Traveling to the vineyards, the countryside was magnificent. The changing fall colors made the vistas just stunning.
The following video is one of the first ones I created while driving in Italy. It is a good view of how clean and tidy all the small towns are, however I was not very good at holding the phone steady so it is a bit shaky.
At the end of the video, we arrive at this amazing vista (pictures are after the video). If you are reading this is an email, you will need to go to my blog to view the video. https://brendahyde.blogspot.com
The Italian Wine Classification system is made up of four categories:
DOCG
DOC
IGT
VdT
Researching this information, I found a really good site, TheSpruce that explains the Italian system.
The DOCG classification denotes the highest quality recognition for Italian wines. It is comprised of a relatively limited number of first-class wines. Tuscany and Piedmont carry the most DOCG wines in Italy.
Wines that fall under the DOC category (also good) must be made in specified, government defined zones, in accordance with particular regulations that are intended to preserve the wine's character that is uniquely derived from Italy's individual regions. There are currently over 300 DOC wines in Italy, all adhering to specific vineyard trellising, irrigation and vivification requirements detailing which grapes may be grown and where along with aging requirements and alcohol limits.
Back in the States, we have had some Italian Super Tuscans and wanted to know more about them. Super Tuscans are an unofficial category of Tuscan wines, not recognized within the Italian wine classification system because the grapes used in their production are not originally from Italy. They are varieties imported and grown in Italy.
Here is an explanation that made sense to me from Wikipedia.
In the 1970s a new class of wines known in the trade as "Super Tuscans" emerged. These wines were made outside DOC/DOCG regulations but were considered of high quality and commanded high prices. Many of these wines became cult wines. In the reformation of the Italian classification system many of the original Super Tuscans now qualify as DOC or DOCG wines but some producers still prefer the declassified rankings or to use the Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT - grapes not typical of Italy) classification of Toscana.
Roberto sent us to visit the Tuscan vineyard of Poliziano. The Super Tuscan wine we tasted was Madrone di Lohsa, I.G.T. made up of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 10% Alicante. Cabernet Sauvignon is my favorite grape so now I understand why I like Italian Super Tuscan wines.
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| Poliziano also had some other excellent wines. |
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| Tuscany was very beautiful and driving was so much fun! |
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| The Tuscan countryside was filled with beautiful vistas and old villas. |
https://brendahyde.blogspot.com
In Umbria we visited two vineyards. Tenute Lunelli and Arnaldo Caprai.
The Lunelli vineyard was very different. The Lunelli family purchased the Tenuta Castelbuono estate in 2001 and hired Arnaldo Pomodoro, a well-known contemporary artist to design a new winery. Roberto told us it is the only winery inside of a sculpture. The wine was good and the building was unique. Their signature line is named “Ferrari” and we purchase one bottle to bring back with us.
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| Some of their wines are fermented inside clay jugs the ancient traditional style. |
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| The barrel room was quite amazing. The spiral form is the stairway leading down from the tasting room. |
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| The building was extremely unique. |
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| Their vines were turning colors and quite beautiful. |
When we arrived they were in the process of bottling the wine. This is a process I have never seen before. It was quite interesting. Here is a video of the process. If you are reading this in an email, you will need to go to my blog to view the video.
https://brendahyde.blogspot.com
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| Our favorite! |
Ciao,
Brenda
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