When we speak of Italian wines, we naturally immediately think of Tuscany, the first Italian region to produce red wine for all meals. Here the production of wine has ancient origins dating back to the Etruscans, a people who introduced viticulture as early as 500 BC.
Over the centuries, Tuscany has become famous for red wines produced with Sangiovese grapes, such as Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. It was in the 1960s, however, that a greater search for quality, the use of innovative techniques in cellars, the diffusion of barriques and the introduction of international vines, led to the launch of high quality wines defined as Supertuscans.
What are Supertuscans?
The term “Supertuscan” was initially used by the Anglo-Saxon press in the mid-1980s but, in reality, the first wines were already born at the end of the 1960s, such as Sassicaia and Vigorello di San Felice, followed by Tignanello.
But what are Supertuscans? These are high-quality red wines obtained either from pure Sangiovese grapes, or from a blend of Sangiovese grapes and international vines, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.
The origin of the Supertuscans is linked to the desire of many Tuscan producers in the Chianti Classico area to seek higher product quality, a need that became even stronger when in 1986 the methanol wine scandal shook consumer confidence in the producer.
The production of Supertuscans
65% of the Tuscan surface devoted to vines is based on Sangiovese, a red berried grape that is the protagonist of the great Tuscan red wines famous all over the world. For the production of Supertuscan, alongside the autochthonous vine, international vines typical of the Bordeaux area are selected.
But that’s not all: in fact, in order for a wine to be defined as a Supertuscan, the production method is fundamental, which involves the passage into small oak barrels, the barriques.
One of the first Supertuscans to see the light was Tignanello in 1971, produced by Piero Antinori and the oenologist Giacomo Tachis. It was a revolutionary wine, the result of a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, which inspired many other wineries, such as that of the Marchese Incisa della Rocchetta which gave birth to the famous Sassicaia. Thanks to this last excellent wine, the Supertuscans gained the international fame that still distinguishes them today.
The most famous Supertuscans
The first wine of the Tenuta San Guido company, Sassicaia is an iconic label produced for the first time in 1968. Historic cellar in the Bolgheri area, in the Tuscan Maremma, boasts 75 hectares dedicated exclusively to the production of this fine wine. For this reason, the Bolgheri Sassicaia denomination belongs exclusively to this estate: a minimum blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon. With an intense garnet red color, it is an elegant wine and on the palate it stands out for its harmony and structure.
Among the great red wines of the Marchesi Antinori, Tignanello naturally stands out, born in the 1970s and boasting numerous awards worldwide. Produced for the first time in 1971 by Piero Antinori from Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes, it is a wine that ages in barrique. It has an intense ruby red color, characterized by ample notes of red fruits, raspberries and licorice. In the mouth it is balanced and stands out for its mineral notes that give it a long and persistent finish.
Best wine in the world according to the American magazine Wine Spectator in 2000, Solaia was born in 1978 in the cellar of the Marchesi Antinori, an exceptional year which made available a quantity of Cabernet exceeding expectations and also exceeding the needs of the famous Tignanello: it was the beginning of boundless success.
Powerful and complex, Bolgheri Superiore DOC “Ornellaia” 2017 is the result of an interesting blend: 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 9% Cabernet Franc. Son of one of the hottest vintages in Tuscany, it is characterized by an intense dark color, while the nose releases aromas of ripe red fruits, accompanied by notes of sweet tobacco and vanilla. Of incredible value, it is a perfect wine to pair with a meat menu.