Title: WSET Level 3 / WSET Level 3 C28 - Central Italy

Front: Describe the topography of Central Italy
Back: South of the Po valley, the wine regions here are dominated by the Apennine Mountains, which run the length of the Italian peninsula

Front: Where in Central Italy are grapes usually planted?
Back: In the hills and valleys of the Apennine Mountain range

Front: How is temperature generally moderated within Central Italy?
Back: Either by the altitude of the Apennine foothills or coastal sea breezes

Front: Where in Italy is Tuscany?
Back: Stretching down the western coast of Central Italy

Front: How can Tuscany be topographically divided?
Back: Into three parts: The mountainous Chianti region in the northThe hills and valleys to the southThe flat coastal plain

Front: What is the dominant and most prestigious grape throughout the areas of Tuscany?
Back: Sangiovese
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Name: What is the dominant and most prestigious grape throughout t

Front: What are the main characteristics of Sangiovese in Tuscany?
Back: High tanninsHigh acidityAromas of red cherries, plums and dried herbsLate ripeningUsually aged in oak to soften tannins and sometimes add spicy flavours

Front: What kind of oak containers are used to age Sangiovese in Tuscany?
Back: Small barrels and/or larger casks
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Name: What kind of oak containers are used to age Sangiovese in Tu

Front: What aromas can Sangiovese develop with bottle age?
Back: Meaty and gamey aromas

Front: What colour of grapes is grown in Tuscany?
Back: Predominantly red, but some white is grown

Front: Where in Italy is Chianti?
Back: In the foothills of the Apennines between the cities of Pisa, Florence and Siena

Front: How is Chianti divided?
Back: Into seven sub-zones

Front: What is the dominant grape of Chianti?
Back: Sangiovese

Front: True of False: Wines of Chianti are often blends
Back: True

Front: How will producers of large volumes of Chianti, with grapes from the larger area, usually label their wines?
Back: Chianti DOCG
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Name: How will producers of large volumes of Chianti, with grapes

Front: How may higher quality Chianti producers label their wines?
Back: Depending on where the grapes are from, they may label their wines with the name of the sub-zone

Front: Which of Chianti's sub-zones are best known for their quality?
Back: Chianti Rufina DOCGChianti Colli Senesi DOCG
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Name: Which of Chiantis sub-zones are best known for their qualit

Front: What is unusual about Chianti Classico?
Back: It's NOT a sub-zone of Chianti

Front: Describe the vineyards of Chianti Classico
Back: At higher altitudes than those of Chianti

Front: What is the effect of Chianti Classico's higher vineyards?
Back: Greater acidityMore herbal aromas
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Name: What is the effect of Chianti Classicos higher vineyards?

Front: What is the role of ageing on Chianti Classico?
Back: Must be aged for 12 months before release

Front: What is the role of ageing for Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG?
Back: Must be aged for 24 months, with at least 3 months of bottle ageing
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Name: What is the role of ageing for Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG

Front: What is the highest designation for Chianti Classico wines?
Back: Gran Selezione

Front: How may a Chianti Classico qualify for Gran Selezione status?
Back: Grapes must be sourced from a single estateWines must be aged for six months longer than Riserva
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Name: How may a Chianti Classico qualify for Gran Selezione status

Front: What is the role of oak ageing for Gran Selezione wines in Chianti?
Back: There are no stipulations concerning oak ageing, so it is entirely up to the producer
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Name: What is the role of oak ageing for Gran Selezione wines in C

Front: What is the reality regarding oak ageing for Gran Selezione wines in Chianti?
Back: The vast majority of wines are matured in oak for at least part of the time before their release
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Name: What is the reality regarding oak ageing for Gran Selezione

Front: Describe the vineyards of Southern Tuscany
Back: Lower than the northWarmer climateCool, maritime breezes from south-west

Front: What are the best known appellations of Southern Tuscany?
Back: Brunello di Montalcino DOCGVino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG

Front: Describe the general difference between wines from this part of Tuscany and from further north
Back: More intense and fuller-bodied than those from Chianti
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Name: Describe the general difference between wines from this part

Front: What are the key legal stipulations for Brunello?
Back: The wines must be entirely SangioveseMust be aged for at least five years before release, with at least two years in oak

Front: What are the key stipulations for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG?
Back: Can be a blend of Sangiovese and other permitted varietiesMust be aged for a minimum of two years before release
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Name: What are the key stipulations for Vino Nobile di Montepulcia

