Tuscany

Tuscany is Italy's most internationally recognised fine-wine region, defined by the Sangiovese grape and the rolling clay-and-limestone hills of central Italy. Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano are the three classical Sangiovese-led appellations, each with distinct expressions of the same grape. The Super Tuscan movement of the 1970s broke the rules by adding international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot — Sassicaia and Tignanello became global icons. Whites from Vernaccia di San Gimignano and increasingly serious coastal Vermentino complete the picture.