Exploring The Wines of Tuscany

I love wine, and I love Italy so I thought I’d make a blog post about two of my favorite things!

Before we went to Italy I was not a wine fan, in fact I could not stand the taste of it. But on our trip to Italy, I became a believer (and put a dent in our grocery bill ever since!)

Tuscany is by far my most favorite region of Italy with Campania (the famous Amalfi Coast) coming in second.

Now let’s check out the delicious wines offered in beautiful Tuscany!

Chianti

Chianti is a region located in central Tuscany between Florence and Siena. This is where Italy’s most famous wine – Chianti Classico originates.

Chianti Classico is a DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) wine and its bottles have a distinct label of a Black Rooster. Sangiovese grapes are used in this ruby red wine as well as others in Tuscan wines.

Taste: Dry

Style:  Light-bodied to full-bodied (depending where it was produced)

Notes: Tart cherries, plum and floral aromas

San Gimignano

In a region known for red wines, Vernaccia grapes are used in this citrus white wine. Light golden in color, it is produced in the walled hilltop town of San Gimignano.

Vernaccia di San Gimignano is a dry, pale and crisp wine that is citrus in taste.

The town of San Gimignano is a delight in itself! While it is another popular tourist destination in Tuscany, others can’t compete with its skyline of 14 medieval towers.

Taste: Dry

Style:  Medium-bodied

Notes: Citrus aromas, fruity and nutty

 Montepulciano

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is made with  Montepulciano grapes from the Abruzzo region.

In my research, I’ve found that it is not the same wine as Vino Nobile di Montepulciano which uses Sangiovese grapes instead of Montepulciano. So be careful in which one you buy if you specifically want the one with Montepulciano wine grapes.

This red wine pairs well with heavy meat sauces, lamb and beef.

Taste: Dry

Style:  Medium-bodied

Notes: Cherries, plums, dark berry and spicy aromas

Montalcino

I remember often hearing people say “a nice Brunello” when recommending a good red wine. Brunello is actually short for Brunello di Montalcino – produced around the town of Montalcino.

Like the other red wines in Tuscany it too uses Sangiovese grapes.

Brunello is one of those wines that (here comes the cliche) ages well overtime. The longer it ages, the smoother the taste. One drawback about this wine – the cost!

A bottle can go for at least $40 and up, depending on the age.

Taste: Dry

Style:  Full-bodied

Notes: Cherries, oregano and tobacco-like flavors

Bolgheri

When you think of a Tuscan town with roads of tree lined Cypress trees – think Bolgheri. It actually has a long road called Viale dei Cipressi (Cypress Avenue) that you can drive on your way in to this small village. It is located near the Tuscan coast and is coined as a “Super Tuscan” wine.

Super Tuscans are made with grapes outside of Tuscany like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, creating a Bordeaux-style blend. It pairs well with a juicy steak!

Taste: Dry

Style:  Full-bodied

Notes: Cherry, currant and chocolate flavors

I am by all means not an expert in Italian wine or any for that matter, but I do love to drink it! If you’re trying to decide which Tuscan wine to try, I hope this post helps in making your decision.

Are you a big fan of wine and what is your favorite? Also, don’t forget to download our free printable before you leave. Would you like to see more printables on our website? Comment below and share this post!

Bonus: Click here to download a free printable of our Tuscan wines map!

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Photos from Pixabay