Good Morning!

I received an email this week asking me what is a Super Tuscan wine? I have heard this term used for some time and I thought I would read up about these Super Tuscans and fill you all in on what I have learned. It seems the term Super Tuscan became popular in the 1980’s when several wines from Tuscany started gaining a lot of attention.

Italian wine is governed by Denominazione Di Origine Controllata E Garanitta (DOCG) and Denominazione Di Origine Controllata (DOC) these are the appellation systems in Italy. These “Super Tuscan” wines did not meet the requirements but they were very high quality wines and they could command very high prices. But because many of the wines were blends or grapes not originally from the Tuscany area, they had to be labeled Vino Da Tavola (table wines). There are other reasons that the wines might not meet the requirements, some of the wines were aged in smaller barrels than allowed and sometimes they were aged in nontraditional barrels or unsanctioned methods.

In the 1990’s the Italian government granted some of the Super Tuscans there own DOC. What I learned most about Super Tuscan wines is they are very high quality wines made from nontraditional grapes to Tuscany and they are high sought after. Originally wines from Tuscany were made from 4 grapes Sangiovese ( at least 75%), Canaiolo, Trebbiano and Malvasia. These wines made in Tuscany are normally called Chianti.

I have not spent much time tasting and educating myself to Italian wines, but I am gonna change that. I will keep you posted as I try wines that are reflective of Italy.

Ciao!

Much LOVE and wine,

Tammi