top of page
Search

Ep 29: TNWG Wine Times: A Pocket Guide to Central Italy

After feedback on previous, recent editions of the TNWG Wine Times, it seems like I became a little fixated in the details - SO - changing the format slightly, we are heading into Central Italy this week but from a major headline level .... not with a microscope!


Additionally, a number have said why are the 'Announcements' so far down on the newsletter - so here we go.


📢📢 ANNOUNCEMENTS 📢📢

A number of things coming up on the horizon in the land of The Northern Wine Guy to look out for and be aware of:


🎙️Not ONE but TWO Podcasts delivered this week and rolled out. We have the wonderful Valli Wine with a special shout out to head winemaker, Jen Parr - all the way from Central Otago, NZ appearing on The Andy and Olly Show with as ever, my co-host Oliver Shaw. Giving us an enlightening view on the Central Otago region - which really is worth a listen for all those NZ Wine Lovers!!


🎙️Then also we have the wonderful Anne McHale MW, who I was fortunate to catch up with on The Northern Wine Guy Podcast Show. Discussing how she got into the wine industry and how she has progressed over her career to running her own business - and Diplomatherapy for those WSET School London students! To join Anne's email list with free study and exam technique tips for Diploma students, visit https://annemchale.com/diploma-emails/


🍷🧀 For those in Sheffield, the latest Wine and Cheese Event in the new Cambridge St Collective can be found here. It will be a first Wine and Cheese tutoring - available for all in the area to join. Follow the link here to book your tickets for Thursday 18th July at 7pm:


🍷🍽️ EXCLUSIVE - For those in Sheffield and surrounding areas or visiting, keep your eyes peeled for an announcement on 'The Sheffield Table' - which will be an exclusive private chef and unique wine list opportunities coming from the new development, Leah's Yard. More to be revealed shortly!!


🍷🤔🍇Finally, if you are on social media outside of LinkedIn, take a look at Instagram and follow the account @thenorthernwineguy which will give you more updated announcements on tastings, wines tried, wines reviewed and so much more.


➡️ Remember, if you are looking for corporate wine or fine dining and wine events, then let us know. The Northern Wine Guy is UK wide and can facilitate requests, just drop us a line or DM us for more information. It doesn't stop there, we also do Fine Wine Investing too and can assist there as an asset class too!

➡️ Wine marketing, Wine ambassador roles, Wine Menu redesigns and Hospitality in-house training are also available on request.


Now to Central Italy....


Central Italy

Central Italy covers Tuscany, Marche, Umbria, Lazio and Abruzzo. 

🍇 The main grape varietal is ..... SANGIOVESE !




🌍TUSCANY🌍

The climate is warm Mediterranean, adequate rainfall, with hazards of spring frost, hail and rain during the harvest period. Summer drought should also not be discounted!!


➡️ SANGIOVESE - accounts for 10% of ALL vines grown in Italy as a WHOLE! Typically wines are medium intensity ruby, red cherry, red plum and herbal notes. Medium to full bodied, high acidity and high tannin. Budding early, it ripens late. Best locations are 200-550m in altitude and best on shale and limestone soils.


🤔 DID YOU KNOW? 

The Chianti Classico Project 2000 produced 7 clones that have been widely planted. The aim was smaller berries, thicker skins and more open bunches to produce deeper colour, greater flavour intensity and greater disease resistance! Pretty cool!


Other Tuscan wine varietals to know of:

🍇 TREBBIANO TOSCANO - late budding white, same as Ugni Blanc in France and used for making brandy. Declining in popularity!

🍇CANAOILO NERO - used a lot pre 19th Century, adds red berried fruit, light tannins and floral notes.


The changes in winemaking with Sangiovese have led to a few things changing for your consumption in recent years:


  • Skin contact previously was 30 days or more, now its more 7-10 days for easy drinking or 15-25 for high tannin wines.

  • Previously was aged in neutral casks for 3-4 years, but now we have stainless steel



Denominations to look out for in Tuscany:


  • Chianti DOCG (central Tuscany), hills but below 300m, 70-100% Sangiovese.

  • Sub-zones: Chianti Rufina DOCG, Chianti Colli Senese DOCG, Chianti Classico DOCG.

  • Brunello di Montalcino DOCG (southern Tuscany) initially 11 producers and 65ha in 60s now as big as 250 producers and 2,100ha today.

  • Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG (SE Tuscany) 250-600m, 70-100% Sangiovese, mandatory 12-24mths in oak

  • Morellino de Scansano DOCG (southern Tuscany) warm area so riper fruit content, 85% Sangiovese required.

  • Bolgheri DOC (Tuscan coast) - red Bordeaux blends are 80% of the area. Initially labelled 'vino da tavola' are now a DOC.

  • Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC - single estate, Tenuta San Guido DOC producing the world renowned Sassicaia, min 80% Cab Sav and min 2yr ageing with 18mths in oak.

  • Maremma Toscana DOC (southern Tuscany) - wide area and increasing production 

  • Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG (western side of Chianti) - white production and first ever DOC in Italy in 1966.



And we cannot finish Tuscany without pointing out VIN SANTO 🍷

The amber coloured sweet wine made using the appassimento method!

Exports in Tuscany make up a HUGE amount, with nearly 81% of its production - mostly to the USA, Canada and UK.


💡 TNWG Tuscany Tips 💡


  • Vast array of Chianti wines and more generally Tuscan. Some are very high profile like Sassicaia and Tignanello which are fine wine investing wines - and for those looking at investment, are not bad ideas for some diversity from French names.

  • Look for the smaller DOCs above, the less well known which will show better value for money for those looking at good wines to drink at lower levels.

  • Chianti vs Chianti Classico - look to up tick for only a few pounds for the better quality Classico where you can, it will be worth it!

  • Look at the Italian wine bottles, you are looking at the neck of wines and look out for DOC and DOCG to show improving levels and more regulation required to be met to produce better standard wines.



🌍MARCHE🌍

Where is it? Well it is in Central Italy, extending from the Adriatic Sea to the Apennines. Mostly red wines made from Montepulciano and Sangiovese, with whites from Verdicchio. 

🍇VERDICCHIO - needs space, with the first 4 buds sterile. Late ripening variety that holds good acidity, pale lemon in colour, medium- intensity, blossom, apple, lemon, fennel and almond notes.

Main Denominations:


  • Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC - low hills west of Ancona

  • Verdicchio di Matelica DOC - higher zone in foothills of the Apennines.


🍇 PECORINO - mostly in southern Marche areas. Sterile buds by the trunk, wines tend to be high in alcohol, with high acidity. Herbal notes of sage, thyme, mint, crisp apple and pear. Medium bodied.

🍇 PASSERINA - good disease resistance, also ripens late, high acidity too. Ripe lemon and yellow apple fruited wines.

🍇 MONTEPULCIANO - key black grape, high quality tend to be 75-80% of the blend. Ripens late and uneven. Deep ruby in colour, with 2 distinct styles - ripe medium intensity red cherry wines or pronounced intensity big with oak wines.

Key Appellations:


  • Rosso Piceno, Rosso Piceno Superiore DOC, Offida Rosso DOCG, Rosso Conero DOC and Conero Riserva DOCG.



💡 TNWG Marche Tips 💡


  • Be aware that there are two very distinctively different types of Montepulciano created. So make sure you are asking the TNWG directly or via your wine shop locally, which style the producer has made here.

  • Pecorino is a really interesting wine to try and at a good price point too, with those herbal notes, worth a look if you can find one, exports are not large!



🌍UMBRIA🌍

Where is it? Landlocked in south of Tuscany, predominantly hilly backdrop. With the two main wines - a white wine from Orvieto DOC and a red from Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG.


🍇 GRECHETTO - Grechetto di Orvieto - a white, thick skinned grape, low to medium lemon and white flower aromas, high acidity and medium body. 

🍇SAGRANTINO - black variety of Umbria, requiring a lot of sunshine to ripen. Best are on hillsides of 220-470m altitude. Very tannic, deep ruby in colour, medium+ to pronounced blackberry and red plum fruit, high acidity and high tannin, requiring long ageing!


Key Denominations:


  • Orvieto DOC (western edge) - 60% Trebbiano Toscano and/or Grechetto, and 100-550m alt.

  • Rosso di Montefalco DOC - blend of Sangiovese (60-70% in blend), min ageing 18mths.

  • Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - must be 100% Sagrantino, aged for 37mths, with at least 1yr in wood.



💡 TNWG Umbria Tips 💡


  • Trying the Grechetto grape - then you have to get a wine from Orvieto, the home of Grechetto for those white wine lovers.

  • If you can find it and you like heavy, full bodied Italian reds, then at a better price point, try looking for the Sagrantino - not a lot in the UK but worth hunting for to compare!



🌍LAZIO🌍

The area that includes the great city of Rome! Principally known for its white wines (70% production). Mainly from Malvasia and Trebbiano Toscano. 

🍇 MALVASIA BIANCA DI CANDIA - white variety with good disease resistance and high yields. Medium- intensity lemon and apple, medium alcohol and medium+ acidity, light body.

🍇 MALVASIA DEL LAZIO - Cross of a local varietal with Muscat of Alexandria, produces grapey, peach flavoured wines.

🍇CESANESE - black, semi-aromatic, very late ripening, high yielding. Pronounced aromas of red cherry, rose petal, medium tannins and high alcohol.


