REGIONS
- Italy: Tuscany, Sicily, Campania;
- United States
- Argentina
OCCASION
- A Chianti is always a good idea and is recognizable by everybody but choose a Brunello di Montalcino for a special occasion
HOW TO SERVE
- Decant for up to 2 hours
- 16 °C – 20 °C (60 °F – 68 °F)
- Universal glass
FOOD & CHEESE
- Rich meat dishes, pasta, pizza, tomato dishes
- Mozzarella, Parmesan, Pecorino, Provolone, Ricotta
Sangiovese is the hero grape of Tuscany and the most planted grape in central Italy. It produces wines that are acidic and tannic which can either be blended with other grapes, especially Trebbiano or consumed as a varietal wine (made from 100% Sangiovese). Sangiovese is a thin skinned grape which produces acidic and tannic wines which will have a bricky colour in the glass. The vines are high yielding and thrive on well drained soils in hot, dry climates. Sangiovese is relatively easy to grow but because it is high yielding it means that it won’t always produce complex, great quality wines.
There are also many clones of Sangiovese which produce very different wines. From the famous Brunello di Montalcino which produce some of the best and full bodied Sangiovese wines to the much lighter Rosso di Montalcino and Carmignano wines.
Types of Sangiovese regions
Chianti
- Chianti DOCG:
- Largest Sangiovese region
- Tends to be more acidic and medium body
- Minimum 70% Sangiovese
- Aging: 6 months
- Chianti Superiore subregions:
- Chianti Classico, Colli Fiorentini, Rufina
- Higher and more consistent quality than Chianti DOCG
- Aging: 1 year
- Minimum 80% Sangiovese
- Chianti Riserva:
- Some of the best wines
- Aging: 2 years
Montalcino
- Produces some of the best wines
- Can age for up to 10 years
- Full bodied
- Brunello di Montalcino DOCG:
- Made 100% from Brunello, a Sangiovese clone
- Very full bodied and tannic
- Requires a long ageing process between 4 to 5 years
- Rosso di Montalcino DOC:
- 100% Brunello
- Made from younger vines
- Less full bodied and tannic
- Required aging 1 year
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
- DOCG
- Wines come from the vineyards outside of Montepulciano
- Style can be from full bodied to light, everyday wines
- NOT related to the Montepulciano grape or the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wine
- Minimum 70% Sangiovese
- Aging requirement of minimum 2 years and 3 for Riserva
Carmignano
- DOCG
- Overlaps with a Chianti subregion called Montalbano
- Minimum 50% Sangiovese and maximum 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc
- Aging requirements minimum 1.5 years
- Medium body
Morellino di Scansano
- DOCG
- Can be consumed young
- Minimum aging requirement of 6 months for normale and 2 years for riserva
- Lighter and easier to drink
- Lower in acidity
- More fruit notes
Lunadoro Pagliareto
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Toscana
- Vintage: 2016
- Blend: 100% Sangiovese
- On the palate: notes of dried fruit, vanilla, oak, red fruit, cherry
- Colour: red with a bricky hue
- Medium to full body with 14% abv, acidic but well balanced
My cup of wine 