Toscana (Tuscany) is one of the most romantic areas on earth. Many books, songs, and films try to capture its endless charm - the reality is even better. The visitor falls in love with the charming villages and towns, Sienna, San Gimignano and of course, timeless Firenze (Florence), the region’s capital, and is enchanted by the soft hills covered with vineyards and trees, seaside views, impressive towering fortresses, wineries, art museums and galleries, and sunsets. Oh, the sunsets. Welcome to Toscana! 

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Location & Climate

Toscana is in west-central Italy, with an area of approximately 23,000 square km, bordering with the Ligurian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west and with 5 other regions in the north, east, and south. The topography is mainly hilly with a mountain area and a few fertile plains. The main river flowing through Toscana is Arno, and if you follow its path, you will visit most of the largest cities of Toscana.

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The climate is mild warm Mediterranean in the areas closer to the coast and is rainier with fluctuating temperatures inland, further from the moderating effect of the sea. Winters are cold and rainy and summers are sunny, warm, even hot.

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History

The area has a rich history from ancient times to our days. It was home to many ancient cultures and civilizations such as the Etruscan and the ancient Romans and to a spectrum of activities like agriculture, mining, and infrastructure construction. Later, in Medieval and in the Renaissance times it was home to strong Italian nobility families, such as the famous Medici family whose members influenced Christianity, Europe, and western civilization as popes, queens, and kings. The Medici family members, although some were known for their cruelty, were always benevolent patrons of science, physics, art, music, literature, architecture, and exploratory maritime voyages.

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Firenze, the region's capital as well as many Tuscan towns are Italy’s largest art and culture area, and all the important artists and scientists lived, thought and created there. Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and Botticelli are among the most famous geniuses topping an endless list. While creating masterpieces and developing physics and astronomy, as well as in their free time - they enjoyed local wines and foods. 

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Winemaking in Toscana

Winemaking dates back some 3,000 years ago, with the first Etruscan. In the time of the Ancient Roman Empire, wine from Toscana followed the Roman army wherever it conquered, as the soldiers drank wine instead of water (which could be unsafe to drink). Thus, Tuscan wines reached not only southern Italy but also ancient France (Gaul), Greece and Middle East.

 

During Medieval times the vineyards in Toscana were cultivated by the monasteries, gradually joined by the aristocracy and the merchants, and, as happened in many professions of that period, the Guild of Wine (Arte dei Vinattieri) was established to regulate production and sale of wine. 

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Tuscan Red Wines

Like most Italian wine regions, Toscana offers a variety of wine styles, and the important ones are all reds. These wines range from big impressive wines to basic table everyday wines.  Selecting the most suitable wines requires focus because it is easy to get lost among the thousands of wineries and wines. 

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The principal grape is Sangiovese with its typical high acidity and tannins that mellow when aged in oak. Other local varieties include Canaiolo, Colorino, Malvasia Nera, and Mommolo.

 

Vineyards are typically planted at an altitude of 150 - 500 meters on the hillsides. The Sangiovese grape benefits from the abundance of Toscana sunlight and from the variable temperature due to the altitude, retaining a good balance of sugar and acidity with distinct aromatic qualities of cherries and red berries.

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The main wines of Toscana are all red: Chianti, Brunello Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and Super Tuscan including Bolgheri.

 

Toscana has 11 wines classified DOCG: Brunello di Montalcino, Carmignano, Chianti Classico, Chianti Riserva, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Morellino di Scansano, Montecucco, Suvereto and Val di Cornia. Elba Aleatico DOCG, a sweet wine, has been enjoyed not only by the Greeks and the Romans but also by Napoleon during his exile on the island of Elba. There are 41 DOC classifications, however, sometimes producers prefer to use the IGT, less restrictive, classifications.

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Probably the best wines of Toscana are the Brunello di Montalcino (made of the Brunello local variety of Sangiovese, deep color, full-body, medium tannins, ages very well, the first DOCG Toscana wine) and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. These wines have an undisputable place of honor among the finest wines of Italy. The power and elegant of wines produced from Sangiovese are a perfect reflection of their terroir. 

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t is possible to find other international varieties like Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah that are used in interesting blends, al f which are IGT.

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Tuscan White Wines

White wines exist, however, one does not go to Toscana for whites.  The leading grapes for whites are Trebbiano, Malvasia, and Vernaccia.

Vernaccia di San Gimignano, produced from Vernaccia grapes, is the best white wine. White grapes are also used as part of the red blend known as Chianti.

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Chianti

Chianti is one of the most famous wines of Toscana. The traditional glass bottles nesting in straw were, for many years,  almost a synonym of a Toscana wine. Unfortunately, for many years, the appellation of Chianti required up to 70% Sangiovese grapes and at least 10% of a local white variety. These requirements often compromised the quality of Chianti.

 

Baron Ricasoli created the formula for modern Chianti in the 19th century, keeping the white grapes as part of the requirements. Today, Chianti must be produced of at least 75% Sangiovese, up to 10% Canaiolo and up to 10% white Malvasia and/or Trebbiano and up to 15% other grapes, for example, Cabernet Sauvignon. Of course, the wine producer decides which of these varieties he would like to use.

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As a result, there can be significant differences in the quality of Chianti wines, ranging from very basic to excellent. it is important to note that often the prices of Chianti wines are not an indication of the quality and there can be excellent Chianti wines at a very reasonable price, as well as highly overpriced relatively simple wines.

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Super Tuscan Wines

Super Tuscan Wines were born in the 1940s, when Bolgheri and Antinori Family started growing international wine grape varieties for family consumption only. They quietly produced wines from these grapes in the Sassicaia winery in the western seaside of Toscana, and created Tignanello, a blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Some thought it was an “experiment”, others perhaps considered it a “rebellion”. Finally in 1967, almost 3 decades later, the secret came out when Sassicaia winery started to sell these wines and they immediately received applause.

 

Bolgheri and Antinori, the “rebels” of yesterday, are today’s leaders, and other producers have followed to produce excellent Super Tuscan wines. These wines are IGT, because the producers prefer to retain flexibility in producing the blends, however, they are definitely worth attention. The Bordeaux blend (Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot) and the blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc known as Carmignano, have also localized quite well in Toscana. 

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Food Pairing

Tuscan wines go well with Tuscan foods. With your wine, you can easily enjoy fresh, carefully selected quality ingredients such as vegetables, bread, pasta, pizza, cheese, legumes, mushrooms including truffles, beef, pork, and of course, olive oil. The simple, fresh, and yet excellent ingredients showcase the quality of wines giving center stage to the wines.  

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