White
Roussanne
A Rhône white grown in tiny quantities in Tuscany, notably at Montecarlo in the hills near Lucca, where it has been present far longer than in most of the country. It gives body, a herbal tea note and a waxy texture with moderate acid.
Worth knowing
Around 1870 a Montecarlo grower, Giulio Magnani, travelled to France and brought back vines, among them Roussanne and Syrah from the Rhône and Sémillon, Sauvignon and the Cabernets from Bordeaux, and began blending them with Trebbiano Toscano. The Montecarlo whites still allow Roussanne and Sémillon today.
Where it is allowed1 appellation