Key Appellations:


  • Frascati DOC - the 2 Malvasia's above have to make up 70%.

  • Frascati Superiore DOCG - same rules, but lower yield and aged for min 1yr.

  • Castelli Romani DOC - the broader area around the south of Rome with higher yields.



💡 TNWG Lazio Tips 💡


  • A pretty cheap region overall and with lesser known varietals, although 60% of Frascati is exported and hence is seen quite a bit in UK shops at entry level and upwards.



🌍ABRUZZO🌍

Where is it? It is on the Eastern coast and south of Marche, north of Puglia. The 5th largest region in production volume in Italy! Montepulciano dominates in the region.

Three main wines from here:


  • Trebbiano d'Abruzzo - crisp white, high acidity and unoaked usually.

  • Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo - medium to medium+ bodied rose

  • Montepulciano d'Abruzzo - red.


🍇TREBBIANO ABRUZZESE - mid to late ripening, vigorous varietal.

Key Denominations:


  • Trebbiano d'Abruzzo DOC - Valentini deemed one of Italy's finest white wines.

  • Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo DOC - min 85% Montepulciano in the blend, Medium intensity pink.

  • Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC - two styles as per above. There is a lot of wine here so let's break it down:

  • A) First level is on hilly sidtes, light to medium concentration

  • B) Second, we get 5 subzones, less quantity allowed and 18mths ageing, with 9 in oak

  • C) Colline Teramane Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOCG - aged 2yrs with 1yr in oak.



💡 TNWG Abruzzo Tips 💡


  • If you like your Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wines then note the above, there are THREE levels of quality even within the DOC - try and seek out one from each level and compare on a tasting between them to see which you like most!



🗞️ LATEST DRINKS INDUSTRY ARTICLES 🗞️


TOP ARTICLE OF THE WEEK:

Having been to the Old Vines Conference a week or so ago, this is close to my heart. The 'grandparents of vines' as I call them and a call out to vineyards to be registered. For anyone who is reading this and knows of a place with vines 35yrs or older, get signed up ! By doing so you are joining the club and upping efforts to protect the world's heritage vineyards.


OTHER ARTICLES THAT CAUGHT MY EYE THIS WEEK:


📈 MARKETS IN BRIEF 📉

On the week (as at 28th June 14:45 LDN) changes:


EQUITIES: ⬇️ FTSE 100 down 0.4%; ⬆️ DAX up 0.39%; ⬆️ S&P 500 up 0.6%; ⬆️ Nikkei 225 up 2.5%; ⬆️ Dow Jones up 0.4%;


COMMODITIES: ⬇️ Brent Oil down 1.3% ; ⬆️ Crude Oil up 0.5% ; ⬇️ Gold down 0.65%; ⬇️ Silver down 0.89%; ⬇️ Copper down 1.9%


BONDS (in yield terms): ⬆️ UK 2yrs higher 0.0165%; ⬆️ UK 10yrs higher 0.09%; ⬆️ German 10yrs higher 0.046%, ⬇️ US 2yrs lower 0.069%; ⬆️ US 10yrs higher 0.014%;


A week of political upheaval is my best description this week. French elections are going to be eagerly watched this weekend, Biden vs Trump's first presidential debate appeared to be entirely and scarily one sided (Trump dominant) and the UK elections ebbs closer with a lacklustre performance from heads of parties. 


French government bonds have been in freefall largely over the past few weeks following the snap election called by Macron. The far right seemingly getting more support than anticipated, more understanding will no doubt come out of this weekend's elections. 


In the UK, the BOE are on hold currently but my view is we still a reduction in interest rates shortly after the elections (August probably the most likelihood at this point). So keep sticking those funds into the highest earning savers you can find for now, and utilise those ISA allowances to the max!


Nvidia has been talked about a lot in the US tech sector, given its significant rise in size and market cap. Tech stocks are still looking favourable near term, the debate last night suggested Trump is now more likely to gain power will only bolster the strength of US equities near term although potentially consider taking some partial profits into the elections in case of a knee jerk response.


Europe still looks to be in wait and see mode, despite cutting first. The headlines out of the members doesn't fill me with a huge amount of conviction that the cutting cycle is clear or that a forward path has truly been correctly mapped. 


And finally an interesting article from a study on fine wine investing for Americans here:https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2024/06/wealthy-us-millennials-are-twice-as-likely-to-invest-in-wine-than-gen-x-or-boomers-new-study-finds/ - for what it's worth, fine wine investing is for any and everyone who wants to look at diversification across fine wine investing. Here is my piece that I wrote a couple of months ago and happy to take anyone through the process of how to fine wine invest, should they wish to learn:


Back in a couple of weeks - it is time for a well earned rest for The Northern Wine Guy!


Cheers 🍷🍷


Andy


 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page