![Italy Regions Tuscany Map](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/Italy_Regions_Tuscany_Map.png)
Tuscan wine (Italian ''Toscana'') is
Italian wine
Italian wine is produced in every region of Italy. Italy is the world's largest producer of wine, with an area of under vineyard cultivation, and contributing a 2013–2017 annual average of 48.3 million hl of wine. In 2018 Italy accounted fo ...
from the
Tuscany
it, Toscano (man) it, Toscana (woman)
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, demogra ...
region. Located in central
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
along the
Tyrrhenian coast, Tuscany is home to some of the world's most notable
wine regions
This list of wine-producing regions catalogues significant growing regions where vineyards are planted. Wine grapes mostly grow between the 30th and the 50th degree of latitude, in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Grapes will sometimes ...
.
Chianti
A Chianti wine (, also , ) is any wine produced in the Chianti region of central Tuscany. It was historically associated with a squat bottle enclosed in a straw basket, called a ''fiasco'' ("flask"; ''pl. fiaschi''). However, the ''fiasco'' is ...
,
Brunello di Montalcino and
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a red wine with a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita status produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montepulciano, Italy. The wine is made primarily from the Sangiovese grape varietal (know ...
are primarily made with
Sangiovese
Sangiovese (, also , , ) is a red Italian wine grape variety that derives its name from the Latin ''sanguis Jovis'', "the blood of Jupiter". Though it is the grape of most of central Italy from Romagna down to Lazio (the most widespread grape ...
grape whereas the
Vernaccia
Vernaccia is a white wine grape that is found in many Italian wines but is most commonly associated the Tuscan wine Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Ampelographers have determined that the Vernaccia vine has many clonal varieties but is unrelated t ...
grape is the basis of the white
Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Vernaccia is a white Italian wine, made from the Vernaccia grape, produced in and around the Italian hill town of San Gimignano in Tuscany. It was the first Italian wine to be awarded ''Denominazione di Origine Controllata'' (DOC) status in 1966; ...
. Tuscany is also known for the
dessert wine
Dessert wines, sometimes called pudding wines in the United Kingdom, are sweet wines typically served with dessert.
There is no simple definition of a dessert wine. In the UK, a dessert wine is considered to be any sweet wine drunk with a meal ...
Vin Santo
Vin Santo ("holy wine") is a style of Italian dessert wine. Traditional in Tuscany, these wines are often made from white grape varieties such as Trebbiano and Malvasia, though Sangiovese may be used to produce a ''rosé'' style known as "Oc ...
, made from a variety of the region's grapes. Tuscany has forty-one ''
Denominazioni di origine controllata'' (DOC) and eleven ''
Denominazioni di Origine Controllata e Garantita'' (DOCG). In the 1970s a new class of wines known in the trade as "Super Tuscans" emerged. These wines were made outside DOC/DOCG regulations but were considered of high quality and commanded high prices. Many of these wines became
cult wine
Cult wines are wines for which dedicated groups of committed enthusiasts will pay large sums of money.
Cult wines are often seen as trophy wines to be collected or as investment wine to be held rather than consumed. Because price is often seen ...
s. In the reformation of the Italian classification system many of the original Super Tuscans now qualify as DOC or DOCG wines (such as the new
Bolgheri
Bolgheri () is a central Italian village and hamlet (''frazione'') of Castagneto Carducci, a municipality (''comune'') in the province of Livorno, Tuscany. in 2011 it had a population of 131.
History
First mentioned in 1075, in a papal bull by ...
label) but some producers still prefer the declassified rankings or to use the ''
Indicazione Geografica Tipica
''Indicazione geografica tipica'' () is the third of four classifications of wine recognized by the government of Italy. Created to recognize the unusually high quality of the class of wines known as Super Tuscans, IGT wines are labeled with th ...
'' (IGT) classification of ''Toscana''. Tuscany has six sub-categories of IGT wines today.
History
![Bettino Ricasoli](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/Bettino_Ricasoli.jpg)
The history of viticulture in
Tuscany
it, Toscano (man) it, Toscana (woman)
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, demogra ...
dates back to its settlements by the
Etruscans
The Etruscan civilization () was developed by a people of Etruria in ancient Italy with a common language and culture who formed a federation of city-states. After conquering adjacent lands, its territory covered, at its greatest extent, rou ...
in the 8th century BC.
Amphora remnants originating in the region show that Tuscan wine was
export
An export in international trade is a good produced in one country that is sold into another country or a service provided in one country for a national or resident of another country. The seller of such goods or the service provider is an ...
ed to
southern Italy and
Gaul
Gaul ( la, Gallia) was a region of Western Europe first described by the Romans. It was inhabited by Celtic and Aquitani tribes, encompassing present-day France, Belgium, Luxembourg, most of Switzerland, parts of Northern Italy (only during ...
as early as the 7th century BC. By the 3rd century BC, there were literary references by
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
writers about the quality of Tuscan wine.
[J. Robinson (ed) ''"The Oxford Companion to Wine"'' Third Edition (Oxford University Press) 2006:259. ] From the
fall of the Roman Empire
The fall of the Western Roman Empire (also called the fall of the Roman Empire or the fall of Rome) was the loss of central political control in the Western Roman Empire, a process in which the Empire failed to enforce its rule, and its vas ...
and throughout the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...
,
monasteries
A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which ...
were the main purveyors of wines in the region. As the
aristocratic
Aristocracy (, ) is a form of government that places strength in the hands of a small, privileged ruling class, the aristocrats. The term derives from the el, αριστοκρατία (), meaning 'rule of the best'.
At the time of the word' ...
and
merchant classes emerged, they inherited the
sharecropping
Sharecropping is a legal arrangement with regard to agricultural land in which a landowner allows a tenant to use the land in return for a share of the crops produced on that land.
Sharecropping has a long history and there are a wide range ...
system of agriculture known as ''
mezzadria
The metayage ; es, mediería ; it, mezzadria . system is the cultivation of land for a proprietor by one who receives a proportion of the produce, as a kind of sharecropping. Another class of land tenancy in France is named , whereby the rent is ...
''. This system took its name from the arrangement whereby the landowner provides the land and resources for planting in exchange for half ("mezza") of the yearly crop. Many Tuscan landowners would turn their half of the grape
harvest into wine that would be sold to merchants in
Florence
Florence ( ; it, Firenze ) is a city in Central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany Regions of Italy, region. It is the most populated city in Tuscany, with 383,083 inhabitants in 2016, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.Bilan ...
. The earliest reference of Florentine wine retailers dates to 1079 and a
guild
A guild ( ) is an association of artisans and merchants who oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular area. The earliest types of guild formed as organizations of tradesmen belonging to a professional association. They sometimes ...
was created in 1282.
[J. Robinson (ed) ''"The Oxford Companion to Wine"'' Third Edition pg 715-716 Oxford University Press 2006 ]
The ''Arte dei Vinattieri'' guild established strict regulations on how the Florentine wine merchants could conduct business. No wine was to be sold within of a church. Wine merchants were also prohibited from serving children under 15 or to
prostitutes
Prostitution is the business or practice of engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, non-penet ...
,
ruffians and
thieves
Theft is the act of taking another person's property or services without that person's permission or consent with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it. The word ''theft'' is also used as a synonym or informal shorthand term for some ...
