An outstanding wine production characterizes the wines of Tuscany, a region that shares with Piedmont some of Italy’s most popular wines. In fact, nearly 70 thousand hectares of vine cultivation are located here, boasting a high number of DOC and DOCG wines.
The Wines of Tuscany
Cordone Speronato, Guyot and Spalliera are the most widely used vine training systems in the region. Although there are excellent types of whites, such as Colli di Luni, Bianco di Pitigliano, Vernaccia di San Gimignano and Ansonica dell’Argentario, it is in the intense and structured reds that the wines of Tuscany are at their best. Just think of the celebrated Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, Nobile di Montepulciano and Bolgheri.
Tuscan Grape Varieties
In this region, the most common Tuscan grape varieties are Trebbiano, Malvasia Bianca Lunga, Vermentino, Vernaccia and Ansonica for whites, and Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, Aleatico and Canaiolo for reds.
The most famous Tuscan grape variety is Sangiovese, from which various types of wines are obtained: both light and delicate reds or rosés, and very structured reds with high tannin and alcohol content.
Sangiovese – Tuscany’s Most Famous Grape
Depending on the territory in which they grow, the grapes of this variety will take on different connotations. Here, then, the Sangiovese of the Montalcino area will be enveloping, full-bodied and fragrant: in the case of Brunello, this will result in a wine that greatly improves its characteristics during aging in the cellar for several years.
Sangiovese from the Chianti areas, on the other hand, will give more elegant, delicate but at the same time full-bodied connotations, while wines from the Montepulciano area will show more robustness. In Maremma, wines from Tuscany exhibit enveloping notes, with savory tannins, as in the case of Morellino di Scansano.