Study / Region guides
Tuscany (Toscana)
11 DOCGs and 40 DOCs. Examined in Unit 2: Central and Southern Italy.
- Borders
- Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, Marche, Umbria, Lazio
- Wine provinces
- Siena, Grosseto, Livorno, Prato, Florence, Arezzo, Pisa, Pistoia, Lucca, Massa-Carrara
The land
About two thirds of Tuscany is hills. The Apennines close it off to the north and east, and the Tyrrhenian Sea lies to the west.
The central hills, home to Chianti Classico, Montalcino and Montepulciano, have warm days and cool nights. The coast, from Bolgheri down through the Maremma, is warmer and more even.
The classic hill soils are galestro, a flaky marl, and alberese, a harder limestone. The coast has more gravel, sand and clay.
The grapes
Sangiovese is behind almost every important red. It goes by Brunello in Montalcino, Prugnolo Gentile in Montepulciano and Morellino in Scansano.
Canaiolo and Colorino are its traditional partners. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot lead on the coast. The whites are Trebbiano Toscano, Vernaccia and Vermentino.
Which grape leads which appellation
- Sangiovese 11
- Brunello di Montalcino, Carmignano, Chianti, Chianti Classico, Montecucco Sangiovese, Morellino di Scansano, Rosso della Val di Cornia (Val di Cornia Rosso), Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Barco Reale di Carmignano, Rosso di Montalcino, Rosso di Montepulciano
- Trebbiano Toscano 2
- Bianco dell'Empolese, Bianco di Pitigliano
- Aleatico 1
- Elba Aleatico Passito
- Cabernet Sauvignon 1
- Bolgheri Sassicaia
- Inzolia 1
- Ansonica Costa dell'Argentario
- Moscato Bianco 1
- Moscadello di Montalcino
- Vermentino 1
- Candia dei Colli Apuani
- Vernaccia di San Gimignano 1
- Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Local names
- Alicante
- Cannonau (Grenache), in Morellino di Scansano, Maremma Toscana
- Ansonica
- Inzolia, in Ansonica Costa dell'Argentario, Elba, Maremma Toscana, Parrina, Val di Cornia
- Brunello
- Sangiovese, in Brunello di Montalcino
- Morellino
- Sangiovese, in Morellino di Scansano
- Procanico
- Trebbiano Toscano, in Elba
- Prugnolo Gentile
- Sangiovese, in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Rosso di Montepulciano
In the vineyard and cellar
Large Slavonian oak casks were the rule until barriques arrived with the Super Tuscans. Many estates have since gone back to larger wood.
Vin Santo is made from dried grapes aged for years in small sealed barrels. Governo, a second fermentation started with dried grapes, is the old way of softening young Chianti.
History and trade
Cosimo III de' Medici set the boundaries of Chianti, Pomino, Carmignano and Val d'Arno di Sopra in 1716. Bettino Ricasoli wrote down the Chianti blend in 1872.
Sassicaia and Tignanello broke the rules around 1970 and were sold as table wine. Chianti Classico has been a separate DOCG from Chianti since 1996.
The DOCGs
Oldest first. The year is when each one became a DOCG.
