Wine, Wit, and Wisdom

Ponte di Tiberio (the Bridge of Tiberius), Rimini

The province of Rimini is tucked into the southern corner of the region of Emilia Romagna, bordering the Adriatic Sea. It is just south of the province of Forlì-Cesena and wraps around the tiny enclave of San Marino (to the south); the rest of the southern border is shared with the region of Marches.

Its capital city—also named Rimini—is recognized as one of the leading beach resorts of all of Italy. The city was founded by the Romans in 268 BCE and is well-known for its numerous Roman and Renaissance monuments (including a Roman amphitheater) and museums (covering artifacts both ancient and modern). The city also features in a number of famous films—which might be expected, as it is the birthplace of Federico Fellini himself.

The province of Rimini has produced wine since the Roman times and continues to produce a range of wine and wine styles—some from locally specific grape varieties rarely seen outside of the area. The large Colli di Rimini DOC was created in 1996 and covers an area along the coastal plain and into the foothills of the Alps.

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NEWS FLASH (for wine students): The name of the Colli di Rimini appellation was recently changed (as of September 2022) to Rimini DOC.

The Rimini DOC is approved for two basic styles of blended wine—bianco (white) and rosso (red)—as well as four specific varietals. These are discussed below:

• Rimini Bianco: This is a dry, light- to medium-bodied white wine produced using a minimum of 30% Trebbiano. Up to 60% may comprise Bombino Bianco or Sangiovese (vinified as a white wine); the remainder (up to 10%) may be any white grape suitable for the region.
• Rimini Rosso: Rimini Rosso is a dry, medium- to full-bodied wine based on (at least 30%) Sangiovese. It may contain up to 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and/or Syrah. Up to 10% of the blend may comprise Alicante, Montepulciano, Petit Verdot, and/or Rebo (a Merlot X Teroldego cross).
• Rimini Cabernet Sauvignon: This is a dry, medium- to full-bodied red wine based on a minimum of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon.  (A super-Emilian, perhaps?)
• Rimini Sangiovese: This is a dry, medium- to medium-plus-bodied red wine based on a minimum of 85% Sangiovese.
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  Rimini Biancame: This is a dry, medium-bodied white wine produced using a minimum of 85% Biancame. Biancame is a rare grape—it is estimated there are only 5,000 acres/2,080 hectares planted worldwide; most of these are found in the area around Marches and Emilia-Romagna. It is sometimes known as Bianchello, and as such is the star of the (quite obscure) Bianchello del Metauro DOC of northern Marches.

• Rimini Rebola: This white wine—which may be produced either as a dry wine or a sweet wine (via the passito/dried grape production process)—is made using a minimum of 85% Grechetto Gentile. Grechetto Gentile is native to Emilia-Romagna, also known as Grechetto di Todi, formerly known as Rebola, and known in certain appellations as Pignoletto.

Alas, unless you are in Italy, it may be difficult to find wine from the Rimini DOC. Sounds like a great excuse for a road trip!

References/for more information:

• Extract from the EU Journal-Name Change Rimini DOC
• Rimini DOC-Name Change-Italy Ministry of Agriculture
• Disciplinaire-Rimini DOC
• Click here for a wine map of Emilia-Romagna, via Federdoc

Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org

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Wine classification systems are a big deal in Bordeaux. Even beginning wine students are familiar with the area’s famous Classification of 1855, and advanced students can tell tales of the Crus Classés of Graves (1953), the Cru Artisan (2002), and the Cru Bourgeois (2020).

And then there is the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé, established in 1954 and positioned to be more modern and democratic, subject to reclassification every ten years. The ranking has, however, been met with a great deal of controversy in recent years, beginning with rumblings that the system has become overly complex and politicized. This was followed by a dizzying plethora of court cases and legal challenges that nearly annulled the classifications of 2006 and 2012, and by the time the 2020s rolled around, many people were wondering how the system would even survive.

The past few years have brought about even more controversy as three of the region’s top-rated Châteaux—Château Angélus, Château Ausone, and Château Cheval-Blanc—opted out of the system and declined to submit applications for the 2022 rankings.

As such, there has been much debate about the future of the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé. However, now we know: just this morning (September 8, 2022), France’s Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité (INAO) has spoken, and the new classification has been released. Two properties—Château Figeac and Château Pavie—earned the coveted top ranking and are now recognized as Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé A. Note: Château Pavie thus retained its “A” level designation from the previous classifications, and Château Figeac was promoted from the “B” classification it had previously earned.

An additional twelve properties earned the designation of Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé B, while another 71 are hereby recognized as Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé. Click here for a complete listing of the new rankings, as well as further information from the INAO.

Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org

Seven Sisters Country Park, East Sussex

Effective today (July 5, 2022), the UK has recognized its first post-Brexit protected designation of origin (PDO) for wine—the Sussex PDO. This designation is approved by the UK’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and applies to still and sparkling wine made in the area historically known as Sussex, referring to the present-day counties of East Sussex and West Sussex.

East Sussex and West Sussex are located in the far southeast of England, along the English Channel coast. They are bordered (to the north, east, and west) by the counties of Kent, Surrey, and Westchester. The area—which has a long history of grape and wine production—is known for its cool climate, high degree of sunshine (at 1,750 hours of sunshine a year, a bit higher than most of England) and chalk soils.

Sussex PDO sparkling wine may be either white or rosé and must be made using the traditional method of sparkling wine production. The wines must be “made principally” using Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Arbane, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Petite Meslier, and Pinot Noir Précoce. Varying levels of sweetness are allowed.

• Other requirements for use of the Sussex Sparkling Wine PDO include the following:
  • No less than 3.5 atm of pressure
  • Minimum 11% abv
  • Minimum of 12 months aging (in the bottle) on the lees; 15 months of total bottle aging before release
  • Blanc de Blancs must contain a minimum of 90% Chardonnay
  • Blanc de Noirs must contain a minimum of 90% Pinot Noir and/or Pinot Meunier
  • Wine must be approved by a tasting panel

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The range of still wines produced under the Sussex PDO are described as “crisp dry whites to fruity red wines and elegant rosé.”  A substantial list of grapes is allowed for use in still wines produced using the Sussex PDO (there are 24, to be exact). These include the following: Acolon, Auxerrois, Bacchus, Chardonnay, Dornfelder, Gamay, Huxelrebe, Muller-Thurgau, Orion, Ortega, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir Précoce, Regent, Regner, Reichensteiner, Riesling, Rondo, Roter Veltliner, Schonburger, Siegerrebe, and Solaris.

• Other requirements for still wines produced under the Sussex PDO include the following:
  • Minimum 10% abv
  • Wine must be approved by a tasting panel

Leading wine estates in the area include Nyetimber, Rathfinney Estate, Bolney Wine Estate, and Artelium.

Note: This designation pertains to products distributed within the UK and is not (at this time) recognized by the EU. The UK retains its previously approved, EU-designated appellations of origin including English Wine PDO, Welsh Wine PDO, and Scotch Whisky GI.

References/for more information:

• Sussex Wine PDO – Product Specification – UK Scheme
• Sussex – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org