Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Field studies on different training systems,
bud loads, yields, and dates of harvest have all
helped in shifting Trebbiano Toscano cultiva-
tion to a more quality-oriented direction. For
example, a three-year comparison by Di Vaio,
Pasquarella, Scaglione, Boselli, and Forlani
(1998) between two bud loads (eleven and
twenty-two) and two different training systems
(long and short) of Trebbiano Toscano in Cam-
pania gave interesting results. Reduction in
bud load gave rise to longer shoots and an
increase in the soluble solid content of the must
at harvest, while reducing yield per plant. With
the same bud load, short pruning led to greater
vigor, less productivity, and a reduction in must
sugar content. Comparative analysis showed
that long pruning combined with the lower bud
load provided the best balance between vegeta-
tive and productive activity.
In general, Trebbiano Toscano is character-
ized by abundant and regular productivity due
to the high bunch weight and good fertility.
Trebbiano Toscano has good tolerance for
spring frost since it has a late budding, and
though it needs plenty of sunlight and heat and
long growing seasons to ripen fully, it can adapt
to many conditions due to its rusticity. It's very
easy to recognize this variety in vineyards, as its
bunch is medium-large, cylindrical (at times
cylindrical-conical), and quite long. It can be
more or less compact and winged, and very
often has a bifurcated tip. There are offi cially
fi fteen recognized clones of Trebbiano Toscano
(R4, Santa Lucia 30, I-T-N 8, CSV-AP TR1,
CSV-AP TR2, Fedit 28-CH, Fedit 29-CH, S.
Lucia 12, T34 ICA-PG, VCR 8, CRA 437, CRA
546, UBA-RA TRT 8, TRE VISP, and CRA Vic
BC SF7).
Trebbiano Toscano is Italy's most commonly
planted white grape (and is the seventh most-
planted grape in the world). In Italy it grows
practically everywhere, but mainly in Tuscany,
Marche, Umbria, Lazio, and Emilia-Romagna.
Due to its productivity, it was planted to the det-
riment of local, higher-quality Trebbiano s, such
as Trebbiano Giallo and Trebbiano Romagnolo,
both of which give more interesting wines than
does the Toscano variety. Unfortunately, confu-
sion is such that many producers don't know
exactly which of the Trebbiano s they own, which
is why in Emilia-Romagna or Abruzzo, for
example, there are estate owners who have
wildly different opinions on the merits of their
Trebbiano vines.
Besides France, Trebbiano Toscano has been
planted in many other countries in the world,
such as Greece, Argentina, Australia, Canada,
and the United States. In Australia, Trebbiano
Toscano, along with Colombard, has always
been popular as a source of good bulk wine.
The variety seems to grow well in the hot Rive-
rina region of southwestern New South Wales.
In Argentina it's grown in Mendoza, San Juan,
and Río Negro, while in California there are
small plantings in Paso Robles and the Central
Valley.
Which Wines to Choose and Why
Planted everywhere in Italy, Trebbiano Toscano
plays an important part in the blends of many
admittedly not so famous DOC wines: for
example, Bianco Colline Lucchesi, Bianco della
Valdinievole, Bianco dell'Empolese, Bianco
Pisano di San Torpè, Elba Bianco, Val d'Arbia,
Bianco di Pitigliano, Montecucco, Montes-
cudaio, Sant' Antimo in Tuscany; and Bagnoli,
Bianco di Custoza, Breganze, Colli Euganei,
Gambellara, Garda Orientale, Lugana, and Val-
dadige in other regions. T he list is much longer,
however. Some of these wines are much better
than others; witness Bianco di Pitigliano or
Elba Bianco. Trebbiano Toscano also plays a
role in the production of many Tuscan IGT
wines and it is important for vin santo, tradi-
tionally produced in Tuscany (Chianti, Chianti
Classico, Carmignano, Montepulciano, Elba,
Capalbio, Montescudaio, and other denomina-
tions), as well as in Umbria and Emilia-
Romagna. As Trebbiano Toscano is blessed
with high acidity even when harvested late, it's
a useful addition to many white wine blends
that can benefi t from the extra lift. There are
some worthwhile monovarietal dry white
wines, always from very old vines, but such
Search WWH ::




Custom Search