. In the 14th century, an average of of wine was sold every year in Florence. The earliest references to Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wine date to the late 14th century. The first recorded mention of wine from Chianti was by the Tuscan merchant
Francesco di Marco Datini
Francesco di Marco Datini (c. 1335 – 16 August 1410) was an Italian merchant born in Prato. Datini is notable for having implemented the first partnership system in business in 1383.
Biography
Datini was one of four children of Marco di Datin ...
, the "merchant of Prato", who described it as a light, white wine. The Vernaccia and
Greco
Greco may refer to:
People
* Greco (surname), a list of people with this surname
* a masculine variant of Greca (given name), an Italian feminine given name
* Greco Mafia clan, one of the most influential Mafia clans in Sicily and Calabria
Wine ...
wines of
San Gimignano were considered
luxury items and treasured as gifts over
saffron
Saffron () is a spice derived from the flower of ''Crocus sativus'', commonly known as the "saffron crocus". The vivid crimson stigma and styles, called threads, are collected and dried for use mainly as a seasoning and colouring agent in ...
. During this period Tuscan winemakers began experimenting with new techniques and invented the process of ''
governo
Governo is a winemaking technique reportedly invented in Tuscany in the 14th century to help complete fermentation and stabilize the wine. The technique involves saving a batch of harvested grapes and allowing them to partially dry. If fermentat ...
'' which helped to
stabilize the wines and ferment the sugar content sufficiently to make them dry. In 1685 the Tuscan author
Francesco Redi wrote ''
Bacco in Toscana'', a 980-line poem describing the wines of Tuscany.
Following the end of the
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of major global conflicts pitting the French Empire and its allies, led by Napoleon I, against a fluctuating array of European states formed into various coalitions. It produced a period of Fren ...
, Tuscany returned to the rule of the
Habsburgs. It was at this point that the statesman
Bettino Ricasoli
Bettino Ricasoli, 1st Count of Brolio, 2nd Baron Ricasoli (; 9 March 180923 October 1880) was an Italian statesman. He was a central figure in the politics of Italy during and after the unification of Italy. He led the Moderate Party.
Biography
...
inherited his family ancestral estate in
Broglio located in the heart of the Chianti Classico zone. Determined to improve the estate, Ricasoli traveled throughout Germany and France, studying the grape varieties and viticultural practices. He imported several of the varieties back to Tuscany and experimented with different varieties in his vineyards. However, in his experiments Ricasoli discovered that three local varieties— Sangiovese,
Canaiolo
Canaiolo (; also called Canaiolo nero or Uva Canina) is a red Italian wine grape grown through Central Italy but is most noted in Tuscany. Other regions with plantings of Canaiolo include Lazio, Marche and Sardegna. In Umbria a white ber ...
and
Malvasia
Malvasia (, also known as Malvazia) is a group of wine grape varieties grown historically in the Mediterranean region, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands and the island of Madeira, but now grown in many of the winemaking regions of the world. ...
— produced the best wine. In 1848,
revolution
In political science, a revolution (Latin: ''revolutio'', "a turn around") is a fundamental and relatively sudden change in political power and political organization which occurs when the population revolts against the government, typically due ...
s broke out in Italy and Ricasoli's beloved wife died, leaving him with little interest to devote to wine. In the 1850s Oidium
Uncinula necator
''Uncinula necator'' (syn. ''Erysiphe necator'') is a fungus that causes powdery mildew of grape. It is a common pathogen of Vitis species, including the wine grape, ''Vitis vinifera''. The fungus is believed to have originated in North America ...
and war devastated most of Tuscany's vineyards with many peasant farmers leaving for other parts of Italy or to
emigrate
Emigration is the act of leaving a resident country or place of residence with the intent to settle elsewhere (to permanently leave a country). Conversely, immigration describes the movement of people into one country from another (to permanentl ...
to the Americas.
[H. Johnson ''Vintage: The Story of Wine'' pg 416-420 Simon and Schuster 1989 ]
Climate and geography
![Siena vineyards](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Siena_vineyards.jpg)
The
region
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics ( physical geography), human impact characteristics ( human geography), and the interaction of humanity an ...
of Tuscany includes seven coastal islands and is Italy's fifth largest region. It is bordered to the northwest by
Liguria
it, Ligure
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, the north by
Emilia-Romagna
egl, Emigliàn (man) egl, Emiglièna (woman) rgn, Rumagnòl (man) rgn, Rumagnòla (woman) it, Emiliano (man) it, Emiliana (woman) or it, Romagnolo (man) it, Romagnola (woman)
, population_note =
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,
Umbria
it, Umbro (man) it, Umbra (woman)
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to the east and
Lazio
it, Laziale
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to the south. To the west is the Tyrrhenian Sea which gives the area a warm
mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate (also called a dry summer temperate climate ''Cs'') is a temperate climate sub-type, generally characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, fairly wet winters; these weather conditions are typically experienced in the ...
. The terrain is quite hilly (over 68% of the terrain), progressing inward to the
Apennine Mountains along the border with Emilia-Romagna. The hills have a tempering effect on the summertime heat, with many vineyards planted on the higher
elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above or below a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface (see Geodetic datum § Ver ...
s of the hillsides.
[M. Ewing-Mulligan & E. McCarthy ''Italian Wines for Dummies'' pg 142-145 Hungry Minds 2001 ]
The Sangiovese grape performs better when it can receive more direct sunlight, which is a benefit of the many hillside vineyards in Tuscany. The majority of the region's vineyards are found at
altitude
Altitude or height (also sometimes known as depth) is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The exact definition and reference datum varies according to the context ...
s of 500–1600 feet (150–500 meters). The higher elevations also increase the
diurnal temperature variation
In meteorology, diurnal temperature variation is the variation between a high air temperature and a low temperature that occurs during the same day.
Temperature lag
Temperature lag is an important factor in diurnal temperature variation: peak da ...
, helping the grapes maintain their balance of
sugars and
acidity
In computer science, ACID ( atomicity, consistency, isolation, durability) is a set of properties of database transactions intended to guarantee data validity despite errors, power failures, and other mishaps. In the context of databases, a ...
as well as their aromatic qualities.
[J. Robinson (ed) ''"The Oxford Companion to Wine"'' Third Edition pg 703 Oxford University Press 2006 ]
Wines and grapes
![Sangiovese grapes in Montepulciano](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Sangiovese_grapes_in_Montepulciano.JPG)
After
Piedmont
it, Piemontese
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and the
Veneto
it, Veneto (man) it, Veneta (woman)
, population_note =
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, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographics1_title1 =
, demographics1_info1 = ...
, Tuscany produces the third highest volume of DOC/G quality wines. Tuscany is Italy's third most planted region (behind
Sicily
(man) it, Siciliana (woman)
, population_note =
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, demographics1_footnotes =
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and
Apulia) but it is eighth in production volume. This is partly because the
soil
Soil, also commonly referred to as earth or dirt
Dirt is an unclean matter, especially when in contact with a person's clothes, skin, or possessions. In such cases, they are said to become dirty.
Common types of dirt include:
* Debri ...
of Tuscany is very poor, and producers emphasize low
yields and higher quality levels in their wine. More than 80% of the regions' production is in red wine.
The Sangiovese grape is Tuscany's most prominent grape; however, many different
clonal varieties exist, as many towns have their own local version of Sangiovese.
