Tuscany
What makes it special
This is Sangiovese country. Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano are all built on it, each from a different corner of the region and each with its own character.
What makes it unique
Tuscany drew wine boundaries early. In 1716 Grand Duke Cosimo III de' Medici fixed the borders of Chianti, Carmignano, Pomino and the Valdarno di Sopra by edict, one of the first legal wine designations anywhere. Much later the coast around Bolgheri made its name with Cabernet and Merlot the rules did not yet allow.
Why you should care
For a lot of people, the first serious Italian red was Tuscan. Going back with a map, from the Chianti hills to Montalcino to the coast, is the quickest way to learn how much a place changes a single grape.
44 of these still need a bottle. See them on the wanted list.
Outside the DOC system
All 16 from TuscanyIGT and plain Vino from Tuscany. They don't count toward the 411, and I review them the same way.
Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT
Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve 2023
“First bottled in 1981, when Chianti was mired in a crisis of overproduction and slipping quality, Flaccianello has long stood as Fontodi’s…”
Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT
Fontodi Meriggio 2024
“A light, glowing lemon core thins to a watery rim in the 2024 Fontodi Meriggio Sauvignon Blanc from Tuscany, a blend of 95% Sauvignon Blanc…”
Toscana IGT
Sanlorenzo Rosato 2025
“Built for the table and for the cellar, the 2025 San Lorenzo Rosé from Montalcino is a serious expression of pink wine.”
Wineries I've tasted in Tuscany
- Badia a Coltibuono
Gaiole in Chianti
- Borgo Bonelli
Casole d'Elsa
- Casanova di Neri
Podere Fiesole, Montalcino (SI)
- Fattoria Selvapiana
Rufina
- Fontodi
Panzano in Chianti (Greve in Chianti)
- Grattamacco
Castagneto Carducci
- Ornellaia
Bolgheri (Castagneto Carducci)
- Poggio di Sotto
Castelnuovo dell'Abate (Montalcino)
- Rotta Segreta
- Sanlorenzo
Montalcino