| Appellation | DOCG since | Grapes | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brunello di Montalcino | 1980 | Sangiovese (100%, locally called Brunello) | Siena |
| Vino Nobile di Montepulciano | 1980 | Sangiovese (min 70%, locally Prugnolo Gentile), Canaiolo, Mammolo, Colorino | Siena |
| Chianti | 1984 | Sangiovese (min 70%), Canaiolo, Colorino, Cabernet, Merlot, small allowance of white grapes | Florence, Siena, Arezzo, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato |
| Carmignano | 1990 | Sangiovese (min 50%), Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Cabernet Franc (10 to 20%), Canaiolo, Merlot | Prato |
| Vernaccia di San Gimignano | 1993 | Vernaccia di San Gimignano (min 85%) | Siena |
| Morellino di Scansano | 2007 | Sangiovese (min 85%, locally Morellino), Alicante, Ciliegiolo, Merlot, Cabernet | Grosseto |
| Elba Aleatico Passito | 2011 | Aleatico (100%) | Livorno |
| Montecucco Sangiovese | 2011 | Sangiovese (min 90%) | Grosseto |
| Rosso della Val di Cornia (Val di Cornia Rosso) | 2011 | Sangiovese (min 40%), Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot (up to 60% combined) | Livorno |
| Suvereto | 2011 | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese | Livorno |
| Chianti Classico | Sangiovese (min 80%), Canaiolo, Colorino, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot | Hills between Florence and Siena: Greve, Panzano, Radda, Gaiole, Castellina, Castelnuovo Berardenga, San Casciano, and neighboring communes |
The DOCs
| Appellation | DOC since | Grapes | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ansonica Costa dell'Argentario | 1995 | Ansonica (min 85%, the Sicilian Inzolia) | Grosseto |
| Barco Reale di Carmignano | Sangiovese (min 50%), Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, Canaiolo; Trebbiano and Malvasia for Vin Santo | Prato | |
| Bianco dell'Empolese | 1989 | Trebbiano Toscano (min 80%), other local whites | Florence |
| Bianco di Pitigliano | 1966 | Trebbiano Toscano (min 40%), Greco, Malvasia, Verdello, Grechetto, Chardonnay, Sauvignon | Grosseto |
| Bolgheri | 1983 | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Sangiovese; Vermentino for white | Livorno |
| Bolgheri Sassicaia | Cabernet Sauvignon (min 80%), Cabernet Franc | Livorno | |
| Candia dei Colli Apuani | 1981 | Vermentino (min 70% for bianco), Albarola, Trebbiano; Sangiovese, Merlot, Massaretta, Vermentino Nero for reds | Massa-Carrara |
| Capalbio | 1999 | Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Trebbiano, Vermentino | Grosseto |
| Colli dell'Etruria Centrale | 1990 | Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Trebbiano, Malvasia, Chardonnay | Florence, Siena, Arezzo, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato |
| Colline Lucchesi | 1968 | Sangiovese, Merlot, Syrah, Canaiolo; Trebbiano, Vermentino, Grechetto for whites | Lucca |
| Cortona | 1999 | Syrah (the signature), Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese | Arezzo |
| Elba | 1967 | Trebbiano Toscano (Procanico), Ansonica, Vermentino; Sangiovese, Aleatico | Livorno |
| Grance Senesi | 2010 | Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot; Malvasia Bianca, Trebbiano | Siena |
| Maremma Toscana | 2011 | Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Ciliegiolo, Alicante (Grenache); Vermentino, Ansonica, Viognier | Grosseto |
| Montecarlo | 1969 | Trebbiano Toscano with Sémillon, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Roussanne, Vermentino for white; Sangiovese, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet for red | Lucca |
| Montecucco | 1998 | Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Vermentino, Trebbiano | Grosseto |
| Monteregio di Massa Marittima | 1994 | Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Vermentino, Trebbiano, Malvasia | Grosseto |
| Montescudaio | 1977 | Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Trebbiano, Vermentino, Chardonnay | Pisa |
| Moscadello di Montalcino | 1984 | Moscato Bianco | Siena |
| Orcia | 2000 | Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Trebbiano, Malvasia | Siena |
| Parrina | 1971 | Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Ansonica, Trebbiano, Vermentino | Grosseto |
| Pomino | 1983 | Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Nero, Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon | Florence |
| Rosso di Montalcino | 1984 | Sangiovese (100%) | Siena |
| Rosso di Montepulciano | 1989 | Sangiovese (Prugnolo Gentile, min 70%), Canaiolo, Mammolo, Merlot | Siena |
| San Gimignano | 1996 | Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Malvasia, Trebbiano | Siena |
| San Torpè | 1980 | Trebbiano Toscano, Chardonnay, Vermentino, Sauvignon Blanc, Malvasia | Pisa, Livorno |
