The viticultural tradition of Tuscany dates back to the time of the Etruscans, with over 2000 years of prestigious history that still today keeps this region at the top of world enology.
The rolling Tuscan hills are the beautiful environment in which the vine is perfectly at ease, offering the bunches for the elaboration of great wines, as well as a respectable production also from a quantitative point of view, with about 2,772. 000 hl in 2009.
Tuscany is the kingdom of Sangiovese, a vine native to this region, which occupies over half of the area under vines. But it is not an "easy" vine as well as having a medium-late maturation, it is best expressed only if the position guarantees perfect exposure and insolation, ideal microclimate and altitude.
Other local vines now widespread in other regions are Tuscan trebbiano, long white or Tuscan malvasia, San Gimignano vernaccia, ansonica and black canaiolo.
If you go to the wines, among the most famous, you should immediately mention the Chianti DOCG, from which the independent DOCG of the Chianti Classico has detached itself a few years ago. Created by Baron Bettino Ricasoli, Chianti was among the first wines to cross the borders following our emigrants in America; exported in the typical flasks, become so famous as to create the very image of this wine in the world. Even today it is by far the most produced wine in Italy.
Another wine known all over the world is the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, obtained from sangiovese, locally called brunello.
Tuscan places inextricably linked to the world of wine are also Montepulciano, San Gimignano and Carmignano, with the respective DOCG, Bolgheri and others, where wines of great prestige are produced.
Along the Tyrrhenian coast and in the same island of Elba are cultivated vermentino, ansonica and aleatico, the latter also elaborated in beautiful passive versions.
Going down again, towards the province of Grosseto there are other realities like that of the DOCG Morellino di Scansano, obtained from the Morellino vine, another name of the Sangiovese, of a bright ruby color and with scents of violets and blackberries.
In addition to the wines of the very important Denominations of Origin, Tuscany has come to the forefront of the world enology with some Supertuscan wines of great class, soft and elegant, obtained mainly from cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc, merlot and partly syrah and pinot noir. Initially put on the market as table wines, today they are all IGT.
Finally, Tuscan wine production has a common denominator, Vin Santo and Vin Santo Occhio di pernice, produced in many different denominations and types for sugar residue; the first is above all based on Tuscan Trebbiano, the second of Sangiovese.
