return to tradition but many of the gains in quality from the international investment have been retained giving us the best of both worlds.

Geography

68% of Tuscany is classified as hilly and teh elevation of plantings varies from near sea level on the coast at Maremma to elevations up to 500 meters.  A high diurnal range in the most famous hilly regions of Tuscany contribute to the quality of wines.

Classificatinos – 48 DOCs and DOCGs in 2014 – producers often chose to use the IGT “Toscana” to avoid the restrictions.

About 50% of Tuscany’s 60,000ha of vines are classified as DOC or DOCG.

Chianti Classico – up to 20% non-Sangiovese allowed

Brunello di Montalcino – 100% Sangiovese

Vino Noble di Montapulciano – 30%in 2010 to allow up to 30% other grapes are allowed in Chianti which is often blended with Merlot to make the wine more approachable in youth.

Grapes:

Sangiovese –

International Varieties – Super tuscan trend and still rules changed to allow some international varieites

Bolgheri – has its own DOC, Sassica (also has its own DOC) near the coast this is “supertuscan” central and home to the vineyards supplying the grapes for Sassicaia, Masseto, Ornallia, Solera,… (I think) but Carmignano, Suvereto, and Cortona (Syrah) are also now international variety based.

Chianti  – tangly dry red wines with chalky tannins, high acidity, cherry fruit but varying quality – It covers an area large enough to apply to 15,500 ha of vines and includes 7 sub-regions – Colli Fiorentini, Chianti Rufina, Chianti Montalbano, Chianti Colli Senesi, Chianti Colline Pisane, Chianti Colli Aretini, and Chianti Montespertoli or the label can simly say Chianti

Grapes in the Wines of Tuscany

Corvina – The

Corvinone – The

Molinara – The

Rondinella –

Terologingo – In

Schiava – x

Lagrein

Merlot

Refosoco

Schopettino

Pignolo

Garganega

Pinot Bianco

Pinto Gris

Tocai

Ribolla

Malvasia

Verduzzo

Picolit

Top Wines

Gaja wines are….

Gaja wines are….

Tasting Profile

Chianti
(Sangiovese)
Barolo/
Barbaresco
(Nebbiolo)
Barbera d'Asti
(Barbera)
DolcettoGavi
(Cortese)
Tuscan IGTPinot Gris
Appearance
ColorRubyGarnet
(Orange rim)
Ruby/PurpleRuby/PurpleLemon-Green
IntensityMediumMediumMedium +Medium +Medium
Nose
IntensityMedium +Medium +MediumMedium +Medium +Medium
FruitCherryCherryCherry?
EarthChalkTarMinimalMinimal
WoodMiminalVariesVariesVariesno Oak
OtherOxidativeRoses, OxidativeOxidativeOxidative
Palate
SweetnessDryDryDryDryDryDry
AcidityMedium +Medium +HighMedium - Medium +
TanninsMedium +
(Chalky)
HIghMedium - High
Phenolics
NoneNoneNoneNone
AlcoholMediumMediumMediumMedium