Tuscany & Central Red Wine

Though they vary tremendously, red wines from Central Italy—generally considered to span the regions of Tuscany, Umbria, the Marche, Lazio and Abruzzo—are special because of the area’s mostly Mediterranean climate, mountainous geography and proximity to the ocean. Many are also produced under strict and distinct standards, and have historical significance of some kind.

Tuscany is most famous for its dry red wines like Chianti and Brunello, but it also produces some sweet wines called Passito, made from dried grapes with concentrated sugars.

The dry red wines for which Tuscany is most known include Chianti and Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and a category called "Super Tuscans," which are made from a blend of local grapes and non-indigenous varieties.

Tuscany is Italy’s sixth largest wine-producing region. It can be broken down into several important wine producing areas: Chianti in the foothills of the Apennine Mountains, Southern Tuscany, which includes Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG and the coast, from which many Super Tuscans hail—with Bolgheri DOC being the most famous.

Although Tuscan red wines can vary greatly, many are robust, tannic and medium- to full-bodied. Those qualities can be delicious alongside a variety of meats and cheeses, plus pizza and pasta with red tomato-based sauces.

What makes a “good” wine is a matter of preference. The best way to figure out if you’ll like a wine is to look at its label. That’s where you’ll find clues about regionality, grapes and aging. Generally speaking, red wines from Tuscany or central Italy labeled as Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) will be higher quality. Wines labeled as Riserva will have been made from better quality fruit and aged for a longer period of time.