Six Main Viticulture Regions Puglia Campania Piedmont Tuscany
Umbria Veneto
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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Italian Classification
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Umbria
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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
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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.
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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.
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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 winemakers 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.
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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.
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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?