Tuscany

Tuscany’s average annual wine production of 292 million litres (6th in volume among the regions) includes 62% DOC/DOCG and 26% IGT. Red wine accounts for about 85% of Tuscany’s production.

Florence’s region remains the nation’s most dynamic producer of premium wines. Tuscany’s modern renaissance is wine began in Chianti, in the central hills around Siena and Florence, but it rapidly spread to take in the strip along the Mediterranean coast that was not previously noted for vineyards.

Tuscans continue to excel with classical reds based on the native Sangiovese vine – Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Carmignano and Morellino di Scansano – all DOCG. But success with other reds (especially those known as “Super Tuscans”) has been augmented by new styles of whites to enhance the region’s reputation.

Chianti, still the dominant force in Tuscan viniculture, is produced in seven distinct zones and adjacent areas that cover a vast territory of central Tuscany around the original core of Chianti Classico, which has a DOCG of its own. What Chianti has in common with all of the traditional red wines of Tuscany is its major grape variety Sangiovese.

The production of upscale alternative wines, which began as a trend, became an essential factor in the general improvement of Tuscan reds. Cult wines known as “Super Tuscans” continue to prosper and rank among the most esteemed and expensive red wines of Italy.
Until recently, Tuscan whites rarely enjoyed prestige, probably because most of them consisted of the pedestrian varieties of Trebbiano and Malvasia. Recently, whites of depth and complexity have been produced in Tuscany, made from such varieties as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinots, all of which are finding comfortable environments in cooler parts of the regions’ hills.

The pride of many a Tuscan winemaker is the rich Vin Santo, which has become DOC in many zones around the region. Most Vin Santo is made from white varieties, mainly Malvasia and Trebbiano, though the type called Occhio di Pernice comes from red wine grapes.