Description
The Sangiovese grape, along with other well known international varieties are caressed by the warm Mediterranean sun and cultivated on fertile hills which are rich in sandstone, marl and limestone. This combination, along with a mild climate, produce a wide variety of delicious wines.
The most well known wine regions in Tuscany are: Chianti, between Florence and Siena – Brunello di Montalcino and Montepulciano, in Val d’Orcia – Carmignano, in Prato, just west of Florence – Bolgheri, in the province of Livorno – and Vernaccia, near San Gimingnano. They boast 33 DOC (Denominazioni di origine controllata) and 11 DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) wines, and many more recently classified as “Super Tuscans.”
Such internationally renowned producers as Antinori, Frescobaldi, Rufino and Biondi Santi offer guided tours of their vineyards and cellars, followed by wine tastings combined with local gastronomic specialities such as traditional Tuscan bread, cured meats, cheese and honey. It’s also worth keeping in mind there are many smaller producers in all of the regions that also conduct tours and tastings.
Our advice is to be adventurous and let your taste buds guide you. We’re sure finding a disappointing bottle will require a pleasurable and time-consuming search. A charming medieval village or city is never far away, so mixing history, culture and the timeless beauty of the Tuscan countryside with a vineyard venue is a perfect way to please all the senses in a single outing!
