The picturesque, rolling hills of Tuscany are home to some of the world’s most renowned and sought after wines. From the simple countryside Chianti to the coveted Supertuscan such as Sassacaia, Tuscany is a land of magic and variety. Tuscany is almost as famous for its romantic backdrops as it is for its wine and food. The most famous wines from Tuscany are perhaps the wines of Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino, which are made from Sangiovese.
Brunello di Montalcino is grown on marl and limestone soils must be aged for two years in barrel and four years in total before release and are typically incredibly long lived. Only formed in 1994, the Bolghieri DOC is where Supertuscan wines are grown and made. This more modern style of wine uses Bordeaux varietals such as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon to create full-bodied, complex wines, many of which are now considered cult wines commanding premium prices. More value can be found within the second or third labels of these producers.
Chianti in Tuscany is a region where the wines are highly varied. Some earliest memories of wine drinkers are having round bottles of Chianti in straw baskets, known as fiascos. Today, some of the best price for value wines are coming from this historic region. At the heart of the region is the Chianti Classico DOCG, which are known for the best quality wines marked by ephemeral aromatics of cherry, violets, spices and well structured tannins with minimal oak aging. Chianti Rufina DOCG, after Chianti Classico, is perhaps regarded as the next top-quality production sub region. Similar to Chianti Classico, the altitudes are higher, leading to cooler temperatures and slower ripening of Sangiovese that produces a wine of higher acidity but also lovely, complex aromatics, these are wines to set down and age for 10+ years.
