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The Super Tuscans: Chianti Wines Produced Using International Grape Varieties



If you have decided to spend your holidays in the Chianti region, you can visit one of the traditional wine-growers scattered in the area. And remember that each visits ends with a tasting! During the tasting, the waiter serving you some good red wine may comment: "This is our excellent Super Tuscan!" Non-experts will certainly ask: "But we are in the Chianti region. What does Super Tuscan mean?"

It is easily said! In the 1970s, the cultivation of some international grape varieties, especially Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, was introduced in Tuscany; at the same time, new wine-making processes were tried out, such as the fermentation in French oak barrels and the blending of wines produced with different grape varieties in order to obtain more balanced and intense wines.

These new experimental wines did not abide the strict rules of the "Chianti DOCG"..., they were not Chianti wines, but they were (and still are!) extraordinarily good! They are labelled IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica, which denotes wines from a specific region within Italy), a pair of steps behind the DOCG in the Italian wine classification system, but they have nonetheless won the approval of many foreign experts, who have defined them "Super Tuscans".

The very first Super Tuscans to be produced were the celebrated Sassicaia (produced by Tenuta San Guido) and Tignanello (by Azienda Antinori), which are now widely considered two of the best wines in the world.

The Super Tuscans are usually a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Sangiovese; however each producer has its special recipe! The only thing they have in common is the fact that they are not Chianti wines. Usually they are rich wines of medium-high quality, with good tannin and an excellent structure; they have a fruity flavour with hints of fresh wood. You could spend your holidays looking for your favourite one!

 

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