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📓 Rebecca's Wine Notebook
This is where curiosity meets Tuscany. Through fun illustrations, simple explanations and the occasional rabbit hole, I share the stories behind Tuscany's wines, grapes, traditions and food culture. Whether you've ever wondered why Brunello isn't a grape, what DOCG actually means, or why Sangiovese has so many different names, you're in the right place.
After more than 30 years living in Tuscany and countless visits to wineries, I want to share the best way to understand Italian wine.
Understanding Italian Wine Classifications
Italian wine labels may look intimidating, but the system is surprisingly logical. DOCG, DOC, and IGT don't rank wines by quality—they describe how closely a wine follows the production rules of its region. Once you understand these classifications and terms like Riserva or Classico, Italian labels stop being confusing and start telling the story of a wine's origin, tradition, and identity.
Rebecca Gouttenoire
7 hours ago4 min read
The Many Faces of Sangiovese
Why does Tuscany's most famous grape have so many names? Discover how local pride, centuries of tradition and 132 officially registered clones have created one of Italian wine's greatest misconceptions. Brunello, Prugnolo Gentile and Sangioveto aren't different grapes—they're all part of the fascinating story of Sangiovese.
Rebecca Gouttenoire
1 day ago4 min read
San Gimignano's Wines: More Than Just Vernaccia
Discover the wines of San Gimignano beyond its famous medieval towers. Learn why Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG is one of Italy's most historic and age-worthy white wines, explore the town's surprising red wine appellations, Vin Santo and Chianti Colli Senesi, and uncover the fascinating wine traditions that make this Tuscan hill town a must-visit for wine lovers.
Rebecca Gouttenoire
2 days ago4 min read
Montalcino: Home of Brunello and One of Tuscany's Greatest Wine Regions
Perched on a hilltop overlooking endless vineyards, this small medieval town of Montalcino has become synonymous with Brunello, one of Italy's most prestigious wines.
But Montalcino is much more than Brunello...
Rebecca Gouttenoire
2 days ago6 min read
Montepulciano: The Tuscan Region That Doesn't Grow the Montepulciano Grape
If there's one Italian wine that regularly confuses wine lovers, it's Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Surely it's made from the Montepulciano grape? Nope. In one of Italy's greatest wine-related plot twists, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is named after the town, not the grape variety. Instead, it's made primarily from Sangiovese, known locally by the beautiful name (though slightly ever more complicated) Prugnolo Gentile. Meanwhile, the Montepulciano grape is a completely differ
Rebecca Gouttenoire
2 days ago4 min read
Carmignano: A Wine Fit for the Medici
Some of Tuscany's greatest wines are famous. Others are simply waiting to be discovered. Most visitors to Tuscany have heard of Chianti Classico or Brunello di Montalcino. Fewer know about Carmignano. And yet, this small wine region, nestled among the hills west of Florence, can claim something extraordinary: it was one of the very first officially protected wine regions in the world. Long before the French classified Bordeaux or Burgundy, the Medici family had already recogn
Rebecca Gouttenoire
3 days ago4 min read
Untangling the Chianti Confusion
Confused by Chianti and Chianti Classico? You're not alone. Discover why these are two separate Tuscan wine regions with different histories, regulations, classifications and wine styles. Learn about the seven Chianti subzones, the 11 Chianti Classico UGAs, the famous Black Rooster, and how understanding the difference will help you read Italian wine labels with confidence.
Rebecca Gouttenoire
Jul 93 min read
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