![]() “They usually have a deep red color,” he says. Super Tuscans remain different from other Italian wines, even other traditional Tuscan wines, says Piccin. “A great expression manages to be elegant and approachable right away even as it promises to develop yet more sophistication and depth over time.” “What unites them is their rich, even brooding, dark fruit flavors, lush palates and long finishes,” Callegari says. But they generally share some hallmark traits. “Super Tuscans can, in theory, taste like anything since their creation was specifically designed to give Tuscan wine producers a chance to color outside of the lines,” explains Callegari. Additionally, it can sometimes be difficult to ascertain what grape varieties are used in these wines. Some IGT wines can be found for a few dollars (not a Super Tuscan), while others are priced well into the hundreds (potentially a Super Tuscan), Bonacossi says. However, an IGT label is an imperfect way to spot a Super Tuscan, since it applies to a wide range of wines. IGT rules allow winemakers to use different grapes and winemaking techniques from those required by the DOCG and DOC designations. As Super Tuscans gained critical praise, however, their popularity and prices skyrocketed, leading producers to push for a new appellation or distinction to differentiate their wines on the bottle.Ī new Italian labeling term-Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT)-was made to differentiate Super Tuscans (and other Italian wines) from lower-quality wines in 1995. Because it didn’t adhere to the Italian appellation system, these bottlings were first referred to as basic table wines, or Vino de Tavola, a designation that also includes lower-quality wines. The term is used more conversationally and is not a legal designation or allowed on a bottle’s label, she says.īut from a consumer perspective, the new style of wine was confusing. The term took hold in the early 1990s, when Italian journalists began using it. The beginning of the name “Super Tuscan” is hard to track, though, notes Callegari. At the time, Bordeaux was growing rapidly in popularity, and using them as an influence helped these wines-eventually dubbed “Super Tuscans”-gain international interest, explains Wine Enthusiast Tasting Director Anna-Christina Cabrales. Many of the resulting bottles took influence from Bordeaux, with vintners using similar grapes and aging techniques to create much more structured wines. But this was when winemakers truly started experimenting, blending Italian grapes with international varieties with the goal of appealing to drinkers beyond Italy. International varietals had been in Tuscany since the 17th century, says Danielle Callegari, writer at large for Wine Enthusiast and wine reviewer for Tuscany and the Italian South. “There was a need for the producer to make wine without following the regulations,” explains Beatrice Contini Bonacossi, the fourth-generation owner of Tenuta di Capezzana in Tuscany. Here’s how Super Tuscans came to be: By the late 1960s, Tuscan vintners had grown frustrated with the rules and labeling terms around local wine production, which was mostly bottlings made from Sangiovese and other local grapes. But some Super Tuscans are 100% Sangiovese, while others don’t contain any Italian varieties at all. ![]() Most are “blends of Sangiovese and international varietals, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and others, just Bordeaux blends or Sangiovese aged in barriques, labeled as a Toscana IGT wine,” says Massimo Piccin, founder and owner of Podere Sapaio. ![]() Unsurprisingly, Super Tuscans hail from Tuscany. Here’s everything to know about Super Tuscans and why they’ve managed to captivate the imaginations and taste buds of drinkers in the know. The name “Super Tuscan” is, in fact, a marketing term-and a rather successful one at that. But unlike offerings like Chianti Classico, Super Tuscans aren’t made according to specific rules and regulations. In the intervening decades, these wines have exploded in popularity. But half a century ago, when local winemakers began popularizing wines made with international grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, the resulting wines-which often incorporated local Sangiovese-became known as Super Tuscans. The Italian region of Tuscany is well known for the Sangiovese grape-a key player in the region’s famous Chianti Classico and Brunello di Montalcino wines. Decorative Wine Racks & Modular Systems. ![]()
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