| Italy has the a long illustrious history in wine dating | | | | Ornellia which is usually about 50% Cabernet |
| back to the Roman Empire and the Ancient | | | | Sauvignon and 50% Merlot, and the delicious |
| Greeks who planted some vineyards in Sicily and | | | | Campaccio made with 75% Sangiovese and 25% |
| other parts of Southern Italy like; Calabria and | | | | Cabernet. |
| Campania. The Romans with their far reaching | | | | So, now that the laws governing the make-up of |
| Empire that stretched across Europe and into | | | | Chianti have changed for the betterment of this |
| North Africa, planted vineyards in every corner of | | | | storied Italian wine, the quality has tremendously |
| their domain, including; France, Germany, Spain, | | | | improved. I do not however agree with the new |
| and Croatia. | | | | laws allowing small percentages of Merlot, |
| Wine is as deeply rooted into the Italian lifestyle | | | | Cabernet, or other French Vinifera in the blend or |
| as pizza, pasta, Prosciutto, and Parmigiano. | | | | the fact that Chianti can be made solely with |
| When it comes to wine there is no country on | | | | Sangivose. |
| Earth that can compare to Italy. If you look at | | | | In keeping with the great old tradition of Chianti, it |
| wine maps of other major wine producing | | | | should always be a blended wine dominated by |
| countries, you will see that vineyards are planted | | | | mostly Sangiovese with a small amount of a local |
| in just a few areas here and there as far as the | | | | secondary grape or grapes like Cannaiolo or |
| entire land mass is concerned. Italy on the other | | | | Colorino. This is a true Chianti! If you want to |
| hand has vines planted in the whole of the | | | | make a wine with some of international varietals, |
| country, from Friuli in the North-East down to the | | | | then label the wine as a Super Tuscan not Chianti. |
| toe of Calabria in the South-West and | | | | I must admit that Chianti and some of the |
| everywhere in-between, along with the large | | | | Sangiovese based Super Tuscans are my favorite |
| islands of Sardinia and Sicily. | | | | wine in the world, especially those of my good |
| No matter where you go in Italy you will find | | | | friends who make the most wonderful wines you |
| grape vines growing. There is no country in the | | | | could ever wish to drink. Wines like Prunaio and |
| world with such a multitude of grapes being | | | | the Chianti's from Alessandro Landini, the |
| cultivated, furthermore there is no country on the | | | | proprietor of Fattoria Vitticio, Conti Sebastiano |
| planet that has the diversity in wine styles and | | | | and Nicolo Cappone the aristocratic owners of the |
| grape varieties grown. The number of grape | | | | historical |
| varieties is staggering as compared to other | | | | Villa Calcinaia in Greve. The Cappone's produce |
| countries. Take the United States, France, and | | | | great Chianti, Grappa, luscious olive oil, and one of |
| Australia for example, three of the top wine | | | | the nicest Vin Santo's I have ever tasted. |
| producing countries in the world, in terms of both | | | | My friends, the Fiore family, with father Vittorio |
| quality and quantity. In Australia and the U.S. the | | | | and sons Jyuri and Roberto, make the famous Il |
| primary grapes produced are Chardonay, | | | | Carbonaionne at their vineyard Podere Scallette, |
| Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, | | | | high up on a hill in Greve that overlooks the entire |
| Syrah, and Pinot Noir. Add to this a fair amount of | | | | Chianti Classico zone with Firenze in the north and |
| Reisling and Gamay, a bit of Cabernet Franc, Pinot | | | | Siena to the south. It's a spectacular view. |
| Bianco, Petit Verdot, and Petit Syrah and a few | | | | Also in Greve is friend Antonio at Vignamaggio, |
| other varieties and you have the major grapes | | | | the estate where the worlds most famous |
| grown in these countries. | | | | painting, the Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo |
| France cultivates these varieties and more, | | | | di Vinci. At Vignamaggio, perfection still follows Da |
