Tuscany Summer Wines: Whites, Rosati and Sparkling
Updated: Aug 11, 2021
Included within my Chianti Classico Collection 2021 Review this year I gave a brief history of this famous denomination in which I mentioned that Chianti Classico started life as a white wine.
This statement energised my thoughts into reviewing the present stock of white wines produced mainly in Chianti Classico then I decided to include Rosato and sparkling wines to my tastings...
Because of the worldwide fame of red wines produced in Tuscany, the whites from this region are mostly ignored or overlooked, or worse still derided as a poor quality product.
Nothing can be further from reality: the whites, Rosato and sparkling wines from Tuscany are generally a quality product at a good price… a gift for the consumer!
The main native grapes of the region are Vernaccia, Vermentino, Trebbiano and Malvasia, (Vernaccia di San Gimignano is a DOCG) usually Tuscan whites come under DOC or IGT banners.
The IGT version allows winemakers to experiment and create wines of variety according to grape, terroir and the winemaker’s vision.
In recent years, Chardonnay has become very popular in Tuscany and many producers are making terroir led high quality wines from this international variety. These wines are generally less buttery than their French counterpart, showing a fresh, fruity, mineral and acidity led experience.