Intro to Italian Wines

Six Main Viticulture Regions Puglia Campania Piedmont Tuscany Umbria Veneto

How we will cover regions Indigenous Grape Varieties Style of Wines Understand Italian DOCG classification system Climate Regional Historical Information that has shaped Wine Production Tasting

Four wines will be tasted per class Spitting is recommended Each class four 1.5 oz tastes will be offered Total served per class will be the equivalent of one 6 oz glass Rinsing glass is not recommended between tastes

General wine Information Great Whites wines come from Cold Climates Great Red wines come from Warm Climates Cold climates yields acidity within the final wine All grape juice is White Red wines fermented with skins, White wine do not Tannins exist in skins, seeds, and stems of Grapes

Classification Vino Da Tavola (VdT) is the lowest class of wine, a wine made by the producer as he sees fit to make it. There are few rules, other than that the stuff not be poisonous. Most made now is insipid, thin, weak, and acidic, the sort of wine that used to be sold in jugs and is now sold in tetrapacks.

Classification Vino a Indicazione Geografica (IGT) is a wine produced in a specific area. Time was, there was nothing special about most of it, though no more -- when the laws were changed to forbid putting the vintage on VdT wines, producers relabeled their alternative, Supertuscan, and what have you wines IGT.

Classification Vino a Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) is the Italian answer to the French AOC. DOC wines are produced in specific well-defined regions, according to specific rules designed to preserve the traditional wine-making practices of the individual regions. Thus, the rules for making Barolo differ markedly from those for making Chianti Classico. The winery can state the vineyard that the grapes came from, but cannot name the wine after a grape type (doing so would cause confusion, because there are some DOCs named after grape types, for example Brunello di Montalcino), and cannot use a name such as "Superior." Since a wine has to meet certain standards to qualify as DOC, the quality of Italian wines as a whole has improved since the first DOCs were established in the 1960s, though in some cases the rules drawn up by the commissions had unexpected effects -- Super Tuscans arose from the requirement (since dropped) that producers put white grapes in their Chianti Classico.Chianti Classico.

Classification Vino a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG): Similar to the DOC but more stringent. Allowable yields are generally lower, and DOCG wines must pass an evaluation of a tasting committee before they can be bottled. The establishment of DOCG wines has again resulted in an overall improvement in the quality of Italian wines -- it doesn't make sense for a producer whose vineyards are in a DOCG area to produce wines that aren't good enough to qualify. The only drawback is that in some cases the areas are too large (all of Chianti, about half of Tuscany, is DOCG for example, despite fluctuations in quality from place to place).

Italian Classification

Umbria

Umbria DOCGs Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG Sagrantino di Montefalco Granted DOCG status in 1992 and made in Umbria, Montefalco Sagrantino is a powerful wine with great depth. Through increased care during vinification and attention to ageing practices, these Sagrantino wines have evolved from highly tannic and rustic into wines of respected quality.The native black grape Sagrantino, grown around the town of Montefalco, is used to make wines of distinctive splendor in dry (secco) and sweet styles. Required to be at least 95% Sagrantino, both DOCG wines must be aged for 30 months, with the secco spending at least 12 months of that in oak barrels. The sweet wine is a passito, produced from dried grapesDOCG status in 1992 and made in Umbria, Montefalco Sagrantino is a powerful wine with great depth. Through increased care during vinification and attention to ageing practices, these Sagrantino wines have evolved from highly tannic and rustic into wines of respected quality.The native black grape Sagrantino, grown around the town of Montefalco, is used to make wines of distinctive splendor in dry (secco) and sweet styles. Required to be at least 95% Sagrantino, both DOCG wines must be aged for 30 months, with the secco spending at least 12 months of that in oak barrels. The sweet wine is a passito, produced from dried grapes

Umbria DOCGs Torgiano Rosso Riserva Within the DOC 160 ha (499 acres) in the nearby hills received a special designation to produce a DOCG red wine. Grapes designated for this wine are further restricted to 10 tonnes/ha, a minimum alcohol level of 12.5% and must be aged at least 3 years prior to release. The blending components are mostly similar to the DOC wine in regards to the percentages of Sangiovese and Canaiolo but differ in that now collectively Trebbiano, Ciliegiolo and Montepulciano can not account for more than 10% of the blend.

Notable wines of Umbria Torgiano DOC-The Italian Wine DOCG around Torgiano produced red and white blends, as well as Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines, provided the named grapes account for at least 85% of the wine. Grapes for DOC production are limited to harvest yields of 12 tonnes/ha with finished red wines needing a minimum alcohol level of 12% and finished whites needing at least 10.5% alcohol. The DOC red wines are blends of 50-70% Sangiovese,15-30% Canaiolo, 10% Trebbiano, and up to 10% of Ciliegiolo and Montepulciano The whites are blends of 50-70% Trebbiano, 15-35% Grechetto and up to 15% of Malvasia and Verdello.

Notable wines of Umbria Montefalco Rosso DOC-must contain between 60% to 70% Sangiovese, along with a requirement of 10% to 15% Sagrantino, and the winemaker’s choice of other red grapes for the remainder (up to 30%). This allowance of other red grapes allows many Umbrian winemakers the ability to beef up their Montefalco rosso with interesting international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and MerlotMontefalco rosso must be aged a minimum of 18 months. Many wineries in Montefalco that make profound Sagrantino di Montefalco also make Montefalco rosso. The allowance of between 10% to 15% Sagrantino creates a Sangiovese- based wine with more tannins and body than many other reds of Italy. The result is a Sangiovese with some character and complexity.

Notable wines of Umbria Orvieto DOC and Orvieto Classico DOC is an Italian wine region located in Umbria, centered on the comune of Orvieto. It is primarily known for its white wines made from a blend of mostly Grechetto and Trebbiano, which is sold under the Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) Orvieto and Orvieto Classico. The region has been producing wine since the Middle Ages, when Orvieto wine was known as a sweet, golden-yellow wine. Today's white Orvieto is dry, but a semi-sweet style, known as Orvieto Abboccato, and dolce (sweet), are also produced in small quantities.Italian wine region located in Umbria, centered on the comune of Orvieto. It is primarily known for its white wines made from a blend of mostly Grechetto and Trebbiano, which is sold under the Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) Orvieto and Orvieto Classico. The region has been producing wine since the Middle Ages, when Orvieto wine was known as a sweet, golden-yellow wine. Today's white Orvieto is dry, but a semi-sweet style, known as Orvieto Abboccato, and dolce (sweet), are also produced in small quantities.

Tasting What fruits are present? Dark red and black fruits for red wines White and light color fruits for white wines Is there acidity in the wine? Do we detect other flavors? Such as flowers or herbs, or earthy aromas. Is the wine balanced? Does the wine have length?

Palazzone, Dubini Bianco, 2013

Palazzone Terre Vineate, Orvieto Classico, 2012

Sferra Avallo Umbria Rosso, 2011

Cantina Fratelli Pardi Montefalco Rosso, 2010

Italia

Wine Expenses Summary UmbriaBottleClass Palazzone, Dubini Bianco, 2013$7.99$23.97 Palazzone Terre Vineate, Orvieto Classico, 2012$10.67$32.01 Sferra Avallo Umbria Rosso, 2011$8.50$25.50 Cantina Fratelli Pardi Montefalco Rosso, 2010$13.99$41.97 Total $123.45