Cabernet Sauvignon has been planted in Tuscany for over 250 years, but has only recently become associated with the region due to the rise of the Super Tuscans. Other
international varieties
An international variety is a grape variety that is widely planted in most of the major wine producing regions and has widespread appeal and consumer recognition. These are grapes that are highly likely to appear on wine labels as varietal wines a ...
found in Tuscany include
Cabernet franc,
Chardonnay,
Merlot,
Pinot noir,
Sauvignon blanc and
Syrah. Of the many local red
grape varieties
This list of grape varieties includes cultivated grapes, whether used for wine, or eating as a table grape, fresh or dried (raisin, currant, sultana). For a complete list of all grape species including those unimportant to agriculture, see Viti ...
Canaiolo
Canaiolo (; also called Canaiolo nero or Uva Canina) is a red Italian wine grape grown through Central Italy but is most noted in Tuscany. Other regions with plantings of Canaiolo include Lazio, Marche and Sardegna. In Umbria a white ber ...
,
Colorino
Colorino is a red Italian wine grape variety planted primarily in Tuscany. The grape is known for its deep dark colouring and is used primarily as a colouring agent in red blends. J. Robinson ''Jancis Robinson's Wine Course'' Third Edition ...
,
Malvasia nera
Malvasia (, also known as Malvazia) is a group of wine grape varieties grown historically in the Mediterranean region, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands and the island of Madeira, but now grown in many of the winemaking regions of the world. I ...
and
Mammolo
Mammolo is a red Italian wine grape that is planted primarily in Tuscany. While its use has been diminishing, Mammolo was historically included in the blended Sangiovese-based wines of Chianti where it contributed a distinctive violet or ''mammo ...
are the most widely planted. For Tuscan white wines,
Trebbiano is the most widely planted variety followed by
Malvasia
Malvasia (, also known as Malvazia) is a group of wine grape varieties grown historically in the Mediterranean region, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands and the island of Madeira, but now grown in many of the winemaking regions of the world. ...
,
Vermentino
Vermentino is a light-skinned wine grape variety, primarily found in Italian wine. It is widely planted in both Sardinia and Liguria (wine), Liguria, to some extent in Corsica, in Piedmont under the name Favorita, and in increasing amounts in Lan ...
and Vernaccia.
Super Tuscans
![Tignanello BMK](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Tignanello_BMK.jpg)
Super Tuscans are an unofficial category of Tuscan wines, not recognized within the Italian wine classification system. Although an extraordinary number of wines claim to be “the first Super Tuscan,” most would agree that this credit belongs to
Sassicaia
Tenuta San Guido is an Italian wine producer in the DOC Bolgheri in Toscana, known as a producer of "Super Tuscan" wine. It produces Sassicaia, a Bordeaux-style red wine. The estate also produces a second wine, Guidalberto, and a third wine, Le ...
, the brainchild of marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, who planted Cabernet Sauvignon at his
Tenuta San Guido estate in
Bolgheri
Bolgheri () is a central Italian village and hamlet (''frazione'') of Castagneto Carducci, a municipality (''comune'') in the province of Livorno, Tuscany. in 2011 it had a population of 131.
History
First mentioned in 1075, in a papal bull by ...
back in 1944. It was for many years the marchese’s personal wine, until, starting with the 1968 vintage, it was released commercially in 1971.
The growth of Super Tuscans is also rooted in the restrictive DOC practices of the Chianti zone prior to the 1990s. During this time Chianti could be composed of no more than 70% Sangiovese and had to include at least 10% of one of the local white wine grapes. Producers who deviated from these regulations could not use the Chianti name on their
wine label
Wine labels are important sources of information for consumers since they tell the type and origin of the wine. The label is often the only resource a buyer has for evaluating the wine before purchasing it. Certain information is ordinarily incl ...
s and would be classified as ''
vino da tavola
Table wine (rarely abbreviated TW) is a wine term with two different meanings: a style of wine and a quality level within wine classification.
In the United States, the term primarily designates a wine style: an ordinary wine which is not fortifi ...
'' - Italy's lowest wine designation. By the 1970s, the consumer market for Chianti wines was suffering and the wines were widely perceived to be lacking quality. Many Tuscan wine producers thought they could produce a better quality wine if they were not hindered by the DOC regulations.
[M. Ewing-Mulligan & E. McCarthy ''Italian Wines for Dummies'' pg 155 & 167-169 Hungry Minds 2001 ]
The
marchese Piero Antinori was one of the first to create a "Chianti-style" wine that ignored the DOC regulations, releasing a 1971 Sangiovese-Cabernet Sauvignon blend known as ''Tignanello'' in 1978. He was inspired by
Sassicaia
Tenuta San Guido is an Italian wine producer in the DOC Bolgheri in Toscana, known as a producer of "Super Tuscan" wine. It produces Sassicaia, a Bordeaux-style red wine. The estate also produces a second wine, Guidalberto, and a third wine, Le ...
, of which he was given the sale agency by his uncle Mario Incisa della Rocchetta.
Other producers followed suit and soon the prices for these Super Tuscans were consistently beating the prices of some of most well known Chianti. Rather than rely on name recognition of the Chianti region, the Super Tuscan producers sought to create a wine
brand
A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that distinguishes one seller's good or service from those of other sellers. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for recognition and, importantly, to create ...
that would be recognizable on its own merits by consumers. By the late 1980s, the trend of creating high-quality non-DOC wines had spread to other regions of Tuscany, as well as Piedmont and Veneto. Modification to the Chianti DOC regulation attempted to "correct" the issues of Super Tuscans, so that many of the original Super Tuscans would now qualify as standard DOC/G Chianti. Most producers have brought their Super Tuscans back under legal regulations, notably since the creation of the less restrictive IGT ''Toscana'' designation in 1992 and the
DOC Bolgheri
Bolgheri () is a central Italian village and hamlet (''frazione'') of Castagneto Carducci, a municipality (''comune'') in the province of Livorno, Tuscany. in 2011 it had a population of 131.
History
First mentioned in 1075, in a papal bull by ...
designation in 1994, while the pioneer Sassicaia was prized with its own exclusive
Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC.
In addition to wines based on the
Sangiovese
Sangiovese (, also , , ) is a red Italian wine grape variety that derives its name from the Latin ''sanguis Jovis'', "the blood of Jupiter". Though it is the grape of most of central Italy from Romagna down to Lazio (the most widespread grape ...
grape, many well known Super Tuscans are based on a "Bordeaux-blend", meaning a combination of grapes typical for
Bordeaux
Bordeaux ( , ; Gascon oc, Bordèu ; eu, Bordele; it, Bordò; es, Burdeos) is a port city on the river Garonne in the Gironde department, Southwestern France. It is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the prefect ...
(esp.
Cabernet Sauvignon and
Merlot). These grapes are not originally from the region, but imported and planted later. The climate in Tuscany has proven to be very good for these grapes.
Vin Santo
While Tuscany is not the only Italian region to make the ''
passito
Straw wine, or raisin wine, is a wine made from grapes that have been dried to concentrate their juice. The result is similar to that of the ice wine process, but is a much older process and suitable for warm climates. The technique dates back ...
