Tuscany's sun-drenched hillside vineyards and poor, well-draining soils are built around Sangiovese, the backbone of Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. The region also pioneered the modern "Super Tuscan" style, blending Sangiovese with international varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Grapes grown here
Sub-regions
Bolgheri
Bolgheri is a coastal Tuscan region that shot to fame after a 1974 blind tasting where Sassicaia, a Bordeaux-style blend, beat top Bordeaux wines, helping launch the 'Super Tuscan' movement. Its warm, breezy, well-drained sites favor Bordeaux varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, alongside a capped amount of Sangiovese, producing rich, internationally styled reds outside Italy's traditional classifications.
Brunello di Montalcino
Brunello di Montalcino is one of Italy's most prestigious and expensive reds, made from a specific Sangiovese clone grown around the hill town of Montalcino in southern Tuscany. Its warm, dry climate produces powerful, full-bodied wines built for long aging, and DOCG rules require the wine to be 100% Sangiovese with no blending permitted.
Popular
Chianti
Chianti is Italy's best-known Tuscan red, grown across the sandstone and chalky marlstone hills between Florence and Siena and built around the Sangiovese grape. Regulations require Sangiovese to make up 75-100% of the blend, with small amounts of other reds like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah permitted for structure. The wines are typically medium-bodied with firm tannins and bright cherry and floral character, ranging from everyday bottles to the more serious Chianti Classico.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a DOCG red from the Tuscan hill town of Montepulciano, built on Sangiovese (locally called Prugnolo Gentile), which must make up at least 70% of the blend alongside small amounts of other local grapes. It has a centuries-old winemaking reputation and requires extended aging, giving it structure comparable to its more famous Tuscan neighbors.