Denomination of Origin in Tuscany
The Wine Denominations of Tuscany
Tuscany is one of Italy's most important wine-producing regions. As such, the number of DOCG and DOC appellations of origin in its territory is considerable (11 the former and as many as 40 the latter, as well as 6 IGTs). The Chianti area alone includes two DOCGs, Chianti Classico DOCG, i.e., the traditional area between Florence and Siena, and Chianti DOCG, which encompasses a vast area including all the Tuscan provinces with the exclusion of Massa-Carrara, Grosseto and Livorno, and includes 7 sub-areas with provincial extension, the Colli Aretini, Colli Fiorentini, Colli Senesi, Colline Pisane, Montalbano, Montespertoli and Rufina. Also in the Sienese area, in the Montalcino area we find Brunello di Montalcino DOCG (pure Sangiovese, locally called Brunello), but also Carmignano DOCG (minimum 50% Sangiovese, maximum 20% Canaiolo,10-20% Merlot and Cabernet, alone or together). Then there is Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG (white wine, made from the vine of the same name) and further down Val di Chiana DOC and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG (Sangiovese, locally called Prugnolo gentile). There are also 15 DOCs in the area, among which it is worth mentioning the three Vin Santo DOCs corresponding to the relevant DOCGs for dry red wines (Vin Santo del Chianti DOC, Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC and Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC). On the border with Liguria is the interregional Colli di Luni DOC (in the area known, precisely, as Lunigiana), in which Vermentino is the most widespread white grape variety. Further down, below the Apuan Alps, is the Candia area (with the designation Candia dei Colli Apuani DOC) and its Vermentino-based white wines and Sangiovese- and Merlot-based red wines. There is also a type of Vermentino Nero wine, a red wine based on the grape variety of the same name. In the Lucca area, there is the Colline Lucchesi DOC appellation and the Montecarlo DOC, characterized for both black and white grape varieties of vines of French origin (Syrah for red wines, Semillon, Sauvignon and Roussanne for white wines). In the province of Livorno, not far from the coast, the Bolgheri area is famous for wines known as supertuscans (in the Bolgheri and Bolgheri Sassicaia DOCs, the latter dedicated exclusively to the most famous wine of its kind). The recent Suvereto DOCG, is a former sub-area of the Val di Cornia DOC, also later elevated to DOCG status (Rosso della Val di Cornia DOCG). The island of Elba, with the Elba DOC, is characterized by the Aleatico (red) and Ansonica (white) grape varieties and Trebbiano, known here as Procanico. Finally, in the Grosseto area we have 8 DOCs among which we highlight Ansonica Costa dell'Argentario DOC and Morellino di Scansano DOCG, with its wines made from pure Sangiovese, called Morellino here.
Tuscany is one of Italy's most important wine-producing regions. As such, the number of DOCG and DOC appellations of origin in its territory is considerable (11 the former and as many as 40 the latter, as well as 6 IGTs). The Chianti area alone includes two DOCGs, Chianti Classico DOCG, i.e., the traditional area between Florence and Siena, and Chianti DOCG, which encompasses a vast area including all the Tuscan provinces with the exclusion of Massa-Carrara, Grosseto and Livorno, and includes 7 sub-areas with provincial extension, the Colli Aretini, Colli Fiorentini, Colli Senesi, Colline Pisane, Montalbano, Montespertoli and Rufina. Also in the Sienese area, in the Montalcino area we find Brunello di Montalcino DOCG (pure Sangiovese, locally called Brunello), but also Carmignano DOCG (minimum 50% Sangiovese, maximum 20% Canaiolo,10-20% Merlot and Cabernet, alone or together). Then there is Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG (white wine, made from the vine of the same name) and further down Val di Chiana DOC and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG (Sangiovese, locally called Prugnolo gentile). There are also 15 DOCs in the area, among which it is worth mentioning the three Vin Santo DOCs corresponding to the relevant DOCGs for dry red wines (Vin Santo del Chianti DOC, Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC and Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC). On the border with Liguria is the interregional Colli di Luni DOC (in the area known, precisely, as Lunigiana), in which Vermentino is the most widespread white grape variety. Further down, below the Apuan Alps, is the Candia area (with the designation Candia dei Colli Apuani DOC) and its Vermentino-based white wines and Sangiovese- and Merlot-based red wines. There is also a type of Vermentino Nero wine, a red wine based on the grape variety of the same name. In the Lucca area, there is the Colline Lucchesi DOC appellation and the Montecarlo DOC, characterized for both black and white grape varieties of vines of French origin (Syrah for red wines, Semillon, Sauvignon and Roussanne for white wines). In the province of Livorno, not far from the coast, the Bolgheri area is famous for wines known as supertuscans (in the Bolgheri and Bolgheri Sassicaia DOCs, the latter dedicated exclusively to the most famous wine of its kind). The recent Suvereto DOCG, is a former sub-area of the Val di Cornia DOC, also later elevated to DOCG status (Rosso della Val di Cornia DOCG). The island of Elba, with the Elba DOC, is characterized by the Aleatico (red) and Ansonica (white) grape varieties and Trebbiano, known here as Procanico. Finally, in the Grosseto area we have 8 DOCs among which we highlight Ansonica Costa dell'Argentario DOC and Morellino di Scansano DOCG, with its wines made from pure Sangiovese, called Morellino here.