Tuscany

Introduction

Tuscany is Italy's most internationally recognized wine region, home to Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino and the modern Super Tuscans that redefined Italian winemaking in the late 20th century. The Sangiovese grape dominates here, expressed in styles ranging from the bright, food-friendly wines of Chianti to the powerful, decades-worthy Brunellos of Montalcino.

Terroir and Winemaking

Tuscany's landscape of rolling hills, galestro and alberese soils, and a Mediterranean climate moderated by altitude, gives Sangiovese the combination of ripeness and acidity that makes it so versatile. Chianti Classico's Gallo Nero zone between Florence and Siena produces the region's most classic expression, while Montalcino's warmer microclimate yields the more structured, tannic Brunello. The 1970s and 80s saw a wave of innovation as producers began blending Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in coastal Bolgheri, creating the Super Tuscan category that put Tuscan wine on the global fine-wine map.