From Sangiovese to Super Tuscans

A Brief Overview of Tuscany’s Famous Red Wines

Prized in particular for its reds, Tuscany is one of the most well-known wine regions in the world. The area is home to Sangiovese grapes, the most popular wine grape in all of Italy. Sangiovese, which thrive in the central-Italian region’s clay and limestone-rich soil, account for the vast majority of Tuscany’s wine output. However, recent years have also seen a rise in wines using a variety of other grapes, including so-called “Super Tuscans”, a blanket term for high-quality Tuscan wines incorporating foreign grapes or unorthodox production methods.

Sangiovese Grapes

Originally cultivated in Tuscany, Sangiovese grapes are the most widely produced wine grapes in Italy. Oftentimes described as a “chameleon” due to its versatility, wines made from the Sangiovese can vary widely. Sangiovese-based wines are savory and generally have a medium to full body. Due to their high acidity, wines made using Sangiovese grapes have a tart taste and, as naturally high acidity helps preserve wine, age well. Most of Tuscany’s most popular wines are legally required to contain a high proportion of Sangiovese grapes, which are the primary wine grapes used in the region’s DOCG wines (those the highest quality designation under Italian law). Originating in central Italy during the pre-Roman era, the grape can be found today in wines across the globe, from California to Romania. In the Tuscany region, it is the primary component of popular variations such as Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. However, it is also a component of many Super Tuscans, where it is often blended at lower levels with other grape varieties.

Super Tuscans

First gaining attention in the 1970s, the term “Super Tuscan” refers to a wide variety of high quality, mostly red wines produced in Tuscany and not meeting the strict requirements needed to receive DOC or DOCG regulations. Frustrated with the unnecessary standards of Italian wine classifications, unorthodox winemakers in the 1970s broke traditional Italian winemaking convention—blending Sangiovese grapes with foreign ones such as Cabernet Sauvignon, using different barrels, and subverting rules regarding the composition of grapes in the Tuscan wines. Due to the rigidity of the Italian wine classification, these wines were officially labeled “vino da tavola” (table wine), the lowest classification an Italian wine can receive. Over time, Super Tuscans saw a rise in popularity due to their exceptional quality and the negative perception of traditional Tuscan wines such as Chianti; and their popularity led to a revamping of the Italian wine classification system, including the addition of the much more lenient IGT designation in 1992. Today, these innovations have played a large role in the resurgent popularity of Tuscan wines.

Vin Santo

Although it is predominantly known for its savory red wines, Tuscany is also home to the prized Vin Santo (“holy wine”). Although there are multiple theories about how it got the name “holy wine”, the term Vin Santo dates back to the Renaissance era and likely emerged from its use in the Catholic mass. Unlike other Tuscan wines, Vin Santo wines are traditionally made from various white grapes, including Trebbiano and Malvasia. Much like Tuscan wines produced from the Sangiovese grape, Vin Santo varieties are incredibly versatile. Depending on the method of production and grapes used, the color, sweetness, and flavors of Vin Santo wines can vary widely.

Cultural immersion places a large role in our wellness journeys, and no cultural tour of Tuscany is complete without tasting the region’s famed wines. On our Tuscany wellness tours, you’ll have the opportunity to sample everything from classic Tuscano wines to modern Super Tuscans. You’ll even get a private tour of the famed Argiano vineyard, known for its production of both classic DOCG wines and modern red wines made under the IGT designation. Click here to learn more.

Take a private tour of Argiano's estate and prized winery