A Wine Tour in Tuscany
Consider a wine tour in Tuscany as a cocktail of first-rate wine tasting, dramatic views, and a peep of Tuscan rural life, not yet corrupted by tourism.
Super-Tuscans came to be when some local producers felt hindered by the restrictive DOC(G) norms and turned to other grape varieties.
Tuscany counts two regions: the coast zone running from Livorno to the border with Latio, and the central hills, encompassing the provinces of Sienna and Florence. Virtually red wine both of them. You will hear about Sangiovese grapes, also Canaiolo, as well as other local grapes. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and other foreign varieties are now added to the wines, especially those known as the Super-Tuscans, to give a more consistent quality.
There are a few things to consider when planning your Tuscan wine tour. First, you will need to contact the wineries to make an appointment prior to visit them. Once there, you will be able to sample some wine, talk to the winemaker if available, take an informal tour of the premises, and buy some wine, should you wish.
WINE EVENTS IN TUSCANY
Wine related events are a great way to learn about the Tuscan wines, while traveling the contryside.
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Corte del Vino – held every year on the third weekend in May at San Casciano. Wine makers bring their best wines, wine tasting sessions galore, and a shop to buy any of the wines on display www.principecorsini.com.
- The most important local wine event takes place in Greve, the second week in September www.chianticlassico.com, but every village has its own annual fun-filled wine event.
The Tuscan coast
Expect open spaces on flat land or gentle slopes and a warm, dry climate ensure a trouble-free harvest most years. This land is largely suited for intensive cultivation of grapes and it is indeed the rising star between the wine areas in Italy. You would like to visit the Bolgheri district and Maremma, in the province of Grosseto, and the southwest Tuscan coast. Lucca and Pisa have also some wine areas, though less known.
Pisa
Castello del Terriccio, red wines.
Tenuta di Ghizzano, red wines.
Bolgheri
Le Macchiole, red and white wines.
Tenuta San Guido, Sassicaia, some say it is the best wine in Italy, red.
Tenuta del’Ornellaia, red wine.
Tenuta Guado al Tasso, red or rosé wines.
Maremma
Moris Farms, red.
Poggio Argentiera, red.
The Tuscan hills
Considered the prestige wine growing region of Tuscany; where the high vineyards mix with olive groves and where the hot, dry summer helps to grow excellent grapes. Unhappily, the region is prone to sudden rain at harvest time, and this can spoil the crop.
Vin Santo is a dessert wine from Tuscany; one of the most sought after is Avignonesi.
Carmigiano
Tenuta di Capezzana, red, white, dessert.
Chianti Classico
Castello de Fonterutoli, red.
Fontodi, red.
Marchesi Antinori, red, white, dessert, sparkling.
Riecine, red wines.
Rocca di Montegrossi, red.
Chianti
Marchesi de Frescobaldi, red and white wines.
Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Montenidoli, red, white.
Brunello di Montalcino
Biondi Santi, red
Poliziano, red.
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