'' dessert wine Vin Santo (meaning "holy wine"), the Tuscan versions of the wine are well regarded and sought for by wine consumers. The best-known version is from the Chianti Classico and is produced with a blend of Trebbiano and Malvasia Bianca. Red and
rosé styles are also produced mostly based on the Sangiovese grape. The wines are aged in barrels for a minimum of three years, four if it is meant to be a ''
Riserva
Reserve wine is wine of a higher quality than usual, a wine that has been aged before sale, or both. Traditionally, winemakers would reserve some of their best wine rather than sell it immediately, coining the term.
In some countries the use of t ...
''.
[M. Ewing-Mulligan & E. McCarthy ''Italian Wines for Dummies'' pg 156-163 Hungry Minds 2001 ]
Wine regions
Tuscany's 41 DOC and 11 DOCG are spread out across the region's ten provinces.
Brunello di Montalcino
![Montalcino 001](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Montalcino_001.jpg)
Brunello is the name of the local Sangiovese variety that is grown around the village of
Montalcino
Montalcino is a hill town and ''comune'' in the province of Siena, Tuscany, central Italy.
The town is located to the west of Pienza, close to the Crete Senesi in Val d'Orcia. It is from Siena, from Florence and from Pisa. Monte Amiata is ...
. Located south of the Chianti Classico zone, the Montalcino range is drier and warmer than Chianti.
Monte Amiata
Mount Amiata is the largest of the lava domes in the Amiata lava dome complex located about 20 km northwest of Lake Bolsena in the southern Tuscany region of Italy. It is located within the provinces of Grosseto and Siena.
Geology
Mount Am ...
shields the area from the winds coming from the southeast. Many of the area's vineyards are located on the hillsides leading up towards the mountain to elevations of around though some vineyards can be found in lower-lying areas. The wines of northern and eastern regions tend to ripen more slowly and produce more perfumed and lighter wines. The southern and western regions are warmer, and the resulting wines tend to be richer and more intense.
The Brunello variety of Sangiovese seems to flourish in this ''terroir'', ripening easily and consistently producing wines of deep color, extract, richness with full bodies and good balance of tannins. In the mid-19th century, a local farmer named
Clemente Santi is believed to have isolated the Brunello clone and planted it in this region. His grandson
Ferruccio Biondi-Santi helped to popularize Brunello di Montalcino in the later half of the 19th century. In the 1980s, it was the first wine to earn the DOCG classification. Today there are about two hundred growers in the Montalcino region producing about 333,000 cases of Brunello di Montalcino a year.
Brunello di Montalcino wines are required to be aged for at least four years prior to being released, with ''riserva'' wines needing five years. Brunellos tend to be very tight and tannic in their youth, needing at least a decade or two before they start to soften with wines from excellent
vintage
Vintage, in winemaking, is the process of picking grapes and creating the finished product—wine (see Harvest (wine)). A vintage wine is one made from grapes that were all, or primarily, grown and harvested in a single specified year. In certa ...
s having the potential to do well past 50 years. In 1984, the Montalcino region was granted the DOC designation of ''Rosso di Montalcino''. Often called "Baby Brunellos", these wines are typically made from the same grapes, vineyards and style as the regular Brunello di Montalcino but are not aged as long. While similar to Brunellos in flavor and aromas, these wines are often lighter in body and more approachable in their youth.
Carmignano
![Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/Clare_Valley_Cabernet_Sauvignon.jpg)
The
Carmignano
Carmignano is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the province of Prato, part of the Italian region Tuscany. It is located about west of Florence and about southwest of Prato. It is the centre of the wine region of the same name.
Geography
C ...
region was one of the first Tuscan regions to be permitted to use Cabernet Sauvignon and
Cabernet Franc in their DOC wines since those varieties had a long history of being grown in the region.
Noted for the quality of its wines since the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...
, Carmignano was identified by
Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Cosimo III de' Medici (14 August 1642 – 31 October 1723) was Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1670 until his death in 1723, the sixth and penultimate from the House of Medici. He reigned from 1670 to 1723, and was the elder son of Grand Duke Ferdina ...
as one of the superior wine producing areas of Tuscany and granted special legal protections in 1716. In the 18th century, the producers of the Carmignano region developed a tradition of blending
Sangiovese
Sangiovese (, also , , ) is a red Italian wine grape variety that derives its name from the Latin ''sanguis Jovis'', "the blood of Jupiter". Though it is the grape of most of central Italy from Romagna down to Lazio (the most widespread grape ...
with
Cabernet Sauvignon, long before the practice became popularized by the "
Super Tuscan
Tuscan wine (Italian ''Toscana'') is Italian wine from the Tuscany region. Located in central Italy along the Tyrrhenian coast, Tuscany is home to some of the world's most notable wine regions. Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di ...
" of the late 20th century.
[K. MacNeil ''The Wine Bible'' pg 376, 386–387 Workman Publishing 2001 ] In 1975, the region was awarded ''
Denominazione di origine controllata
The following four classifications of wine constitute the Italian system of labelling and legally protecting Italian wine:
* ''Denominazione di origine'' (DO, rarely used; ; English: “designation of origin”),
* ''Indicazione geografica tipi ...
'' (DOC) status and subsequently promoted to ''Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita'' (DOCG) status in 1990 (retroactive to the 1988
vintage
Vintage, in winemaking, is the process of picking grapes and creating the finished product—wine (see Harvest (wine)). A vintage wine is one made from grapes that were all, or primarily, grown and harvested in a single specified year. In certa ...
). Today Carmignano has approximately planted, producing nearly of DOCG designated wine a year.
[J. Robinson (ed) ''"The Oxford Companion to Wine"'' Third Edition pg 140 Oxford University Press 2006 ]
Chianti
![CHIANTI glass & bottle](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/CHIANTI_glass_%26_bottle.jpg)
Located in the central region of Tuscany, the Chianti zone is Tuscany's largest classified wine region and produces over eight million
cases a year. In addition to producing the well known red Chianti wine, the Chianti zone also produces white, other ''Rosso'' reds and Vin Santo. The region is split into two DOCG- Chianti and Chianti Classico. The Chianti Classico zone covers the area between
Florence
Florence ( ; it, Firenze ) is a city in Central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany Regions of Italy, region. It is the most populated city in Tuscany, with 383,083 inhabitants in 2016, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.Bilan ...
and
Siena
Siena ( , ; lat, Sena Iulia) is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.
The city is historically linked to commercial and banking activities, having been a major banking center until the 13th and 14th centur ...
, which is the original Chianti region, and where some of the best expressions of Chianti wine are produced. The larger Chianti DOCG zone is further divided in six DOC sub-zones and areas in the western part of the
province of Pisa, the Florentine hills north of Chianti Classico in the
province of Florence
The province of Florence ( it, provincia di Firenze) was a province in the northeast of Tuscany region of Italy. The city or ''comune'' of Florence was both the capital of the Province of Florence, and of the Region of Tuscany. It had an area of ...
, the Siena hills south of the city in the
province of Siena
The province of Siena ( it, provincia di Siena, link=no, ) is a province in Tuscany, Italy. Its capital is the city of Siena.
Geography
The province is divided into seven historical areas:
* Alta Val d'Elsa
* Chianti senese
* The urban area o ...
, the province of
Arezzo and the area around the communes of
Rufina
Rufina is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Florence in the Italian region Tuscany, located about east of Florence.
