Adopted by the IDA Board of Directors, Nov. 12, 2002. This Definition is also used by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Many state education codes, including New Jersey, Ohio and Utah, have adopted this definition.
Italy's most well-known and widely planted red grape variety, Sangiovese, is a thin-skinned, finicky grape that tends to linger longer on the vine, taking its sweet time to ripen and mature.
Sangiovese is a slow ripening grape that flourishes in limestone-based clay soils. The grape is used for making both 100% Sangiovese wines (Brunello di Montalcino & Rosso di Montalcino) as well as for blending (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot) . The high-quality wines produced from Sangiovese are renowned for there pronounced levels of acidity and tannins.