| including Muscadet, Grenache, Viognier, and | | | | Vinci with the most superb wines imaginable, with |
| Carrignan. No doubt they have a nice variety of | | | | one of Italy's greatest single varietal Cabernet |
| great wine produced in France. Wines that I love, | | | | Francs, the Super Tuscan "Obsession," and the |
| especially from the Rhone and Bordeaux but for | | | | fabulous namesake wine "Mona Lisa," the estates |
| all the wonderful wines from France they can't | | | | Chianti Classico Riserva. |
| come close to touching Italy in number of styles | | | | I am not saying that Chianti is the worlds best |
| and grape varieties. | | | | wine, no, it is my personal favorite, not as big as |
| Italy, for my money, is thee Worlds Best! | | | | Brunello, Amarone, or some Super Tuscans, but |
| There are a number of grape varieties that are | | | | for me, the perfect wine to drink with Italian food |
| grown in Italy and no where else or in such | | | | made by either myself, my aunts, uncles, cousins, |
| minuscule amounts that they are of no | | | | or one of Italy's many wonderful cooks. The |
| consequence. One example, Nebbiolo, the solitary | | | | Sangiovese grape that makes up most of the |
| grape that makes-up the famed Barolos and | | | | Chianti blend and is in whole or part of many |
| Barbarescos of Peidmonte. Nebbiolo thrives mainly | | | | Super Tuscans as well as Vino Nobile and Brunello |
| in | | | | is absolutely my favorite grape. It is not as |
| Peidmonte and in Lombardia, but no place else in | | | | powerful and rich as Cabernet or Merlot, but it |
| world, although it has been grown in teeny | | | | does have a good amount of power and |
| amounts in California and Virginia with mediocre | | | | wonderful rustic qualities that give it perfect |
| results. | | | | balance when made properly, making it an |
| As well as being the single grape variety that | | | | excellent choice with many different dishes the |
| makes up the famed Barolo's and Barbaresco's, | | | | Italian cuisine. |
| Nebbiolo is the grape of Gattinara, Nebbiolo d' | | | | There is wonderful lure and history behind Chianti |
| Alba, and several other wines of Peidmonte. | | | | and the wine zone that it is produced in, which |
| Wines made of Nebbiolo are wine world stars with | | | | many feel is the most beautiful wine region in the |
| producers like Angelo Gaja, Aldo Conterno, | | | | world, with its beautiful rolling hills, filled with |
| Giacomo Conterno, La Spinetta, and the great | | | | wondrous rows of grape vines, olive groves, |
| Bruno Giacosa, to name just a handful of famous | | | | castles, stone farm houses, and cypress trees |
| producers who make the legendary Barolo's and | | | | that seem to dot the crest of almost every hill. |
| Barbaresco's. | | | | Other important indigenous wines of Tuscany are |
| A few other excellent varieties that are grown in | | | | Vernaccia, Vino Nobile, Morellino, Carmignano, and |
| Italy and nowhere else are grapes like Ruche, | | | | the highly exalted Brunello di Montalcino. |
| Negromano, Nero d' Avola, Ciliegielo, Monduese, | | | | Most of the great native wines of Tuscany are |
| and Picolit. | | | | red, it is red wine country, and the only important |
| Along with the indigenous varieties, Italy has great | | | | native white is Vernaccia from the beautiful |
| examples of the Big Four of the Wine World; | | | | medieval hilltop town of towers, San Gimignano. |
| Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and | | | | There is a saying amongst many Italian men. If |
| Syrah. With the tremendous amount of indigenous | | | | you ask them if they are white or red wine |
| varieties along with the "Big Four" it makes for an | | | | drinkers? They'll reply, "White wine? What is the |
| infinite amount of styles that can be made of | | | | point?" In other word. Why would you even think |
| single varietal wines or an endless range of wines | | | | of drinking white wine when you have red which |
| that are proprietary blends in which Italy makes | | | | is so much better? To some point, I do agree |