Rufina borders the following municipalities: Dicomano, Londa, Montemignaio, Pelago, Pontassieve, Pratove ...
and
Pistoia.
[M. Ewing-Mulligan & E. McCarthy ''Italian Wines for Dummies'' pg 147-155 Hungry Minds 2001 ]
Since 1996, Chianti is permitted to include as little as 75% Sangiovese, a maximum of 10% Canaiolo, up to 10% of the white wine grapes Malvasia and Trebbiano and up to 15% of any other red wine grape grown in the region, such as Cabernet Sauvignon. This variety of grapes and usage is one reason why Chianti can vary widely from producer to producer. The use of white grapes in the blend could alter the style of Chianti by softening the wines with a higher percentage of white grapes, typically indicating that the wine is meant to be drunk younger and not aged for long. In general, Chianti Classicos are described as medium-
bodied
''Bodied'' is a 2017 American battle rap comedy-drama film directed by Joseph Kahn. It was written by Alex Larsen and produced by Eminem, his manager Paul Rosenberg, and Adi Shankar. The film first premiered at the 2017 Toronto International ...
wines with firm, dry
tannin
Tannins (or tannoids) are a class of astringent, polyphenolic biomolecules that bind to and precipitate proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids.
The term ''tannin'' (from Anglo-Norman ''tanner'' ...
s. The characteristic aroma is
cherry but it can also carry nutty and floral notes as well.
In 2006, the use of white grapes Trebbiano and Malvasia was prohibited (except in Chianti Colli Senesi until the 2015 vintage). Local laws also require wines to have a minimum of 70% Sangiovese (and 80% for the more prestigious Chianti Classico DOCG). The native varieties Canaiolo and Colorino are also permitted, as are the international classics, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, to a limited degree.
The Chianti Classico region covers approximately and includes the communes of
Castellina,
Gaiole,
Greve and
Radda and Panzano, as well as parts of four other neighboring communes. The ''
terroir
(, ; from ''terre'', "land") is a French term used to describe the environmental factors that affect a crop's phenotype, including unique environment contexts, farming practices and a crop's specific growth habitat. Collectively, these contex ...
'' of the Classico zone varies throughout the region depending on the vineyards'
altitude
Altitude or height (also sometimes known as depth) is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The exact definition and reference datum varies according to the context ...
,
soil type and distance from the
Arno River. The soils of the northern communes, such as Greve, are richer in
clay
Clay is a type of fine-grained natural soil material containing clay minerals (hydrous aluminium phyllosilicates, e.g. kaolin, Al2 Si2 O5( OH)4).
Clays develop plasticity when wet, due to a molecular film of water surrounding the clay par ...
deposits while those in the southern communes, like Gaiole, are harder and stonier. ''Riserva'' Chianti is aged for at least 27 months, some of it in
oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...
, and must have a minimum
alcohol content
Alcohol by volume (abbreviated as ABV, abv, or alc/vol) is a standard measure of how much alcohol (ethanol) is contained in a given volume of an alcoholic beverage (expressed as a volume percent). It is defined as the number of millilitres (mL) o ...
of 12.5%. Wines from the Chianti DOCG can carry the name of one of the six sub-zones or just the Chianti designation. The
Chianti Superiore designation refers to wines produced in the provinces of Florence and Siena but not in the Classico zone.
Bolgheri
![Sassicaia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/Sassicaia.jpg)
The
DOC Bolgheri
Bolgheri () is a central Italian village and hamlet (''frazione'') of Castagneto Carducci, a municipality (''comune'') in the province of Livorno, Tuscany. in 2011 it had a population of 131.
History
First mentioned in 1075, in a papal bull by ...
region of the
Livorno province is home to one of the original Super Tuscan wines
Sassicaia
Tenuta San Guido is an Italian wine producer in the DOC Bolgheri in Toscana, known as a producer of "Super Tuscan" wine. It produces Sassicaia, a Bordeaux-style red wine. The estate also produces a second wine, Guidalberto, and a third wine, Le ...
, first made in 1944 produced by the marchesi
Incisa della Rochetta Incisa may refer to:
Places of Italy
*Incisa Scapaccino (originally Incisa Belbo), a municipality in the province of Asti.
*Incisa in Val d'Arno, a municipality in the province of Florence.
*Marquisate of Incisa (1161-1548), a lordship aleramica of ...
, cousin of the Antinori family. The DOC Bolgheri region is also home to the Super Tuscan wine
Ornellaia which was featured in the film ''
Mondovino
''Mondovino'' ( it, World of Wine) is a 2004 documentary film on the impact of globalization on the world's different wine regions written and directed by American film maker Jonathan Nossiter. It was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2004 Cannes ...
'' as well as Tignanello from Marchesi Antinori.
Vernaccia di San Gimignano
![Sangimignano0001](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Sangimignano0001.jpg)
Vernaccia di San Gimignano is a white wine made from the Vernaccia grape in the areas around
San Gimignano. In 1966, it was the first wine to receive a DOC designation. This wine style has been made in the area for over seven
centuries
A century is a period of 100 years. Centuries are numbered ordinally in English and many other languages. The word ''century'' comes from the Latin ''centum'', meaning ''one hundred''. ''Century'' is sometimes abbreviated as c.
A centennial or ...
and is considered Tuscany's best and most characterful white wine. The wine is
dry and full-bodied with earthy notes of honey and minerals. In some styles it can be made to emphasize the fruit more and some producers have experimented with aging or
fermenting
Fermentation is a metabolic process that produces chemical changes in organic substrates through the action of enzymes. In biochemistry, it is narrowly defined as the extraction of energy from carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen. In food p ...
the wine in oak barrels in order to give the wine a sense of creaminess or toastiness.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
![Vino nobile](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Vino_nobile.jpg)
The Vino Nobile di Montepulciano received its DOCG status shortly after Brunello di Montalcino, in 1980. The DOCG covers the red wine of the
Montepulciano
Montepulciano () is a medieval and Renaissance hill town and ''comune'' in the Italian province of Siena in southern Tuscany. It sits high on a limestone ridge, east of Pienza, southeast of Siena, southeast of Florence, and north of Rome b ...
area. The wine received its name in the 17th century, when it was the favorite wine of the Tuscan
nobility
Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estate of the realm with many exclusive functions and characteristics. The character ...
. Located in the southeastern region of Tuscany, the climate of the region is strongly influenced by the sea. The variety of Sangiovese in Montepulciano is known as Prugnolo Gentile and is required to account for at least 80% of the wine. Traditionally Canaiolo and Mammolo make up the remaining part of the blend but some producers have begun to experiment with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
[M. Ewing-Mulligan & E. McCarthy ''Italian Wines for Dummies'' pg 164-174 Hungry Minds 2001 ]
The wines are required to age two years prior to release, with an additional year if it is to be a ''riserva''. The recent use of French oak barrels has increased the body and intensity of the wines which are noted for their plummy fruit, almond notes and smooth tannins.