Front: What may producers of Brunello or VNdM do with their legal classifications? Give an example of when they might do this?
Back: They can declassify they wines to DOCIf the vintage is particularly poor
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Name: What may producers of Brunello or VNdM do with their legal c

Front: What will Brunello or VNdM become if declassified?
Back: Rosso di Montalcino DOCRosso di Montepulciano DOC

Front: Describe the Tuscan coast
Back: It is relatively flat and cooled by sea-breezes

Front: What kinds of varieties are grown on the Tuscan coast?
Back: Black Bordeaux varieties and a number of other international varieties

Front: In which area did the first 'Super-Tuscan' come about?
Back: The coast
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Name: In which area did the first Super-Tuscan come about?

Front: What was the first Super-Tuscan made from?
Back: Cabernet Sauvignon

Front: What was groundbreaking about the first Super-Tuscan?
Back: It was sold at a premium price despite not being eligible for PDO status

Front: Why were Super-Tuscans so important?
Back: They were a turning point for Italian wines as they re-established Italy's reputation for excellence

Front: What varieties go into Super-Tuscans?
Back: Typically international varieties, but sometimes with Italian varieties as part of the blend

Front: How are Super-Tuscans usually labelled?
Back: Toscana IGTBolgheri DOCMaremma Toscana DOC

Front: What is special about Bolgheri DOC and Maremma Toscana DOC?
Back: The relatively new appellations permit wines to be made from entirely non-Italian varieties, such as Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah

Front: What is the climate of Umbria?
Back: Similar to Tuscany's but more continental without any influence from the Mediterranean

Front: Where is Umbria?
Back: Central Italy, between Tuscany and Marche on the respective coasts

Front: What is Umbria's best known wine?
Back: Orvieto DOC
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Name: What is Umbrias best known wine?

Front: What is Orvieto?
Back: A white wine, made from Grechetto, Trebbiano and often, a few other local grapes

Front: Describe Orvieto DOC wines
Back: Light bodyMedium to high acidityFlavours of ripe grapefruit and peaches

Front: How are the best examples of Orvieto often composed?
Back: They tend to be the examples with the most Grechetto in the blend

Front: How are Orvieto wines vinified?
Back: They are made protectively and undergo cool fermentation in stainless steel

Front: What is Umbria's most prestigious wine?
Back: Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
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Name: What is Umbrias most prestigious wine?

Front: What is Sagrantino di Montefalco made from?
Back: The thick-skinned Sagrantino grape

Front: What is the next region to the south of Tuscany?
Back: Lazio

Front: What is the best known wine of Lazio?
Back: Frascati DOC

Front: Where are the vineyards of Frascati DOC?
Back: The hills to the south of Rome

Front: What are the growing conditions like in Frascati DOC?
Back: Vineyards are cooled by altitude and a number of small nearby lakes

Front: What are the grapes of Frascati DOC?
Back: Malvasia and Trebbiano

Front: Describe wines of Frascati DOC
Back: Fresh and fruity in styleMedium bodyMedium to high acidityFlavours of citrus fruit, with Malvasia sometimes providing floral, orange blossom aromas

Front: Where is Marche?
Back: On the eastern side of the Apennines

Front: What wines is Marche best known for?
Back: White wines made from Verdicchio

Front: What is Marche's most famous wine from the Verdicchio grape?
Back: Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC
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Name: What is Marches most famous wine from the Verdicchio grape?

Front: Describe wines from the Verdicchio grape
Back: High acidityGreen apple and lemon flavoursSometimes notes of fennel and almondsUsually simple and fruity, but the best have greater concentration and can develop notes of honey and almonds with bottle age

Front: What are Marche's red wines typically made from?
Back: Usually blends of Montepulciano and Sangiovese
Other fields (not shown on cards):
Name: What are Marches red wines typically made from?

Front: What is the best known of Marche's red blends?
Back: Conero DOCG
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Name: What is the best known of Marches red blends?

Front: Which region is below Marche?
Back: Abruzzo

Front: For which variety is Abruzzo most famous?
Back: Montepulciano

Front: What is Abruzzo's most famous wine?
Back: Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC
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Name: What is Abruzzos most famous wine?

Front: Describe wines from the Montepulciano grape
Back: High levels of colour and tanninsMedium acidityFlavours of black plums and cherriesMany simple and fruity with no oak ageingMost concentrated examples matured for a short time in oak