| by far the greatest number in the world. | | | | with them as I drink red about 90% of the time, |
| For any wine drinker interested in exploring the | | | | but there are many great wines in the world, and |
| endless variety of interesting wines, with a | | | | they offer a different wine drinking experience |
| never-ending realm of possibilities of taste and | | | | and have some flavors and characteristics such |
| styles, they need look no further than Italy. It's | | | | as certain mineral and floral qualities that you don't |
| the top of the ladder, but the sad fact is that for | | | | get in reds. |
| all of the hundreds of millions of people who drink | | | | If your having a nice long serious meal, it's great |
| wine regularly, there are just a small percentage | | | | to start the meal with a glass of white to get |
| who really delve into the great depths of all that | | | | your palate jump started before moving on to |
| is available. The large majority of wine drinkers | | | | one or more reds. Variety is the spice of life. |
| keep drinking the same old things over and over, | | | | The white wines of Italy! Here again in my opinion, |
| The Big Four, and if they do drink some Italian | | | | Italy makes the best, although I know many |
| wines, most just drink Pinot Grigio, Chianti, | | | | would disagree. I'll stick by my guns. Many would |
| Brunello, Amarone, Valpolicella, and little else. This | | | | say that White Burgundies are the best whites in |
| great peninsula has so much to offer, it's mind | | | | the world and that Burgundy is the greatest white |
| boggling, wines like; Barbera, Vermentino, Salice | | | | wine producing region. Well I would agree number |
| Salentino, Taurasi, Tocai, Aglianico d'Vulture, Greco | | | | one that White Burgundies are the worlds best |
| d' Tufo, Fiano d' Avelino, Brachetto, Ripasso's, | | | | white wines, but although Burgundy produces the |
| Friesa, and Nero d'Avola, just to name a very | | | | worlds greatest whites, it is not the greatest |
| few. | | | | white wine region in the world, personally I'd give |
| Some of the famous renowned wines are the | | | | that honor to Friuli. Friuli produces some of the |
| great Barolo's and Barbaresco's, Vino Nobile, | | | | worlds most outstanding white wines. The reason |
| Brunello, Chianti, Amarone, and a multitude of | | | | I feel that Friuli has the upper hand over Burgundy |
| wonderful Super Tuscans. What is a Super | | | | is simple. Yes I would say that White Burgundies |
| Tuscan? Many people will ask. It is mystifying to | | | | are the single greatest white wines, but they are |
| many, exactly what they are. It's a question that | | | | of just one grape variety, Chardonnay. |
| is a little hard to explain, but I will do just that. | | | | Friuli-Venezia Guilia on the other hand makes white |
| A Super Tuscan wine is generally a wine that is | | | | wines of the highest quality as in Burgundy, but |
| made in Tuscany, in specific DOC and DOCG | | | | unlike Burgundy where the wines are only of one |
| zones where wines like Chianti, Brunello, Morellino | | | | single grape variety, the great wines of Friuli are |
| de Scansano, and Vino Nobile are made. To be | | | | made with a number of wonderful grape varieties. |
| called Chianti, Brunello, or Vino Nobile, these wines | | | | Varities like Tocia, Sauvignon, Picolit, Riesling, Pinot |
| must be made within the geographic boundaries | | | | Grigio, Pinot Bianco, Verduzza, Traminer, |
| of the specific DOC or DOCG zone, and they | | | | Chardonnay, and Muller Thurgau which are all |
| must be made according to the laws set by the | | | | made in single varietals in different styles and in |
| Italian government, pertaining to the type of | | | | various micro-climates to create wines that |
| grapes that can go into the particular wine, the | | | | express the varietal character of each grape in a |
| amount of grapes that can be harvested per | | | | host of ways. Then there are the numerous |
| acre, prescribed amounts of time the wine must | | | | proprietary blends like the prestigious wines of |
