Tuscany Wine Region

Tuscany is  located midway between Rome and Milan and is bordered on the west by the Tyrrhenian Sea and on the east by the Apennines mountains.

Inhabited by the Etruscans during the Middle Ages and continuing through the Renaissance, Tuscany developed into a major center of Learning and the Arts while under the influence of the Medici clan. And no art was more passionately developed here than that of wine making. Even prior to the migration of the Etruscans to the area, wild grape vines grew in abundances around Tuscany's sun-drenched hills. These early settlers developed the wild vines into the world-famous Sangiovese and Lambrusco grapes.

Along with these varieties are the Cabernet Sauvignon, Ciliegiolo and Canaiolo grapes which are used to produce Montalcino, Carmginano and Scansano varietals as well as the more  better known Chianti. Adding to the diversity are plentiful Gamay, Mammolo, Colorino, Malvasia, Raspirosso, Moscatello and others. Not just limited to red wines, there are the delightful whites of Elba Island, Vermentino, Val di Nievole and Bolgheri.

Tuscany is home to four of Italy's nine top-rated DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) classified zones. At only one particular Tuscan wine store the number of available vintages has grown from 1,000 just a few years ago to over 5,000 today. Little wonder why Italy now vies with France as the world leader in wine production.

Produced by vineyards that range from the Castello di Fonterutoli which is owned by the same family since the year 1435 to newer wineries founded only a few years ago, Tuscan wines are experiencing an all-time high in and popularity and quality.

The interest in quality is especially evident at Rocca delle Maccie which is an active member of a consortium of Chianti Classico growers. Using organic fertilizers, careful pruning, hand harvesting, and oak barriques for aging, this wine estate produces one of the best selling wines in Italy.

Another fine example, the Fassati Nobile di Montepulciano, made from a blend of Prugnolo Gentile (a clone of Sangiovese Grosso), Mammolo and Canaiolo Nero, was lauded as far back as the 18th century by Voltaire.

Wines created here range from the simple Chiantis to the complex super Tuscan reds, with their fruity aromas. Beginning with the change in vineyards and viticultural methods in the 1970's the vintages from 1996 onward have become world class.

The 'super Tuscans' became popular as more international style reds began to be produced from Bordeaux-style blends of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon along with the Sangiovese. Labeled 'table wine' to avoid counter-productive government regulations, they are now anything common. Among these outstanding new reds are the Brusco dei Barbi, honored among connoisseurs.

Not to be outdone by makers of red wines, the is a delightful, fruity white wine which pairs perfectly with seafood. And once the sole province of France, the Cabreo Chardonnay competes on equal footing.

The Renaissance lives on in the Tuscan wine region.

See a great selection of Italian Wines and Super Tuscan