Wines in Tuscany

Wines in Tuscany

Tuscany produces some of Italy's finest wines. Here's a primer to help you navigate both the Tuscan wine list and the wine roads.

Varieties

The name Chianti evokes Tuscany as readily as gondolas evoke Venice, but if you think Chianti is about straw-covered jugs and deadly headaches, think again. This firm, full-bodied wine pressed from mostly Sangiovese grapes is the region's most popular, and it's easy to taste why. More difficult to understand is the difference between the many kinds of Chianti: there are seven subregions, including Chianti Classico, the oldest, whose wines have a gallo nero (black rooster) on the label. Each subregion has its own particularities, but the most noticeable -- and costly -- difference is between regular Chianti and the riserva stock, aged at least four years.

Beginning in the 1970s, some winemakers, chafing at the strict regulations for making Chianti, chose to buck tradition and blend their wines in innovative ways. Thus was born the Super Tuscan (a name coined by American journalists). These pricey, French oak-aged wines continue to be the toast of Tuscany.

The Etruscans were making wine in Montepulciano before the days of ancient Rome. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, the "Noble Wine," gained its title by virtue of royal patronage: in 1669, England's William III sent a delegation to procure the highly regarded wine. Less noble but no less popular is Rosso di Montepulciano, a light, fruity doc red.

With its velvety black berries and structured tannins, Brunello di Montalcino is just as sophisticated as Vino Nobile. The strain of Sangiovese grape used to make it was developed in 1870 by a winemaker in need of vines that could cope with windy weather. The resulting wine was a hit. Brunello has a younger sibling, Rosso di Montepulciano.

Not all of Tuscany's great wines are reds; in fact, many give top honors to a white wine, Vernaccia di San Gimignano. This golden wine is made from grapes native to Liguria. Its name is thought to be a corruption of Vernazza, one of the Cinque Terre villages.

Winery Visits

The SS222 (aka the Strada Chiantigiana) running through the heart of Chianti and other Strade del Vino (Wine Roads) throughout the region will lead you to an abundance of producers. You can do preliminary research at www.terreditoscana.region.toscana.it (click on "Strade del Vino"). When you're on the ground, visit any tourist information center in wine country (Greve, Montalcino, and Montepulciano are the best places to start) for maps and guidance. Then hit the road. Many wineries -- especially smaller producers -- offer free tastings without an appointment. Larger producers usually charge a small fee for a three-glass tasting, and sometimes require a reservation for a tour. Remember: always have a designated driver. Vineyards are usually off narrow, curving roads. Sobriety is a must.