| be aged in wood, and when the wine may be | | | | Sylvio Jermann who produces the famed Vintage |
| released for sale. | | | | Tunnina, Vinnaia, and Dreams, as well as the great |
| Through the 1960's and into the 70's it is sad to | | | | wines of Schiopetto, Livio Felluga, and a host of |
| say that Italy on a whole was producing a lot of | | | | others. With all the different single varietal wines |
| really poor quality wine. They were going for | | | | made in various styles and the endless possibilities |
| quantity and not quality. This trend was spawned | | | | of making proprietary blends, these are the |
| by the Italian government itself. In the case of | | | | factors why I feel that Friuli-Venezia-Giulia is the |
| Chianti for example, the laws to be followed for | | | | worlds preeminent quality white wine making |
| making this wine amounted to a recipe for making | | | | region, even greater than Burgundy. |
| awful wine. The governmental laws allowed for | | | | The wine making region of Friuli is to white wines, |
| high yields of grapes per acre (which is not good | | | | what Tuscany is to red wine, the greatest white |
| for making good quality wines) and allowed the | | | | wine producing region in the world, bar none! And |
| addition of up to 30% of Trebbiano, or as low as | | | | these wines are now being coined "The Super |
| 5% in the blend. Chianti being a red wine and | | | | Whites", the name fits. |
| Trebbiano being a white varietal, this was an | | | | White Burgundy? The wine is made of what? |
| insane concept. So it was up to each individual | | | | One-hundred percent chardonnay, a grape variety |
| producer in the Chianti zone, whether they | | | | that has gained some disdain amongst many wine |
| wanted to make smaller amounts of good quality | | | | drinkers around the world. This is what happens |
| wine or large amounts of bad wine. You | | | | when any grape or wine becomes overly popular. |
| understand that you didn't have to put 30% white | | | | This was the case with Soave in the 70's, |
| grapes in the blend if you didn't want to, but if | | | | Chardonnay in the 90's, and now Merlot. As some |
| you did want to, by law, you could do it, and the | | | | say, "ABC". Anything-But-Chardonnay! |
| wine qualified as being Chianti. | | | | If you want to be adventurous and gain some |
| In the early 1970 there were a few pioneers in | | | | unique wine knowledge that few others around |
| Tuscany that were appalled by what was going | | | | you would have, delve into the marvelous array |
| on and decided to make great quality wines in the | | | | of the unique wines of Southern Italy and grape |
| regions of Morellino in Bolgheri on the Tuscan | | | | varieties like Piedrossa, Negramano, Primitivo and |
| coastline and in the Chianti Clasico zone. These | | | | Aglianico. |
| wines would be of great quality. Because they | | | | Aglianco, which is considered the greatest red |
| were made with Cabernet Sauvignon and | | | | varietal of the south, comes mainly from the |
| Cabernet Franc (non-native grapes of Tuscany, | | | | regions of Campania and Basilicata, and are made |
| although Carminagno has been made for more | | | | in both single varietal wines, as well as Aglianico |
| than 400 years with a percentage of Cabernet, in | | | | being blended with Merlot, Cabernet, and or other |
| a small zone near Empoli) they would not qualify | | | | grapes. In Campania they grow other grapes you |
| as any DOC or DOCG wines. So these new wines | | | | will not find outside of Italy, like Piedirosso, Coda di |
| which where of the highest quality would by law | | | | Volpe, and Fiano, of which is made one of Italy's |
| have to be labeled as IGT or Vino d Tavolo | | | | premier white wines, Fiano di Avellino. There are |
| wines, which is the lowest of the classifications. In | | | | wonderful wines from Apulia made from the |
| the end didn't really matter, because everybody | | | | primary grapes of Negramano and Primitivo which |
| who knew anything about wines knew that they | | | | is the grape believed to be the Genesis of |
| were great. | | | | Zinfandel. |
