Region Of The Week: Tuscany
The birthplace of the Renaissance and home to various well-known wine regions, Tuscany is located in central Italy, where the production of wine has been around since the 8th century BC. Also known as Toscana, Tuscany is the sixth largest wine producing region in Italy. Overall, Tuscany’s climate tends to be more Mediterranean, with mild, rainy winters and warmer, dry summers, while also influenced by elevation and distance to the ocean.
The three most well-known regions within Tuscany are Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. The oldest appellation in the region, Chianti offers a wide range of wines, from lighter, easy-drinking reds to serious, powerful Riservas. Meanwhile, Brunello di Montalcino is the top region for Sangiovese in the world, as their wines are made from 100% Sangiovese, which tend to be full-bodied, powerful, and can be aged for a while. Often in the shadows of the other regions, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is situated on a hill and produces medium bodied red wines with notes of dark fruit and hints of earth.
Once home to dozens of varietals, Tuscany’s major red wine grape is Sangiovese, as it plays a key role in most of its red wines, while the most planted white wine grape is Trebbiano, which can normally be found in blends. With the wine revolution in the 1970s, Tuscany started producing higher quality wines as well as Super Tuscans, which are Bordeaux-style wines made with international grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. Super Tuscan wines tend to be made untraditionally, but are a great way to introduce people to Italian wines. Other grapes found in Tuscany include Canaiolo, Colorino, Malvasia, Vernaccia, and Vermentino.
Ready to explore?
Check out our Tuscan wines below:
