Ep. 337 Jumbo Shrimp Guide | Central Italy

The Italian wine podcast presents the jumbo shrimp guide to Italian wine, a new book for curious wine lovers, narrated in weekly installments. Join us on our journey to Italian wine. Hello, and welcome to another installment of the jumbo shrimp guide to Italian wine presented by the Italian wine podcast. As always, my name is Joy Livingston, your narrator for this series. The jumbo shrimp guide to Italian wine is intended as a quick lighthearted crash course on Italian wine. The material provides a great opportunity for serious wine dollars to refresh on the basics or to use as a reference. At the same time, we hope to bring new fans of Italian wine up to speed. If you're wondering how to get a copy of the book, the kindle version is available on Amazon and the paperback is available from positive press dot net. We'll also send you a complimentary paperback copy if you donate any amount to the Italian wine podcast while supplies last. Find details at Italian wine podcast dot com or in our social media channels. Our topic this week is Central Italy. So pour yourself a glass, sit back, relax, and join this journey through Italian wine. Central Italy. The central part of Italy is composed of five regions, Tuscany, umbria, Marque, Latcio, and Abruzzo. Historically famed Tuscany produces red wines from a single variety or blended varieties of San Jose and Camayolo. As well as powerful wines from international varieties such as cabernet sauvignon merlot and cabernet Fron. In Marque, most of the notable citrusy riesling like age worthy white wines are from verdicchio. In the landlocked region of umbria, the typical grapes are Grechetto for vivacious white's Antanic Sanarantino for red. Laccio is also characterized by Grechetto and shares this variety with its neighboring region, umbria. Latio, together with Abruzzo, both coastal regions to the tywinian Sea and the Adriatic Sea respectively, shares the dominance for Montepulciano. Tuscany. Tuscany, along with Piamonte, is the region where Italy's greatest wines are considered to be made. It is a large Hilly region with huge plantings and can boast many DOCGs and Docs. Characteristic wines are from the south of Florence, Kianti and Kianti Glasgow, south of Sienna, Montalcino, and Montepulciano, and the hilly coasts of Bolgari. Whilst the temperate climate is ideal for reds, whites are also found here, such as the first ever awarded dock of Vernacha di san gimignano. Its prestige dates back to the sixteenth century. In fact, Italy's noble wines are from this region, Monteppuciano and Bernaccia di san gimignano. The latter having been recognized as Italy's first doc Wines in nineteen sixty six. The importance of this region is also reflected in having been the subject of the first vineyard donation in Italy as early as seventeen sixteen by the Grand Duke Cosimo medici. Most of Tuscany's red wines are produced using sangiovese, canagiolo, and chile giolo. Whereas, the whites are from Trebiano toscano, Malvasia Bianca, Vernacha, and Ansonica. Tuscany is the birthplace of the famous Supertuscan wines made using mostly the international varieties of cabernet sauvignon merlo and cabernet Fron with some San Jose. These wines from the warm rolling coastal hills of Bulgaria were produced to be a rival to the great wines of Bordeaux. Although originally only allowed to be designated as an I GT, these are now some of the most prestigious and expensive wines, not only in Italy, but the world. Wines were made in this region earlier than etruscan times. And in fifteen forty nine, a letter from Santel Lacerio, a Renaissance Somelier to the Pope mentioned Pope Paul the Third's favorite wines included an umbrian wine, Succano from Orbieto. Umbria is landlocked and hilly, and even though a small region, it has a high density of vineyards. The mountain ranges protect the vineyards from the cold winter winds, and in general, it has a mild climate. The region is best known for the Sanarantino de monte falco DOCG, made from the highlytanic Sanrentino grape. These wines are rich and powerful with fantastic aging potential. The region's other red grape varieties include Monteputiano, canaiolo, and chili giolo. While the focus has historically been on Sagrantino wines, umbria does have a native white grape. This is mainly found in the south of the region and the Orvieto doc remains the region's largest accounting for an amazing eighty percent of wine produced. Interestingly, thanks to Lake Corvara in Orvieto, there is a microclimate that is particularly suited to the development of sweet noble rot wines. And this is one of the few Viticulture areas where noble rot occurs abundantly and frequently. Marque. Whilst the Marque region was recognized in Roman times for Vino Piciano, a wine made from sangroveza and Monte Puciano grapes. The region has been timelessly known for its native white grape, Vericchio. Marquche is mostly hilly with most of its vineyards located on well suited slopes. The region benefits from the Adriatic sea and numerous rivers that moderate temperatures for the vines. The majority of the region's plantings are Verdicchio, but there is a percentage of Montepo channel and San Jose. Whilst Marche has numerous doc and DOCGs, the focus in recent years has been on those of Verdicchio Del Castel de Diazi and Verdicchio