Amordivino Wines
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Toscana

Population: 3.527.303
Surface (Kmq): 22993
Density (Inhabitants/Kmq.): 153
Main city: Firenze (FI)
Other towns: Arezzo (AR); Grosseto (GR); Livorno (LI); Lucca (LU); Massa - Carrara (MS); Pisa (PI); Pistoia (PT); Prato (PO); Siena (SI)

The Tuscan landscape is mainly mountainous and hilly, stretching over the slope of the Apennines and across a flat area (the Maremma) to the Tyrrhenian sea. Tuscany is unrivalled as a cradle of art. One can find examples of every age and style: from the Etruscan civilisation to Roman monuments and ruins; from the Romanesque architecture to the impressive Gothic cathedrals, to the exceptional artistic explosion of the Renaissance. Florence has preserved its masterpieces and great works of architecture over the centuries. The most important collection of paintings in the world is offered by the city's Uffizi Gallery, while there are 15th century shops on the Ponte Vecchio. Siena is another well-preserved medieval city, boasting the beautiful Piazza del Campo. Pisa has the Campo dei Miracoli, with the famous Leaning Tower. In addition to art, Tuscany offers scenes of outstanding natural beauty.


 
 

WINES OF TOSCANA
Tuscany's winemaking industry counts on one of the most noble and ancient traditions that predates the universally known Chianti wine that often springs to mind when this region is discussed.
Long before the first Etruscans made their appearance, wild vines grew in abundance all over the sunny rolling hills of Tuscany. The Etruscans are believed to have domesticated and bred the forbears of such grapes as the Sangiovese and the Lambrusco from those early feral grapes. No matter where or how the first vines originated, grapes and the much sought after wines they were made into have been celebrated in local literature throughout the history of the region, and through the paintings and pottery decorations of those original ancient Etruscans.
The hilly landscape and the weather conditions of Tuscany are ideal for grape growing and, with the passing centuries, the numerous types of grapes grown gave rise to some rare and much loved varieties. Nowadays, the most commonly grown grape variety is the noble Sangiovese, which is often combined with small amounts of locally grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Canaiolo, Ciliegiolo and other grapes into wonderful wines such as the Brunello di Montalcino, Morellino di Scansano, Carmignano and, of course, the signature Tuscan wines, the Chianti and Chianti Classico, which probably are the best known Italian wines in the world. Other grapes grown here are the Mammolo, Malvasia, Colorino, Raspirosso, Gamay, Grand Noir, Barbera, Moscatello, Aleatico and Vernaccia, among others.
Tuscany accounts for over thirty DOC and half a dozen DOCG wines. In addition to the great, well-known and appreciated reds, the local production includes a few distinguishable whites, the most notable among them being, without doubt, the Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Other delicious whites include the Bianco d'Elba, from the Elba Island, Bianco di Bolgheri, Vermentino, Bianco di Pitigliano and Bianco di Val di Nievole. (Bianco in Italian means, "white").
Last but not least, we must not forget the famous Vin Santo, or “Holy Wine”, a dessert delicacy usually made from Trebbiano grapes that have been left to dry in an airy place until the start of Holy Week before being made into wine.

CHIANTI

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO

The DOCG wines from Toscana are:
Brunello di Montalcino  
Carmignano  
Chianti  
Chianti Classico  
Vernaccia di S.Gimignano  
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 

The DOC wines from Toscana are:
Ansonica
Costa dell'Argentario  
Bianco della Valdinievole  
Bianco dell'Empolese  
Bianco di Pitigliano  
Bianco pisano di San Torpé  
Bolgheri e Bolgheri Sassicaia  
Candia dei Colli Apuani  
Capalbio  
Colli dell'Etruria centrale  
Colli di Luni  
Colline Lucchesi  
Cortona  
Elba  
Montecarlo  
Montecucco  
Monteregio  
Montescudaio  
Morellino di Scansano  
Moscadello di Montalcino  
Orcia  
Parrina  
Pietraviva  
Pomino  
Rosso di Montepulciano  
Rosso di Montalcino  
San Gimignano  
Sant'Antimo  
Sovana  
Val d'Arbia  
Val di Cornia  
Valdichiana  
Vin Santo del Chianti Classico  
Vin Santo di Montepulciano  
Vin Santo del Chianti