The origin of Valdichiana wines
In Etruscan times, Valdichiana, an area which presently stretches along the Southeastern part of Tuscany up to the Florence-Rome road ramification, was called the "Breadbasket of Etruria". However, its hills were already dotted with vineyards. Later on, Plinius the Elder would describe the quality of these wines as follows: Talpone (red) and Ethesiaca (white). This was a vine growing culture spreading over the hills of the Tuscan part of Valdichiana surrounding the important commercial centres of Foiano della Chiana, Lucignano, Cortona, Montepulciano and Arezzo. The importance given to this economical activity was confirmed in the following years in successive stages in the writings of the Bishopric of Arezzo. "Valdichiana Champagne". During the 1800s, the merchants of Bourgogne and Champagne decided to use the wines of Tuscan Valdichiana due to their renowned quality as a base for their champagnes after the phylloxera or vine-pest had destroyed their vineyards.
The wine making tradition was enriched and endorsed in the late 1960s and early 1970s with the DOC guarantee of origin recognition thanks to the effort of few noble families such as Della Stufa (Castello del Calcione, Lucignano) and Mancini Griffoli (Fattoria Santa Vittoria, Pozzo della Chiana).
The first policy document of 1972 only protected the denomination of the “Virgin White Valdichiana” type. Later, the policy document was modified and enriched to include the entire selection of wines produced in the Tuscan Valdichiana.
In 1989, the DOC guarantee of origin was extended to the sparkling and spumante types. In 1993, output was lowered and modified. Later, in 1999, a production policy was put in action for white berry types (chardonnay and grechetto), red berry types (red, rosato, sangiovese), and Vin Santo, thus fulfilling the aspirations of the producers after more than thirty years. In 1999, the DOC guarantee of origin also varied the name “Valdichiana” and in 2011 with DM 22/11/11, the "Tuscan Valdichiana" denomination was further varied with the aim of giving the exact perception that the wine produced there comes from the part of the Valdichiana that is situated in the Tuscan region in the provinces of Arezzo and Siena, thus allowing the plan of promotion to strengthen the fundamental, unique, strong, and essential bond with its territory.
Other Tuscan wines
The
Pomino region near Rufina has been historically known for the prevalence of the
French wine
French wine is produced all throughout France, in quantities between 50 and 60 million hectolitres per year, or 7–8 billion bottles. France is one of the largest wine producers in the world, along with Italian, Spanish, and Amer ...
grape varieties, making wines from both Cabernets as well as Chardonnay, Merlot,
Pinot blanc
Pinot blanc is a white wine grape. It is a point genetic mutation of Pinot noir. Pinot noir is genetically unstable and will occasionally experience a point mutation in which a vine bears all black fruit except for one cane which produces white ...
,
Pinot grigio
Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio (, ) or Grauburgunder is a white wine grape variety of the species ''Vitis vinifera''. Thought to be a mutant clone of the Pinot Noir variety, it normally has a grayish-blue fruit, accounting for its name, but the gra ...
in addition to the local Italian varieties. The
Frescobaldi
The Frescobaldi are a prominent Florentine noble family that have been involved in the political, social, and economic history of Tuscany since the Middle Ages. Originating in the Val di Pesa in the Chianti, they appear holding important post ...
family is one of the area's most prominent wine producers.
In southern Tuscany, towards the region of
Latium
Latium ( , ; ) is the region of central western Italy in which the city of Rome was founded and grew to be the capital city of the Roman Empire.
Definition
Latium was originally a small triangle of fertile, volcanic soil ( Old Latium) on w ...
, is the area of
Maremma
The Maremma (, ; from Latin , "maritime and) is a coastal area of western central Italy, bordering the Tyrrhenian Sea. It includes much of south-western Tuscany and part of northern Lazio. It was formerly mostly marshland, often malarial, bu ...
which has its own IGT designation ''Maremma Toscana''. Maremma is also home to Tuscany's newest DOCG,
Morellino di Scansano
Morellino di Scansano DOCG is an Italian red wine made in the hilly environs of the village of Scansano, GR, in the Maremma region of coastal Tuscany, which has an ancient but obscure tradition of winemaking. Morellino is the local name for the S ...
, which makes a fragrant, dry Sangiovese based wine. The
province of Grosseto
The province of Grosseto ( it, links=no, provincia di Grosseto) is a province in the Tuscany region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Grosseto. As of 2013 the province had a total population of 225,098 people.
Geography
The Province of Gro ...
is one of Tuscany's emerging wine regions with eight DOC designations, half of which were created in the late 1990s. It includes the Monteregio di
Massa Marittima
Massa Marittima (Latin: ''Massa Veternensis'') is a town and ''comune'' of the province of Grosseto, southern Tuscany, Italy, 49 km NNW of Grosseto.
There are mineral springs, mines of iron, mercury, lignite and copper, with foundries, iron ...
region which has been recently the recipient of foreign investment in the area's wine, especially by "
flying winemaker
Flying may refer to:
* Flight, the process of flying
* Aviation, the creation and operation of aircraft
Music
Albums
* ''Flying'' (Grammatrain album), 1997
* ''Flying'' (Jonathan Fagerlund album), 2008
* ''Flying'' (UFO album), 1971
* ''Fl ...
s". The
Parrina Parrina is a small Italian Denominazione di Origine Controllata comprising parts of the commune of Orbetello in the province of Grosseto, Tuscany. The DOC was awarded in 1971, and extends to with about 20 wine producers, the largest of which, by fa ...
region is known for its white wine blend of Trebbiano and
Ansonica. The wine Bianco di
Pitigliano
Pitigliano is a town in the province of Grosseto, located about south-east of the city of Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy.
The quaint old town is known as ''the little Jerusalem'', for the historical presence of a Jewish community that has always bee ...
is known for its eclectic mix of white wine grapes in the blend including Chardonnay, the Greco sub variety of Trebbiano,
Grechetto
Grechetto () or Grechetto bianco is a white Italian wine grape variety of Greek origins. The grape is planted throughout central Italy, particularly in the Umbria region where it is used in the ''Denominazione di origine controllata'' (DOC) win ...
, Malvasia, Pinot blanc,
Verdello
Verdello ( Bergamasque: ) is a ''comune'' in the province of Bergamo, Lombardy, Italy. It has a population of 6,494.
Twin towns — sister cities
Verdello is twinned with:
* Balaruc-les-Bains, France
Transportation
* Verdello-Dalmine railwa ...
and
Welschriesling
Welschriesling is a white wine grape variety, unrelated to the Rhine Riesling, that is grown throughout Central Europe. Origin
The descendance of Welschriesling is uncertain. The German name ''Welschriesling'' literally means ' Romanic Riesling' ...
.
In Maremma, a hidden gem with many wineries, is Poggio Argentiera winery which makes Morellino di Scansano and other wines.
The wines of
Montecarlo
Monte Carlo (; ; french: Monte-Carlo , or colloquially ''Monte-Carl'' ; lij, Munte Carlu ; ) is officially an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco, specifically the ward of Monte Carlo/Spélugues, where the Monte Carlo Casino is ...
region include several varieties that are not commonly found in Tuscan wines including
Sémillon
Sémillon is a golden-skinned grape used to make dry and sweet white wines, mostly in France and Australia. Its thin skin and susceptibility to botrytis make it dominate the sweet wine region Sauternes AOC and Barsac AOC.
History
The Sémil ...
and
Roussanne
Roussanne is a white wine grape grown originally in the Rhône wine region in France, where it is often blended with Marsanne. It is the only other white variety, besides Marsanne, allowed in the northern Rhône appellations of Crozes-Hermitage ...
