The Top Wines of the Tuscany Region
What are Tuscany's best wines?...Tuscany wine tasting
Brunello di Montalcino
Tuscany is one of Italy's finest wine regions. In fact Tuscany is one of the world's finest wine regions. I am not saying that you can't go wrong with a Tuscan wine. I'm saying that there are many ways to go right with a Tuscan wine, and you don't have to spend a small fortune. Of course, should you so desire...
Tuscany has six DOCG wines, Brunello di Montalcino, Carmignano, Chianti, Chianti Classico, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. But you can't discuss Tuscany's top of the line wines without mentioning Super Tuscans, wines that don't carry DOC or DOCG classifications because their winemaker refused to bend to official regulations. Many of these wines have carved out a place for themselves on the world market. More about Super Tuscans later; let's start with the DOCGs.
Brunello di Montalcino is perhaps Tuscany's greatest wine. It is dark red, full-bodied, and tannic, with an aroma of black currants and licorice. It has an alcoholic content of 12.5% to 13.5%. Unlike so many other great and not so great Italian wines, Brunello's origin is fairly recent and very well defined. Around 1870 a Tuscan winemaker started working with a phylloxera-resistant clone of Sangiovese, the pride of Tuscany. This wine matures for a minimum of four years in oak casks. Brunello di Montalcino ages well, the first great vintage was 1888, and I am told that the 1888s are still emimently drinkable. The Riserva, in case a regular Brunello isn't good enough for you, is aged for an additional year. Actually the prices are not always sky high, many Brunellos are available in my area starting at about $50. Serve this wine at 64-67 degrees Fahrenheit (18-20 degrees Centigrade). Open the wine at least twelve hours before serving.
Carmignano wine region
Carmignano
Carmignano wines once carried the Chianti designation, but split off about thirty years ago when Chianti was not exactly a prestigious designation. Carmignano is a deep ruby red with maroon highlights and an almond aroma. Its alcoholic content is 12.5%. The wine itself dates back to the 14th Century when it was very expensive. Italy's first wine definition law protected this wine against fraud. Carmignano, grown near Florence, contains 50% Sangiovese, 20% Canaiolo, 20% Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon, and up to 10% of a combination of other local reds, and interestingly enough up to 10% of local white varieties. This dry red wine is aged for a minimum of 19 months; the Riserva is aged for a minimum of 35 months. Whether Riserva or not, it must be aged for at least 8 months in oak or chestnut barrels. Serve this wine at 64-67 degrees Fahrenheit (18-20 degrees Centigrade).
Tile with Chianti wine bottle
Chianti
Chianti. For many of us this designation evokes memories of straw-covered bottles and inexpensive Italian restaurants with red-checkered tablecloths. The food was good, and this centuries-old wine was usually fair to middling. While the Chianti was definitely red, by law it was obliged to contain the juice of white grapes as well as red ones, mostly Sangiovese. Times have changed. The local white grapes have to find their own wine, actually up to 10% of local white grapes are still allowed. Chianti is an intense ruby red with a violet aroma, and 12.5% alcohol. There are six geographical subdivisions of Chianti. The Riservas are all aged for a minimum of 24 months. You must be careful when choosing a Chianti, not all bottles deserve their top of the line classification. Serve this wine at 60-64 degrees Fahrenheit (16-18 degrees Centigrade) and open a few hours before serving.
Barrels of Chianti Classico wine
Chianti Classico
Chianti Classico comes from the oldest area in which Chianti is produced, namely in central Tuscany between Florence and Sienna. The wine contains between 80% and 100% Sangiovese. No white grapes are permitted. Because this wine may now include international varieties, some Super Tuscans may qualify as Chianti Classico. How many of them will actually apply for this designation remains to be seen. Serve this wine at 64-67 degrees Fahrenheit (18-20 degrees Centigrade) and open the bottle a few hours before serving.
Vernaccia di San Gimignano wine label
Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Vernaccia di San Gimignano is a light golden yellow wine containing 12% alcohol grown near Sienna in central Tuscany. This area has been populated since the days of the Etruscans and was always agricultural. The wine itself, possibly of Ligurian origin, has been popular for centuries. According to Dante, this wine was responsible for Pope Martin IV's gluttony, he overindulged in eels pickled in it. Vernaccia di San Gimignano is based on the local white grape of the same name, and may include up to 10% of other local white varieties. The Riserva is aged for a minimum of 12 months. Vernaccia di San Gimignano was Italy's first DOC wine (1966) and perhaps that's the reason why it was promoted to DOCG status.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano vineyards
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is an intense maroon red wine that turns orange with age. This wine whose alcohol content varies from 12.5% to 13.5% is produced in southeastern Tuscany near the Umbrian border. An Etruscan wine cup decorated with their god of wine was found in this area almost one hundred fifty years ago. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano contains at least 70% of a local Sangiovese clone (Prugnolo gentile), up to 20% Canaiolo nero, and up to 20% of other local varieties, including a maximum of 10% local white varieties. This dry wine is aged a minimum of 24 months with a minimum of a year in wood; the Riserva is aged a minimum of 36 months, also with a minimum of a year in wood. They may be cellared for 6 to 25 years. Serve this wine at 64-67 degrees Fahrenheit (18-20 degrees Centigrade).
Sassicaia Super Tuscan wine bottles
Sassicaia
Sassicaia is the original Super Tuscan wine. Incisa della Rochetta first produced it in 1948 from Cabernet Sauvignon vines said to come from the famous Château Lafite-Rothschild in Bordeaux. It first was sold on the open market twenty years later. This wine marked a real break with the past. It is at least 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, with Cabernet Franc making up the rest. Sassicaia is said to be the most elegant of the Super Tuscans. It is aged in French oak barrels for 24 months, and aged in the bottle for six months before reaching the market. Serve this wine at 64-67 degrees Fahrenheit (18-20 degrees Centigrade).
Tignanello Super Tuscan wine bottles
Tignanello
Tignanello is another world famous Super Tuscan composed of 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc. It has been produced since 1971, and originally contained some white grapes. This superb wine contains 13.5% alcohol. Tignanello is aged for two years before sale, spending the first year in French oak barrels. In a review dated January, 2007 the reviewer suggested waiting another three years before drinking the 1999 vintage. By the way, this wine originally classified as a table wine is now an IGT wine, even though with the changed rules the producers could apply for Chianti Classico DOCG classification. They have not, and presumably will not do so.
Masseto Super Tuscan wine label
Masseto
If these two wines are not expensive enough for you, why not consider a Masseto, made from 100% Merlot grown in Tuscany. The best vintages are said to compete with Bordeaux's Chateau Petrus, also a great wine that lacks an official classification reflecting its greatness. Moral of the story, drink the wine, not the classification.