de Matelica with these exceptional wines really putting the region on the global wine map. For red wines, the most well known tend to be the Montepo Chano and sangiovese based blends of Conero and Roso Picciano. Great vines and wines in Latcio predate the arrival of the Romans. Italian poet Virgil mentions the cultivation of vines by the Sabines. The people who populated Latcio, then known as Leisham prior to Roman invasion in his epic work via meid. However, as the Roman Empire expanded, wine became the center of economy and daily life. After the period of Filoxera in the twentieth century, the region lost sight of quality and focused on the number of wines to produce. However, now things are getting back in shape as winemakers have refocused on the characteristics of indigenous grapes and their ability to produce quality wines. Most of the vineyards or lazio are on hill slopes near to a lake. This location has a particular soil that helps contribute to the grapes potential aroma and sugar. Whilst rain is scarce, the temperatures remain mild. Lacio's most important native grape is, which is the basis of excellent wines, such as the, d'afile, doc, and Frascati superior, DOCG. White wines in Laccio are produced mainly using Malvasia de Laccio and Trebiano grapes from Monteviascone, an area known for the infamous s, s, s, est, doc wines. The wines from Abruzzo date back to the iron age, they were massively cultivated by etruscans and then adapted by Roman patricians. Abrusso is dominated by mountains and overlooks the Adriatic sea, a positive influence that aids in moderating the region's temperature. Montepo channel is abrusso's king of red grapes. It represents half of the grapevines planted in the region. Indeed, the only DOCG is Montepo channel, Davruzzo Colini Terimane. This is followed by a white grape called Trebiano Abruccese. Pequorino is one of the region's grapes to watch out for with its fantastic notes of lemon drop sage and rosemary. One must never forget to try the other docks such as Cera sula Monteciano, Davruzzo doc, one of the few docs dedicated to Rosay wines. Wines to try. The name is derived from the fame of Greek wines of ancient Rome. Often when speaking of, people are actually referring to two unrelated varieties often blended together, and aka pinoleto. The latter is most likely related to Trebiano. Thus, it is better not to refer to it simply as Creketo. These wines are found in both Emilia Romagna and umbria. The key umbria dock of Orbieto must have a minimum of sixty percent Grequito and or Trebiano toscana. Traditionally, Orbieto produces a late harvest, noble rot wine from this grape. The notable DOCG is found in Emilia Romania, the coli bolognese pinolletto DOCG. Tasting note. Generally still and dry, the wine has a quaffable citrus scent indicating notes of white blossoms, green apple, and pear. This vivacity is complimented by its acidity. Butchitis examples from umbria can be complex with savory notes of almonds and hints of orange marmalade. This noble Italian grape is capable of giving highly age worthy wine named after the color green verde. This grape is mostly associated with the market and the Venittal. Famous wines are Verdicchio de Castelli Diaz doc and Reserva DOCG. And Verdicchio de Matelica doc and Reserva docG from the market and lugana doc from the Veneto. The grape can adapt to different sites it ripens slowly whilst maintaining high acidity, which helps in ageability and complexity. Tasting note. Pale straw yellow with a green changing color, typical aromas and flavors are lemon zest sweet almond and white flowers supported by medium plus to high acid. When aged, it can develop a riesling like flintiness, one of the few Italian whites that can age well in oak to enhance aging and complexity. Pecorino. Pecorino was virtually extinct until it was revived by the Cocci garifornia state in Market in the nineteen eighties, and it has increased almost fourfold in plantings in the first decade of this century. The name comes from Pequora, which means sheep and Italian. Pequodino refers to sheep herders who ate the grapes while tending their flocks. It prefers mountain conditions and manages to maintain its acidity during ripening, a vital characteristic in times of climate change. Tasting note. High acid is Picquodino's Hallmark. It is delicately herbal with sage mint time and balsamic nuances. As well as pear, crisp apple, and green melon. Low yields result in highly concentrated and high alcohol wines, upward of fourteen point five percent. Reductive winemaking can give lemon fig and herbal notes whilst maintaining body and a rich texture. Thank you for listening to this installment of the jumbo shrimp guide to Italian wine. We'll see you again next Thursday and remember. The kindle version of the book is available on Amazon and the paperback is available from positive press dot net. You can also get a complimentary paperback copy by donating any amount to the Italian wine podcast while supplies last. Find Italian wine podcast on Facebook and Instagram. Our Twitter handle is at ita wine podcast and check out at mama jumbo shrimp two two two on TikTok. This has been the jumbo shrimp Guide to Italian wine presented by the Italian wine podcast, an advance listened to the Italian wine story. Join us next week as we continue our narrative journey.