Central Italy

Star grape variety in Tuscany

Sangiovese

• high tannins

• full body

• medium to high acidity (depending on the altitude) generally high

• red fruit flavours, dried herbs

• usually oaked to soften tannins + add spicy flavour

• with age→ mushrooms, leather, tobacco

DOCG in Tuscany

Chianti Gran Selezione

Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG

Chianti Classico DOCG

Chianti Rufina / Colli Senesi DOCG - one of the 7 sub-zone, higher quality

Chianti DOCG - high volume, from the greater region

What’s the difference between Chianti Rufina and Colli Senesi?

Rufina → nord → cooler → more acidity, herbal notes

Colli Senesi → souther → warmer → fuller body, rounder character

Chianti Classico

• comes from the original classified land

• higher altitude

• higher acidity

• herbal notes

• must be aged for 1 year

Chianti Classico Riserva

• must be aged longer → 2 years (3 months in bottle)

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione

the highest quality of Chianti classico

must comefrom one single estate or vineyard

must be aged for 2 years and a half (30 months)

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

• 100% Sangio

• must be aged 2 years in wood casks

• released on January the 5th year after harvest

• declassified in: Rosso di Montalcino DOC

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG

• min 70% Sangio + permitted varieties

• more intense and fuller body than Chianti

• must be aged 2 years before selling

• declassified in: Rosso di Montepulciano DOC

Super-Tuscan

• a Cabernet Sauvignon wine sold for premium price even if it was not eligible for PDO status

• from that moment a lot of producers are producing HQ wines blending international varieties with local varieties (CAb Sav, Merlot, Syrah)

• Toscana IGT

• Bolgheri Doc

• Maremma Toscana Doc

Appellations in Umbria

Orvieto DOC

• overlapping between Lazio and Umbria

• white wine made from Grechetto + Trebbiano

• light body, high acidity, citrus and peach, fresh and easy drinking
  

Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG

• premium red wine made from Sagrantino grapes

Trebbiano, Grechetto, Malvasia

Trebbiano

• non-aromatic

• citrus, herbal, floral (camomile)

Grechetto

• high acidity

Malvasia

• aromatic

• low acidity

• floral, orange blossom

Moderanting influences in Lazio

• altitude

• number of small lakes

Appellation in Lazio

Frascati DOC

• white wine made from Trebbiano + Malvasia

• medium body, medium to high acidity

• citrus, stone fruits

• floral and blossom notes from Malvasia

Appellations in Marche

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC

• ligh body

• natural high acidity

• citrus, apple, fennel and almons

• usually stainless steel, fruity, drink while young

• best examples = great concentration of flavpours and almontds notes

Conero DOCG

• red wine sfrom Sangiovese + Montepulciano (grape)

Appellation in Abruzzo

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC

• MOntepulciano = black grape variety

• high tannins

• medium acidity

• deep color

• black fruit

• usually → easy drinking

• sometimes → oaky and complex