TUSCANY
Tuscany is the most important Italian Wine Region and
among the most important in the world. It is widely known for the great Reds
and few others.
Tuscany is extremely varied in landscapes and wine
styles and boasts some of the most well-known and superb wines made in Italy
today. The hilly soil and the weather conditions of Tuscany are ideal for grape
growing and, with the passing centuries, the numerous types of grapes grown
gave rise to some rare and much loved varieties.
Tuscany produces the third highest volume of DOCG
quality wines. Tuscany is Italy's third most planted region (behind Sicily and Apulia) but it is eighth in
production volume. This is partly because the soil 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.
Apart from the world renowned Chianti, Brunello di
Montalcino and Vino Nobile de Montepulciano, Tuscany produces another variety
of wines called “Super Tuscan” that has found admirers all around the globe.
These wines haven’t obtained DOCG as they blend French Varietals like Cabernet
Sauvignon and Merlot with Sangiovese. These high quality wines are often IGT
recognized generally try and produce Bordeaux style wines with Sassicaia,
Ornellaia and Lupicaia among the top ones.
Other wines of note in Tuscany include Vernaccia di San
Gimignano, made in the outskirts of the gorgeous town of San Gimignano and Vin Santo, or
“Holy Wine”, a dessert delicacy usually made from Trebbiano grapes that have
been left to dry in an airy place until the start of Holy Week before being
made into wine.
Nowadays, the most grown variety is the noble
Sangiovese, which is often combined with small amounts of locally grown
Cabernet Sauvignon, Canaiolo, Ciliegiolo and other grapes into wonderful blends
such as the Brunello di Montalcino, Morellino di Scansano, Carmignano and, of
course, the signature Tuscan wines, the Chianti and Chianti Classico, which
probably are the best known Italian wines in the world. Other grapes grown here
are the Mammolo, Malvasia, Colorino, Raspirosso, Gamay, Grand Noir, Barbera,
Moscatello, Aleatico and Vernaccia, among others
TUSCAN WINE
APELLATIONS:
The appellation system applies to all the wines in all
of the regions in Italy, including Tuscany.
DOC and DOCG stand for Denominazione
di Origine Controllata (e Garantita) which translates to Designation of Controlled Origin
(and Guaranteed).
An area can be granted a DOC by a government
commission, and the DOC normally has to do with an area's tradition or if it is
particularly suitable for a specific wine. When the DOC is given, it is usually
given a trial of 10-20 yrs after which it might be given the extra classy
"Garantita".
Once a wine is DOCG it practically cannot be
declassified. The DOCGs are therefore the types of wine that have been around
for a longer time, are well known and give that extra "Quality"
guarantee to us wine drinkers. Sometimes the classification system is a little
misleading as it is different from the French.
It is to be noted that a wine with a DOCG status has to
be made according to a restrictive recipe, it must pass the chemical exam and a
tasting by an expert panel, and what is guaranteed is that the wine meets the
minimal expectations. In fact, a DOCG wine is not necessarily better than a DOC
or IGT wine. The real quality or should we say greatness of the wine is really
up to each individual producer.
Indicazione
Geografica Tipica (IGT) - Denotes wine from a more specific region within
Italy. This appellation was created in 1992 for wines that were considered to
be of higher quality than simple table wines, but which did not conform to the
strict wine laws for their region. Before the IGT was created, "Super
Tuscan" wines such as Tignanello were labeled Vino da Tavola.
DOCG:
Aleatico passito dell’Elba DOCG
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
Carmignano DOCG
Chianti DOCG
Chianti Classico DOCG
Montecucco Sangiovese DOCG
Morellino di Scansano DOCG
Suvereto DOCG
Val di Cornia Rosso DOCG
Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG
Suvereto DOCG
DOC:
Ansonica Costa dell’Argentario DOC
Barco Reale di Carmignano
Bianco dell’Empolese DOC
Bianco di Pitigliano DOC
Bolgheri DOC
Candia dei Colli Apuani DOC
Capalbio DOC
Colli dell’Etruria Centrale DOC
Colli di Luni DOC
Colline Lucchesi DOC
Cortona DOC
Elba DOC
Grance Senesi DOC
Maremma Toscana DOC
Montecarlo DOC
Montecucco DOC
Monteregio di Massa Marittima DOC
Montescudaio DOC
Moscadello di Montalcino DOC
Orcia DOC
Parrina DOC
Pietraviva DOC
Pomino DOC
Rosso di Montalcino DOC
Rosso di Montepulciano DOC
San Gimignano DOC
San Torpè DOC
Sant’Antimo DOC
Sassicaia DOC
Sovana DOC
Terratico di Bibbona DOC
Terre di Casole DOC
Val d’Arbia DOC
Val d’Arno di Sopra DOC
Valdichiana DOC
Val di Cornia DOC
Valdinievole DOC
Vin Ruspo DOC
Vin Santo del Chianti DOC
Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC
Vin Santo di Carmignano DOC
Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC
IGT:
Alta Valle della Greve
Colli della Toscana Centrale
Costa Etrusca
Montecastelli
Toscano o Toscana
Val di Magra
Categories:
Italian Wine Regions