Regional Wines
Cinque Sorelle is located in the heart of the central Tuscan wine regions. It is easy to reach all three of the most famous wine regions, Chianti, Brunello and Vino Nobile. Other DOC have been established recently, adding even more interesting wines to the regional pallet.
Wine tasting, as it is known in America is a relatively recent development in Italy, where wine is an integral part of a meal, a food. Lovely new wine tasting rooms have been added to major wineries. Check the websites of the wineries you want to visit for hours. The majority of wineries do sell directly to visitors, often in informal cantina settings, hosted by the wine maker or family members. Look for signs that say venditto diretto, to find local producers. Be prepared to taste some wine and buy a bottle or two.
Here is a primer in Tuscan wines. To the left is specific information on the three major wines.
Wine Grapes of Central Tuscany
The name of the Sangiovese red grape is thought to be derived from “sanguis Jovis” meaning “the blood of Jove (Jupiter).” Its beginnings probably predate Roman times. Sangiovese is one of the two predominant red grapes (the other being nebbiolo) in Italy, where it is extensively planted, particularly in the central and southern regions. It is believed to have originated in Tuscany, where it dominates today. Sangiovese wines vary immensely depending on where the grapes are grown, how they’re grown (the yield allowed), and which of the many subvarieties they are made from. Generally, Sangiovese wines are high in acid, with moderate to high tannins, and medium levels of alcohol. The flavours have a hint of earthiness and are usually not boldly fruity. Sangiovese wines are not deeply coloured and often have a slightly orange tint around the edges. Most are not long-lived and will last for less than 10 years.
Of the numerous strains of this grape, Sangiovese Grosso and Sangiovese Piccolo have taken the lead. Compared to Sangiovese Piccolo’s smaller grape clusters, Sangiovese Grosso has larger, more loosely bunched grapes. It is also more widely cultivated and yields a larger crop. One strain of Sangiovese Grosso is Brunello (“little dark one”), so named for the brown hue of its skin. It is the grape responsible for the potent and long-lived Brunello di Montalcino wines, which are made totally from this variety. Prugnolo is Montepulciano’s local name for the Sangiovese Grosso grape, which produces the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wines. Though Sangiovese is the dominant grape in Italy’s well-known Chianti wines, for DOC qualification it must be blended with other varieties, including a percentage of white grapes. Fortunately, the maximum allowable Sangiovese (also known as Sangioveto in Chianti) went from 80 to 90 percent in 1984, which allows Chianti wines to have a more robust character. Some producers, particularly in Tuscany, are now making non-DOC wines either using only Sangiovese grapes or blending them with small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon or the stronger-flavoured Cabernet Franc. Cabernet is a particularly complimentary partner that lends bouquet, structure, and longevity. The Carmignano DOCG officially allows 10 percent Cabernet Sauvignon to be blended with their elegant Sangiovese-based wines.