Some of the most notable wines in the world hail from Tuscany, and this is certainly not surprising since Italy produces more wine than any other country. The smooth flavor of the Tuscan wine is renowned, and for good reason. If you’re looking to ship some bottles home during your trip to Tuscany, be on the lookout for these popular varieties.
Super Tuscan Wine
Unofficial and relatively modern, the last few decades have given birth to the “super” Tuscan varieties of wine. These wines are unconventional and are made by blending grapes of different varieties. The heady variety of wines can be found in works of many regions.
Bolgheri Wines
One of the big three wine zones in Tuscany, the Bolgheri zone is in west region and is the home of Sassacaia and Tignanello. These wines originated here and have begun the trend of the super Tuscan wines. The Bolgheri wines have received world-wide attention as the attention to detail over the last decades have resulted in finer wines with much higher quality. Winemakers in this region have perfected the red Tuscan wine by blending grapes of the Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The end result is stunning, of course, and several wines have been produced by differing combinations of these grapes.
Montalcino Wines
Located around Siena in Tuscany, the Montalcino wine zone is known for producing the Brunello di Montalcino versions of Tuscan wines. Bunello di Montalcino is made from the Sangiovese grape and is aged for four years to create the perfect red wine. Two of those aged years are in oak barrels giving the wine the perfect flavor to be paired with meat dishes includes steaks and roast.
Chianti Classico Wines
Chianti wines rose to fame decades ago with the straw basket covering the round bottle of wine in a tiny Italian restaurant. The bottles have defined the region for years, but recently the Chianti Classico zone in the center of Tuscany has worked to develop new wines and improved versions of the classics. The primarily ingredients in Chianti Classico wines are red sangiovese grapes which are often blending with other grapes from the region. The wines produced in Chianti Classico are full-bodied and bold. The wines produced in the region are the much richer, more refined versions of the straw wines loved for decades for their kitsch value. While the straw covered bottles are still available, so are some of the finest wines in the world.
