Tuscany Wine

Tuscan red wines may be the most famous, featuring the region's signature Sangiovese grape, Tuscany is also home to fine white wines. Tuscan white wines are typically made with Vermentino or Trebbiano.

Located in Central Italy, Tuscany contains the perfect natural factors to grow high-quality grapes. Situated among rolling hills, the region has a range of elevations and microclimates, as well as a diverse range of soils. The region's Mediterranean climate makes for mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers, which allows grapes to ripen evenly throughout a long growing season. The coastal areas are moderated by their proximity to the sea, while inland areas tend to experience more drastic swings in temperature.

Tuscan red wines are loved for their alluring combination of rich fruit flavors and fresh acidity. Sangiovese is naturally high in acidity and has charming red-fruit flavors and herbal tones.

Sangiovese is also often blended with international varieties, such as Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. These blends are referred to as "Super Tuscans."

Tuscan wines predates the Roman Empire, dating all the back in the 8th century B.C. In the Middle Ages, quality in Tuscany improved and flourished during the Renaissance as powerful families invested in vineyards throughout the region. This heritage has been passed down generation to generation, leading to the world-class wines produced today.

Tuscany's most planted grape variety is Sangiovese, famous for producing wines with high levels of acidity and flavors of cherry, strawberry and plum, along with herbal tones in the best Tuscan reds.

The region's white wines are fresh with citrus and almond notes. Vernaccia di San Gimignano is Tuscany's first and foremost protected white wine, and is also the name of the grape variety.

Tuscany's most famous wines include:

Chianti: Chianti is Tuscany's most well known wine region, beloved for its red wines made with Sangiovese. While the region has various districts with their own microclimates, Chianti is typically characterized as a vibrant red wine with medium body, high acidity, lively red-fruit flavors and oak or baking spice notes imparted by barrel aging.

Brunello di Montalcino: Montalcino is a famed hilltop village and home to some of the best wine from Tuscany. The region produces elegant, ageworthy red wines made entirely from Sangiovese (specifically the Sangiovese Grosso clone, which was nicknamed Brunello in the local dialect). The wines follow strict aging restrictions, which softens their high tannins and makes for red wines with complex red-fruit flavors plus notes of tobacco, leather and spice.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano: Not to be confused with the Montepulciano grape variety (common in the Abruzzo region of Italy), Montepulciano is a historic village in the heart of Tuscany. The region is home to Sangiovese-based wines with high levels of acidity, rich black cherry flavors and earthy or tobacco notes.

Vernaccia di San Gimignano: The grape variety and region share the name Vernaccia di San Gimignano and make for wines with crisp acidity, floral aromas and citrus flavors.

Bolgheri: This is the original home of the Super Tuscan, wines that broke the wine laws at the time and included international grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. While the practice has been adopted throughout Tuscany, Bolgheri wines shine for their supple texture, rich flavor and outstanding aging ability.

Super Tuscan wines are red wines from Tuscany that do not adhere to the traditional winemaking rules of the region, as winemakers sought to make blends, not with only Sangiovese and other approved grape varieties, but also international varieties such as Cabernet and Merlot. The first was released in the 1970s without a designated appellation (per the wine laws).

Since these wines could not legally be called by the region they were from, such Chianti or Brunello di Montalcino, the name "Super Tuscan" was coined to refer to them in the 1980s. The first two (and still most famous) Super Tuscans are Tignanello, made by prestigious Italian winemaker Piero Antinori, and the other was Sassicaia, made by world-renowned estate Tenuta San Guido.

These wines broke with Italian tradition and adopted a style more similar to Bordeaux, which favors blending and oak barrel aging to heighten their flavor and texture. The result in full-bodied red wines with polished tannins and complex flavors.

While the first Super Tuscans were expensive, highly sought-after wines, they are now available at a wide range of qualities and price points. The best are able to age for decades, further softening their texture and adding nuance to their layers of flavor.

Located in the heart of the province, Chianti is the most famous Tuscan wine region. It has five subregions, most famously Chianti Classico—a small hilly district with a mixture of limestone and clay soils, perfect for producing exceptional Sangiovese.

Montepulciano is a small southern region located on a hill over 550 miles above sea level, which makes for elegant red wines with both power and finesse. While the region is best known for its highly sought-after Brunello di Montalcino, producers often make "second wines" from their younger vines called "Rosso di Montalcino." They can offer a lighter drinking style and great value.

In southeastern Tuscany, Montepulciano is a historic wine region known for its bucolic landscape. Here, wine law allows producers to include up to 30% of other varieties, while maintaining 70% Sangiovese.

Vernaccia di San Gimignano is a wine region located around the medieval town of San Gimignano, situated in western Tuscany. It's home to the Tuscany's original white of the same name.

Bolgheri lies on the eastern coast of Italy and has sandy, alluvial soil which makes it perfect for growing Cabernet Sauvignon. This realization led to the conception of Super Tuscans, which include international grape varieties like Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah.