Tuscany

In central Italy, Tuscany is one of the most well-known and prestigious wine regions in the world. It is a region of mountains and hills covering over 90% of its territory, resulting in a multitude of microclimates within an overall Mediterranean climate. Tuscany’s soils exhibit a beautiful variety. Predominantly, there are clay-limestone and sandy soils, along with others rich in pebbles, especially along the Arno River which runs through Tuscany from east to west. With over 60,000 hectares under cultivation, Tuscany produces more than 2.5 million hectoliters of wine, positioning the region as the sixth-largest producer in Italy. Tuscany is primarily known for its red wines, which constitute 90% of the region’s total production. It boasts the most DOCG appellations in Italy, with four: Chianti, Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Its flagship grape variety is Sangiovese, which can be vinified solo or blended with Canaiolo, Ciliegiolo, Colorino, and international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, forming the basis of the Super Tuscans. These wines sought to distinguish themselves from Chianti during its troubled period and now enjoy international renown. Among the white grape varieties vinified in Tuscany, Vernaccia and Trebbiano Toscano are authorized in Vernaccia di San Gimigniano, Italy’s first DOC appellation, ahead of Chiantis, Brunello and Barolo. To drink a wine from Tuscany is to participate in a distinct experience; it’s to accept to be carried away into rich, intense and diverse taste zones. The know-how shared for generations and the symbiosis between grape varieties and the unique terroir make it possible to produce some of the finest wines in the world.