| So it was Nicolo Incissa Rochetta who on the | | | | You will find a nice array of wines coming from |
| Tuscan coast in Bolgheri made the first of the | | | | the island of Sardegna, from the white |
| now very famous Super Tuscan wines with his | | | | Vermentino's with their crisp clean make-up of |
| Sassicia a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet | | | | fragrant floral aromas and ripe fruit in the palate, |
| Franc, and Sngiovese that was aged in small | | | | to the great reds made of Cannonau and Monica, |
| French Oak Barrels, rather than the large | | | | the Big Bold wines made with the native Carrignan |
| Slovenian Oak ones that were the norm for | | | | to Cabernet Sauvignon which grows exceedingly |
| hundreds of years. | | | | well on the island and comprises 100% of the |
| His cousin Piero Antinori soon followed suit in The | | | | great wine, Sella and Mosca "Marchese", along with |
| Chianti Classico zone with the equally famous | | | | the Vernaccia that's made in a sherry-like style, |
| Tignanello, usually made with twenty to | | | | as well as some extraordinary desert wines made |
| twenty-five percent Cabernet Sauvignon and | | | | with Malvasia and Moscato. |
| about 75% Sangiovese aged in small barrique | | | | Then last, but certainly not least in the south we |
| barrels as well, though the first vintage in 1971 | | | | have the wines from Sicily where the wines have |
| was made soley of Sangiovese. | | | | made great strides in quality and worldwide |
| Wine critics recognized the quality of these wines | | | | popularity in the past few years. "Duca Enrico" |
| immediately, and it was the British wine writers | | | | and "Rosso del Conte" both made from 100% |
| and critics who started calling these great | | | | Nero d'Avola where for a long time, two of Sicily's |
| non-traditional wines of Tuscany, "Super Tuscans." | | | | small roster of prestigious wines, with few others. |
| The nickname caught on and it stuck to this day, | | | | In the past few years, Sicily has seen a great |
| although the name is unofficial and has never been | | | | boom in terms of quality, notoriety, and sales. |
| recognized by the law makers in Italy. | | | | The Planeta family of Sicily has been one of the |
| So, are you still confused? To break it down in | | | | major forces in the recent trend of popularity and |
| simpler terms, a Super Tuscan is generally but not | | | | prestige of Sicilian wines. Planeta has sky-rocketed |
| always a wine that has 100% or a lesser | | | | to a well deserved fame in a very short amount |
| percentage in a blend the grape varieties of | | | | of time, first with their big bold Merlot and |
| Merlot, Cabernet Suavignon, Cabernet Franc, and | | | | Cabernet. In the past four years their luscious |
| sometimes Syrah. A Super Tuscan can also be | | | | chardonnay has been ranked among the top 50 |
| made solely of Sangiovese or a combination of | | | | wines in the world. The Planeta's also produce a |
| Sangiovese and one or more of the other | | | | great wine made from Nero d'Avola and one |
| internaltional grape varieties. These wines are | | | | from Syhrah as well as the nice inexpensive white |
| always aged for a good amount of time in | | | | and red table wines Segreta. |
| barriques, which are small (225 liter) French Oak | | | | Another family who are very instrumental in the |
| barrels. | | | | recent surge of Sicilian wines, is the Rallo family |
| A Super Tuscan can be made of any of these | | | | who have done a amazing job with their winery |
| varieties as a single mono varietal as is the case | | | | of Donnafugata. Most famous of the Donnafugata |
| with Masseto which is 100% Merlot or 100% | | | | wines, would be the 100% Nero d'Avola based |
| Sangiovese as is the case with Prunaio, I Sodi San | | | | Mille un Notte. |
| Niccola, Sassolloro, and Il Carbiannone from the | | | | So, there you have it. If you want to go on the |
| great winemaker Vitorio Fiore in Greve. A couple | | | | most incredibly diverse wine journey on earth, dig |
| examples of Super Tuscan blended wines are | | | | into the wines of Italy.... |