. The minor Chianti grape
Ciliegiolo
Ciliegiolo is a variety of red wine grape from Italy, named after the Italian for 'cherry'. It is a minor component of traditional blends such as Chianti, but interest has revived in recent years. In Umbria it is made into a light quaffing wine, ...
is also popular here. The island of
Elba
Elba ( it, isola d'Elba, ; la, Ilva) is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, from the coastal town of Piombino on the Italian mainland, and the largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago. It is also part of the Arcipelago Toscano Nationa ...
has one of the longest winemaking histories in Tuscany and is home to its own DOC. Some of the wines produced here include a
sparkling Trebbiano wine, a sweet Ansonica ''passito'', and a semi-sweet dessert wine from
Aleatico.
List of approved quality labels for Tuscan wines
DOCG Wines
*
Brunello di Montalcino (Rosso as normale and Riserva), produced in the province of
Siena
Siena ( , ; lat, Sena Iulia) is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.
The city is historically linked to commercial and banking activities, having been a major banking center until the 13th and 14th centur ...
*
Carmignano
Carmignano is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the province of Prato, part of the Italian region Tuscany. It is located about west of Florence and about southwest of Prato. It is the centre of the wine region of the same name.
Geography
C ...
(Rosso as normale and Riserva), produced in the provinces of
Firenze
Florence ( ; it, Firenze ) is a city in Central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany region. It is the most populated city in Tuscany, with 383,083 inhabitants in 2016, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.Bilancio demografico an ...
and
Prato
*
Chianti
A Chianti wine (, also , ) is any wine produced in the Chianti region of central Tuscany. It was historically associated with a squat bottle enclosed in a straw basket, called a ''fiasco'' ("flask"; ''pl. fiaschi''). However, the ''fiasco'' is ...
(Rosso as normale and Riserva), produced in the provinces of
Arezzo,
Firenze
Florence ( ; it, Firenze ) is a city in Central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany region. It is the most populated city in Tuscany, with 383,083 inhabitants in 2016, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.Bilancio demografico an ...
,
Pisa,
Pistoia,
Prato and
Siena
Siena ( , ; lat, Sena Iulia) is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.
The city is historically linked to commercial and banking activities, having been a major banking center until the 13th and 14th centur ...
; with the option to indicate one of the sub-regions:
**
Classico as normale and Riserva, produced in the provinces of
Firenze
Florence ( ; it, Firenze ) is a city in Central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany region. It is the most populated city in Tuscany, with 383,083 inhabitants in 2016, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.Bilancio demografico an ...
and
Siena
Siena ( , ; lat, Sena Iulia) is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.
The city is historically linked to commercial and banking activities, having been a major banking center until the 13th and 14th centur ...
[Since 1996 the Classico sub-region has had a ''disciplinare'' (official document laying down the regulations for production) separate from that of the rest of the Chianti (''Decreto Ministeriale'' of 5 August 1996).]
**Colli Aretini as normale and Riserva produced in the province of
Arezzo
**Colli Senesi as normale and Riserva, produced in the province of
Siena
Siena ( , ; lat, Sena Iulia) is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.
The city is historically linked to commercial and banking activities, having been a major banking center until the 13th and 14th centur ...
**Colli Fiorentini as normale and Riserva, produced in the province of
Firenze
Florence ( ; it, Firenze ) is a city in Central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany region. It is the most populated city in Tuscany, with 383,083 inhabitants in 2016, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.Bilancio demografico an ...
**Colline Pisane as normale and Riserva, produced in the province of
Pisa
**Montalbano as normale and Riserva, produced in the provinces of
Firenze
Florence ( ; it, Firenze ) is a city in Central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany region. It is the most populated city in Tuscany, with 383,083 inhabitants in 2016, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.Bilancio demografico an ...
,
Pistoia and
Prato
**Montespertoli as normale and Riserva, produced in the province of
Pisa
**Rufina as normale and Riserva, produced in the province of
Firenze
Florence ( ; it, Firenze ) is a city in Central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany region. It is the most populated city in Tuscany, with 383,083 inhabitants in 2016, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.Bilancio demografico an ...
**Chianti Superiore, produced throughout the Chianti region with the exception of the classico sub-region.
*
Elba
Elba ( it, isola d'Elba, ; la, Ilva) is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, from the coastal town of Piombino on the Italian mainland, and the largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago. It is also part of the Arcipelago Toscano Nationa ...
Aleatico passito produced on the island of Elba in the province of
Livorno
*
Montecucco Sangiovese produced in the province of
Grosseto
Grosseto () is a city and ''comune'' in the central Italian region of Tuscany, the capital of the Province of Grosseto. The city lies from the Tyrrhenian Sea, in the Maremma, at the centre of an alluvial plain on the Ombrone river.
It is the ...
*
Morellino di Scansano
Morellino di Scansano DOCG is an Italian red wine made in the hilly environs of the village of Scansano, GR, in the Maremma region of coastal Tuscany, which has an ancient but obscure tradition of winemaking. Morellino is the local name for the S ...
(Rosso as normale and Riserva), produced in the province of
Grosseto
Grosseto () is a city and ''comune'' in the central Italian region of Tuscany, the capital of the Province of Grosseto. The city lies from the Tyrrhenian Sea, in the Maremma, at the centre of an alluvial plain on the Ombrone river.
It is the ...
*
Suvereto produced in the province of
Livorno
*
Val di Cornia
Val may refer to: Val-a
Film
* ''Val'' (film), an American documentary about Val Kilmer, directed by Leo Scott and Ting Poo
Military equipment
* Aichi D3A, a Japanese World War II dive bomber codenamed "Val" by the Allies
* AS Val, a So ...
Rosso produced in the province of
Livorno and
Pisa
*
Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Vernaccia is a white Italian wine, made from the Vernaccia grape, produced in and around the Italian hill town of San Gimignano in Tuscany. It was the first Italian wine to be awarded ''Denominazione di Origine Controllata'' (DOC) status in 1966; ...
(Bianco as normale and Riserva), produced in the province of
Siena
Siena ( , ; lat, Sena Iulia) is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.
The city is historically linked to commercial and banking activities, having been a major banking center until the 13th and 14th centur ...
*
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a red wine with a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita status produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montepulciano, Italy. The wine is made primarily from the Sangiovese grape varietal (know ...
(Rosso as normal and Riserva), produced in the province of
Siena
Siena ( , ; lat, Sena Iulia) is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.
The city is historically linked to commercial and banking activities, having been a major banking center until the 13th and 14th centur ...
DOC Wines
*
Ansonica Costa dell'Argentario
Ansonica Costa dell'Argentario is a dry Italian white wine from the region of Tuscany, Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of ...
produced in the province of Grosseto
*
Barco Reale di Carmignano produced in the provinces of Firenze and Prato
*
Bianco della Valdinievole produced in the province of Pistoia
*
Bianco dell'Empolese produced in the provinces of Firenze and Pistoia
*
Bianco di Pitigliano produced in the province of Grosseto
*
Bianco Pisano di San Torpè produced in the province of Pisa
*
Bianco Vergine della Valdichiana produced in the provinces of Arezzo and Siena
*
Bolgheri
Bolgheri () is a central Italian village and hamlet (''frazione'') of Castagneto Carducci, a municipality (''comune'') in the province of Livorno, Tuscany. in 2011 it had a population of 131.