| Sant'Antimo | 1996 | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese, Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, Trebbiano, Malvasia | Siena |
| Sovana | 1999 | Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Aleatico | Grosseto |
| Terratico di Bibbona | 2006 | Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Vermentino, Trebbiano | Livorno |
| Terre di Casole | 2007 | Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Trebbiano | Siena |
| Terre di Pisa | 2011 | Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah | Pisa |
| Val d'Arbia | 1985 | Trebbiano Toscano, Malvasia, Chardonnay, Sangiovese (for Rosato and Occhio di Pernice) | Siena |
| Val d'Arno di Sopra (Valdarno di Sopra) | 2011 | Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay, Trebbiano, Malvasia | Arezzo |
| Val di Cornia | 1989 | Vermentino, Ansonica, Trebbiano, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Aleatico | Livorno |
| Valdichiana Toscana | 1972 | Trebbiano Toscano, Chardonnay, Grechetto, Pinot Bianco, Sangiovese | Arezzo, Siena |
| Valdinievole | 1976 | Trebbiano Toscano, Malvasia, Vermentino, Chardonnay, Sangiovese | Pistoia |
| Vin Santo del Chianti | 1997 | Trebbiano Toscano, Malvasia Bianca, Sangiovese (Occhio di Pernice) | Florence, Siena, Arezzo, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato |
| Vin Santo del Chianti Classico | 1997 | Trebbiano Toscano, Malvasia Bianca, Sangiovese (Occhio di Pernice) | Florence, Siena |
| Vin Santo di Carmignano | 1997 | Trebbiano Toscano, Malvasia Bianca, Sangiovese (Occhio di Pernice) | Prato |
| Vin Santo di Montepulciano | 1996 | Trebbiano Toscano, Malvasia Bianca, Grechetto, Sangiovese (Occhio di Pernice) | Siena |
Facts that get tested
The kind of thing an exam asks about Tuscany. Cover the answers and try them.
When can Brunello di Montalcino first be sold?
1 January of the fifth year after harvest. The Riserva waits one more year, until the sixth.
How long must Brunello di Montalcino spend in wood?
At least 2 years. Two years in oak and at least four months in bottle, inside a total of more than four years before release.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is made mainly from
Sangiovese. The town is Montepulciano but the grape is Sangiovese, known there as Prugnolo Gentile. The Montepulciano grape belongs to Abruzzo and the Marche.
From which vintage were white grapes banned from Chianti Classico?
2006. Trebbiano and Malvasia were once required, then optional, then banned from 2006.
What is the top tier of Chianti Classico?
Gran Selezione. Gran Selezione was added above Riserva in 2014. It must come from the estate's own grapes and age for at least 30 months.
What are Chianti Classico's UGAs, approved in 2021?
Eleven village-level areas that can be named on Gran Selezione. Unità Geografiche Aggiuntive include Radda, Gaiole, Castellina, Panzano and Lamole.
Which symbol marks every bottle of Chianti Classico?
A black rooster. The Gallo Nero was the emblem of the medieval Lega del Chianti.
Which of these is not a subzone of Chianti DOCG?
Classico. Chianti Classico has been a separate DOCG since 1996. Chianti has seven subzones, including Rufina, Colli Senesi and Montalbano.
Which Chianti subzone, northeast of Florence, is known for the most structured and long lived wines?
Rufina. Rufina is the smallest and highest of the seven, cooled by air from the Apennines.
Which Tuscan DOCG required Cabernet in its blend long before the Super Tuscans?
Carmignano. Cabernet has grown at Carmignano since the Medici. The rules ask for 10% to 20% alongside Sangiovese.
Which is Tuscany's only white DOCG?
Vernaccia di San Gimignano. It was also Italy's first DOC, in 1966, and was promoted in 1993.
What is galestro?
A flaky, crumbly marl found in Chianti Classico and Montalcino. Galestro breaks apart easily and drains well. Alberese, its partner, is a harder limestone.
How were the first Super Tuscans labelled?
Vino da tavola. They used grapes or methods the DOC rules did not allow, so they dropped to the lowest category. IGT Toscana came later, in the 1990s.
Bolgheri, home of Sassicaia and Ornellaia, is in which province?
Livorno. It lies on the coast in the commune of Castagneto Carducci.
Elba's DOCG is for which wine?
A sweet red passito from Aleatico. Elba Aleatico Passito is one of very few sweet red DOCGs.
Morellino di Scansano comes from which part of Tuscany?
The Maremma, in the province of Grosseto. Morellino is the local name for Sangiovese, which must be at least 85% of the blend.
Think you've got it?
Twenty questions on Tuscany, with every wrong answer drawn from the region and its neighbours.
Quiz me on Tuscany