TuscanY & Central Italy Red Wine

Generally speaking, red wines from Central Italy (that is, Abruzzo, Lazio, the Marche, Tuscany and Umbria) are special because of the area’s mountainous topography and proximity to the ocean, as well as its Mediterranean climate. Many wines made here must follow strict production standards, and have some historical significance.

Red Tuscan wines are primarily dry, like Chianti and Brunello. However, the region also produces some sweet wines called Passito, made from dried grapes with concentrated sugars.

Tuscany is most well-known for dry red wines like Chianti and Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and a category called "Super Tuscans," which includes wines made from a blend of native grapes and non-indigenous varieties.

Italy’s sixth largest wine-producing region, Tuscan wine regions can be broken down into several important wine producing areas. There’s Chianti in the foothills of the Apennine Mountains, the coast, where many Super Tuscans are made (especially notable is the Bolgheri DOC) and Southern Tuscany, which includes the notable Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCGs.

While the red wines of Tuscany can vary greatly, many are robust, tannic and medium- to full-bodied. They can be delicious alongside a variety of meats and cheeses, plus pizzas and pastas with red tomato-based sauces.

Though what qualifies a “good” wine is a matter of preference, one way to know if you’ll enjoy a wine is to check its label. That will offer clues about regionality, grapes and aging. Generally speaking, red wines from Tuscany or central Italy labeled as Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) will be higher quality. Riserva wines have been aged for a longer period before release and will have generally been made from high quality grapes.