History
First mentioned in 1075, in a papal bull by ...
produced in the province of Livorno
*
Bolgheri Sassicaia produced in the province of Livorno
*
Candia dei Colli Apuani produced in the province of Massa-Carrara
*
Capalbio produced in the province of Grosseto
*
Colli dell'Etruria Centrale produced in the provinces of Arezzo, Firenze, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato and Siena
*
Colli di Luni an inter-regional DOC produced in the provinces of Massa-Carrara (Toscana) and of La Spezia (Liguria)
*
Colline Lucchesi produced in the province of Lucca
*
Cortona produced in the province of Arezzo
*
Elba
Elba ( it, isola d'Elba, ; la, Ilva) is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, from the coastal town of Piombino on the Italian mainland, and the largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago. It is also part of the Arcipelago Toscano Nationa ...
produced in the province of Livorno
*
Grance Senesi produced in the province of Siena
*
Grechetto Valdichiana Toscana Doc produced in the provinces of Arezzo
*
Maremma Toscana produced in the province of Grosseto
*
Montecarlo
Monte Carlo (; ; french: Monte-Carlo , or colloquially ''Monte-Carl'' ; lij, Munte Carlu ; ) is officially an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco, specifically the ward of Monte Carlo/Spélugues, where the Monte Carlo Casino is ...
produced in the province of Lucca
*
Montecucco produced in the province of Grosseto
*
Monteregio di Massa Marittima produced in the province of Grosseto
*
Montescudaio produced in the province of Pisa
*
Moscadello di Montalcino produced in the province of Siena
*
Orcia
The Val d'Orcia or Valdorcia () is a region of Tuscany, central Italy, which extends from the hills south of Siena to Monte Amiata. Its gentle, cultivated hills are occasionally broken by gullies and by picturesque towns and villages such as Pie ...
produced in the province of Siena
*
Parrina Parrina is a small Italian Denominazione di Origine Controllata comprising parts of the commune of Orbetello in the province of Grosseto, Tuscany. The DOC was awarded in 1971, and extends to with about 20 wine producers, the largest of which, by fa ...
produced in the province of Grosseto
*
Pomino produced in the province of Firenze
*
Rosso di Montalcino
Brunello di Montalcino is a red DOCG Italian wine produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montalcino, in the province of Siena, located about 80 km south of Florence in the Tuscany wine region. Brunello, a diminutive of Bruno ( ...
produced in the province of Siena
*
Rosso di Montepulciano
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a red wine with a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita status produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montepulciano, Italy. The wine is made primarily from the Sangiovese grape varietal (known ...
produced in the province of Siena
*
San Gimignano produced in the province of Siena
*
San Torpè produced in the province of Pisa
*
Sant'Antimo
Sant'Antimo is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Naples in the Italian region Campania, located about 13 km north of Naples.
Geography
The municipality is located at 67 m above sea level and is 16 km from the ce ...
produced in the province of Siena
*
Sovana
Sovana is a small town in southern Tuscany, Italy, a ''frazione'' of Sorano, a comune in the province of Grosseto.
History
Etruscan by origin, Sovana became a Roman ''municipium'', and, from the 5th century, an episcopal see.
Conquered by Lomba ...
produced in the province of Grosseto
*
Terratico di Bibbona
*
Terre di Casole
*
Terre di Pisa in the province of Pisa
*
Val d'Arbia
The Arbia is a torrent in Tuscany, central Italy, a tributary of the river Ombrone. Its source is located in the '' comune'' of Castellina in Chianti, at 620 m above sea level. It flows into the Ombrone near Buonconvento.
The river is menti ...
produced in the province of Siena
*
Val d'Arno di Sopra
*
Val di Cornia
Val may refer to: Val-a
Film
* ''Val'' (film), an American documentary about Val Kilmer, directed by Leo Scott and Ting Poo
Military equipment
* Aichi D3A, a Japanese World War II dive bomber codenamed "Val" by the Allies
* AS Val, a So ...
*
Valdichiana Toscana
*
Valdinievole
Valdinievole or Val di Nievole (; "Valley of the Nievole (River)") is an area in the south-western part of the province of Pistoia, Tuscany, Italy.
Geography
The area is made up of 11 comuni: Buggiano, Chiesina Uzzanese, Larciano, Lamporecchio, ...
produced in the Province of Pistoia
*Vinsanto Valdichiana Toscana Doc produced in the provinces of Arezzo
*
Vin Santo del Chianti produced in the provinces of Arezzo, Firenze, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato and Siena
*
Vin Santo del Chianti Classico produced in the provinces of Firenze and Siena
*
Vin Santo del Carmignano
*
Vin Santo di Montepulciano
Vin or VIN may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Vîn TV, a Kurdish language satellite television channel founded in 2007
* ''Vos Iz Neias?'', an American Jewish online news site
* Coastal radio station VIN Geraldton (callsign), a statio ...
produced in the province of Siena
IGT Wines
*
Alta Valle della Greve (''Bianco''; ''Rosato''; ''Rosso'' in the styles ''normale'' and ''Novello'') produced in the province of Firenze.
*
Colli della Toscana Centrale (''Bianco'' in the styles ''normale'' and ''Frizzante''; ''Rosato''; ''Rosso'' in the styles ''normale'' and ''Novello'') produced in the provinces of Arezzo, Firenze, Pistoia, Prato and Siena.
*
Costa Toscana (''Bianco'' in the styles ''normale'' and ''Frizzante''; ''Rosato''; ''Rosso'' in the styles ''normale'' and ''Novello'') produced in the province of Grosseto.
*
Toscano or
Toscana
it, Toscano (man) it, Toscana (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 =
, demographics_type1 = Citizenship
, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographics1_title1 = Italian
, demogra ...
(''Bianco'' in the styles ''normale'', ''Frizzante'' and Abboccato; ''Rosato'' in the styles ''normale'' and Abboccato; ''Rosso'' in the styles ''normale'', Abboccato and ''Novello'') produced throughout the region of Toscana.
*
Val di Magra
__NOTOC__
The Magra is a long river of Northern Italy, which runs through Pontremoli, Filattiera, Villafranca in Lunigiana and Aulla in the province of Massa-Carrara (Tuscany); Santo Stefano di Magra, Vezzano Ligure, Arcola, Sarzana and Amegli ...
(''Bianco''; ''Rosato''; ''Rosso'' in the styles ''normale'' and ''Novello'') produced in the province of Massa Carrara.
*
Montecastelli (''Bianco''; ''Rosso'' in the styles ''normale'' and ''Novello'') produced in the communes of Castelnuovo Val di Cecina, Volterra, and Pomarance in the province of Pisa.
See also
*
List of Italian DOCG wines
*
List of Italian DOC wines
*
List of Italian IGT wines
*
History of Chianti
The history of Chianti dates back to at least the 13th century with the earliest incarnations of Chianti as a white wine. Today this Tuscan wine is one of Italy's most well known and recognizable wines. In the Middle Ages, the villages of Gaio ...
References
External links
Are Super-Tuscans Still Super? Food and Wine Magazine, Dec. 2006
Rebels without a cause? The demise of Super-Tuscans The World of Fine Wine, Issue 23 2009
Are Super-Tuscans Still Super? The New York Times, April 13, 2009
{{DEFAULTSORT:Toscana (Wine)
Wine regions of Italy
Tuscany