Tuscany
Tuscany
Gone are the days when Tuscany's global wine exports were limited to wicker-bottomed bottles of cheap Chianti that graced every neighbourhood Italian restaurant from New Jersey to Manchester. Modern Tuscany is a large, diverse region and the beauty of its rolling landscapes and charming nature pulls in the tourists year after year. Red wines of every quality are its vinous calling cards but large quantities of crisp, flavoursome whites and honeyed, sweet wines are also present. The warm Mediterranean climate is a significant factor in Tuscany's consistent ability to produce excellent grapes, thanks to the warm days and cool nights that help the wines get the right balance of sweetness and acidity. Italy's most important red grape, Sangiovese, is right at home in Tuscany and is the backbone of Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino. Around Bolgheri, the famously expensive 'Super Tuscans' have their home and producers such as Antinori and Sassicaia make their famous wines from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes.
