[Italy] How to enjoy Tuscan wine | Characteristics and recommended wines

A country road with endless rolling hills lined with cypress trees. An old castle and winery spread out on the hill. With its romantic scenery, Tuscany is Italy's most famous wine region. It has a long history, with grapes being cultivated in the 8th century BC. More than 80% of the production is red wine, and the representative grape is Sangiovese. It has distinctive red fruit aromas, high acidity and tannins that wrinkle the palate. Chianti, perhaps the most famous wine in Italy, is made from over 80% Sangiovese grapes from the Tuscan region. Trebbiano is the most widely grown white grape.

Tuscany DOCG label

Italy has over 70 DOCG (Italian classification of wines of the highest quality guaranteed), of which the following 11 labels are from Tuscany. Tuscany is famous for its red wine, but it also produces dry white wine and dessert wine.

1. Carmignano
2. chianti
3. Vernaccia di San Gimignano
4. Brunello di Montalcino
5. Morellino di Scansano
6. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
7. Chianti Classico
8. Elba Areatico Passito
9. Montecucco Sangiovese
10. Suverate
11. Val di Cornia Rosso

5 recommended Tuscan wine labels

Speaking of Italian wine, “Chianti”

There are two types of wine named Chianti: Chianti and Chianti Classico. This time I recommend " Chianti Classico ".

Easy-drinking Chianti has long been popular in Italy as a wine that can be enjoyed casually every day. After that, wine with the name Chianti began to be produced everywhere, and it became difficult to maintain high quality. Chianti is getting worse and worse. That's why the producers who have been making Chianti for a long time stepped up. In this historical district that has been producing Chianti wine for a long time, we will start producing wine that is made according to regulations and named "Chianti Classico." This "Chianti Classico" has dispelled the image that Chianti = cheap alcohol, and now it is on par with high-class wine.

Chianti Classico is made from 80% to 100% Sangiovese grapes. It also has a characteristic that emphasizes further aging, requiring at least 11 months of barrel aging. The color is a bright ruby. Balanced and dry with high acidity and gentle tannins.

Chianti Classico pairs perfectly with red meat dishes and tomato sauce that are common in the Chianti area. It's especially great when paired with Tuscany's signature dish, ``T-bone steak'' (Bistecca alla Fiorentina)! Please enjoy Chianti Classico with a steak simply finished with olive oil.

“Super Tuscan”, a maverick that took the world by storm

In the 1970s, high-quality wines that were not bound by DOC regulations were born one after another in Italy. This is "Super Tuscan". Literally, it has the meaning of surpassing Tuscan wine. It was started by Chianti producers who rebelled against DOC regulations, which strictly regulated grape varieties and production methods by the government. It is often made from non-native Cabernet, Merlot, and Syrah, and is sometimes blended with native Sangiovese. In less than 10 years, this high-quality wine, free from DOC regulations, has spread all over the world and become one of the most popular wines.

Among the Super Tuscans, ``Sassicaia'' is one of the most popular wines in the world. It ranks 6th in the search frequency rankings of the world-famous site Wine-Searcher.com. It is the only Italian wine in the top 25. You can feel the firm fruitiness, and the powerful yet supple tannins are impressive. An energetic yet well-balanced and elegant wine. The lingering finish is beautiful with minerals and a slight bitterness. You can enjoy it from an early age, but you can enjoy a stronger structure by aging it for a long time.

Miracle wine “Brunello di Montalcino”

Brunello di Montalcino is called the "miracle wine". Made from 100% Sangiovese grapes, it is said to be one of the ``three major (3B)'' Italian wines, along with Barolo and Barbaresco. Brunello di Montalcino is a region famous for producing wine using traditional methods that have remained unchanged for centuries. It cannot be sold until at least 5 years have passed since manufacture. You can enjoy the rich aroma of berries such as cherries and sweet spices, as well as a robust flavor with complexity and concentration.

We recommend pairing it with meat dishes flavored with mushrooms or truffles, or with goat cheese.

Noble and powerful red “Vino Nobile di Montepulciano”

Nobile means "noble" in Italian. As the name suggests, it has been a favorite drink among aristocrats. Since the 17th century, it has continued to produce high-quality wine for so long that it was called the "King of Tuscan Wine."
It is a blend of over 70% Sangiovese grapes and up to 30% other varieties licensed in Tuscany. (Within 5% of Naishiro grapes) Also, because it needs to be aged for two years or more, you can feel the firm tannins. This heavy and powerful wine is recommended for those who like red wine. Its strong flavor marries perfectly with beef and lamb.

Vernaccia di San Gimignano, the only white wine in Tuscany DOCG

The only white wine from Tuscany to receive DOCG. A historic wine known since the Middle Ages, it was already one of Italy's most noble wines during the Renaissance. It is made using over 85% of the white grape variety Vernaccia, and has a beautiful yellow color. A slightly dry and refreshing taste packed with floral aroma. Leaves an almond aftertaste.

Vernaccia di San Gimignano is recommended to be paired with fish, shellfish or chicken. It goes well with seafood, risotto, and oil pasta simply seasoned with olive oil.

Enjoy Tuscan wine

Tuscany is full of charm, not just wine, but landscapes and food. There are old castles and wineries perched on the wide hills that go on forever. Tuscan cuisine is made with fresh seafood from the Mediterranean and vegetables and meat from Tuscany, seasoned simply with olive oil. Let's enjoy Tuscan wine with delicious meals while imagining the wonderful scenery of Tuscany!

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