Tuscany Wine Guide: Grapes, Appellations & Producers

The heart of Sangiovese

Soil: Galestro (flaky marl) and alberese limestone in the hills between Florence and Siena.
Style: Sour-cherry, savoury, high-acid Sangiovese — the great food red.
Top sites: Gran Selezione is the top tier; the black rooster ('Gallo Nero') seal marks Classico.
Vintages: 2010, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021
Producers: Castello di AmaIsole e Olena

Tip · The black rooster on the neck means Chianti Classico (the historic hill zone) — not the wider, lighter plain Chianti.

Value pick

Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva · ~$30

A historic estate's Riserva — structured, savoury Sangiovese that ages beautifully for the price.

Collector pick

Isole e Olena 'Cepparello' · ~$120 · 2019

A pioneering 100% Sangiovese 'Super Tuscan' — age-worthy and consistently brilliant.

Brunello — Sangiovese, intensified

Soil: Warmer, drier hills south of Siena; varied galestro and clay.
Style: Brunello di Montalcino: powerful, structured, 100% Sangiovese built to age.
Top sites: Brunello DOCG (min. ~5 yrs ageing); Rosso di Montalcino is the younger sibling.
Vintages: 2010, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020
Producers: Il Poggione

Tip · 'Brunello' is the local Sangiovese clone. Biondi-Santi effectively invented the long-aged style in the 19th century.

Value pick

Le Chiuse Rosso di Montalcino · ~$35

From a Biondi-Santi-descended family: Brunello DNA in its 'baby' wine, ready years sooner and far cheaper.

Collector pick

Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva · ~$800 · 2016

The estate that invented Brunello — its Riserva is one of Italy's ultimate collectibles.

Super Tuscan coast

Soil: Coastal gravel and clay — warmer, maritime, Bordeaux-like.
Style: Cabernet/Merlot-based 'Super Tuscans' that broke the rules and the prices.
Top sites: Bolgheri DOC; Sassicaia has its own sub-zone (Bolgheri Sassicaia).
Vintages: 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021
Producers

Tip · 'Super Tuscans' began here in the 1970s — top Bordeaux-grape wines that were once mere 'table wine' for ignoring DOC rules.

Value pick

Grattamacco Bolgheri Rosso · ~$45

A Super-Tuscan-quality blend from a pioneering estate, well below the Sassicaia/Ornellaia tier.

Collector pick

Sassicaia (Tenuta San Guido) · ~$300 · 2019

The original Super Tuscan and Italy's most famous Cabernet-based wine — a global blue chip.