Tuscan Wine History: From Chianti to Super Tuscans: How Tuscany Became a Global Wine Icon (part 3)
- Rebecca Gouttenoire
- Jul 4
- 5 min read
For nearly 3,000 years, wine has been part of Tuscany's identity.
From the Etruscans to the Renaissance, generations of farmers, merchants, monks and noble families helped shape one of the world's most remarkable wine cultures.
Yet the Tuscany we know today—the Tuscany of Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino and Super Tuscans—is largely the product of the last three centuries.
This is the story of how Tuscany became a global wine icon.
The World's First Wine Regions
In 1716, Grand Duke Cosimo III de' Medici issued a decree that would make wine history.
Concerned about fraud and the growing reputation of Tuscan wines, he officially defined the production boundaries of four prestigious wine regions:
Chianti
Pomino
Carmignano
Val d'Arno di Sopra
This decree is often considered one of the world's first examples of a legally protected wine appellation system.
More than a century before Bordeaux's classifications and long before modern DOC and DOCG regulations, Tuscany was already protecting the origin of its wines.
Baron Ricasoli and the Birth of Modern Chianti
The 19th century brought enormous changes to Italy and to Tuscan wine.
One of the most influential figures was Baron Bettino Ricasoli, statesman, farmer and owner of Castello di Brolio in Chianti.
After decades of experimentation, Ricasoli developed what became known as the Chianti Formula.
His blend relied primarily on Sangiovese, supported by Canaiolo and, at the time, small amounts of white grapes.
Although modern Chianti has evolved significantly, Ricasoli's work established many of the principles that still define Tuscan winemaking today.
For this reason, he is often called the father of modern Chianti.
Disaster Strikes: Phylloxera and Rural Decline
Towards the end of the 19th century, Tuscany's vineyards faced an unprecedented catastrophe.
Phylloxera, a tiny aphid accidentally introduced from North America, devastated vineyards across Europe by attacking vine roots.
Entire wine regions were destroyed.
Tuscan growers were forced to uproot vineyards and replant using American rootstocks resistant to the pest.
At the same time, poverty, war and economic hardship encouraged many rural families to leave the countryside.
The traditional sharecropping system known as mezzadria gradually collapsed, changing the social fabric of rural Tuscany forever.
Brunello di Montalcino: A Visionary Wine
While many producers focused on blending grapes, a small group of pioneers in Montalcino pursued a different path.
During the mid-1800s, Clemente Santi began experimenting with a local clone of Sangiovese known today as Sangiovese Grosso.
His grandson Ferruccio Biondi-Santi continued the work and created a wine unlike any other in Tuscany.
Powerful, structured and capable of aging for decades, Brunello di Montalcino gradually gained recognition as one of Italy's greatest wines.
At a time when most wines were consumed young, Brunello demonstrated that Sangiovese could produce world-class wines with extraordinary longevity.
The Birth of DOC and DOCG
Following World War II, Italy modernized its wine industry.
New quality regulations were introduced to protect traditional wine regions and establish production standards.
The DOC system was created in the 1960s, followed later by DOCG, Italy's highest classification.
Many of Tuscany's most famous wines received official recognition during this period:
Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Chianti Classico
Brunello di Montalcino
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Carmignano
Morellino di Scansano
These regulations helped strengthen Tuscany's reputation on international markets.
The Super Tuscan Revolution
Ironically, some of Tuscany's greatest wines emerged because producers chose to break the rules.
In the 1970s, a number of visionary winemakers became frustrated by restrictive regulations and began experimenting with new approaches.
The most famous example was Sassicaia in Bolgheri.
Inspired by Bordeaux, its creators planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc in a region previously unknown for fine wine.
Others soon followed, including Tignanello and Ornellaia.
Because these wines did not conform to existing regulations, they were initially classified as simple table wines despite their exceptional quality.
The wine world quickly took notice.
Super Tuscans demonstrated that Tuscany could compete with the finest wines anywhere on Earth and helped usher in a new era of innovation.
Tuscany Today
Modern Tuscany is a fascinating blend of tradition and progress.
Many producers continue to rely on techniques passed down through generations, while others embrace cutting-edge technology and experimentation.
Organic farming has become increasingly common, and Tuscany is now one of Europe's leading regions for sustainable viticulture. Biodynamic farming has also gained significant popularity among many of the region's most respected estates.
At the same time, thousands of small family wineries continue to produce wines that reflect the unique character of their land.
More Than Just Wine
What makes Tuscany special is not simply the quality of its wines.
It is the relationship between wine, food, landscape, history and culture.
Few places in the world offer such a complete experience. Medieval villages overlook vineyards that have been cultivated for centuries. Ancient abbeys sit among olive groves. Family recipes are passed down alongside vineyard traditions.
Every bottle tells a story about the people and places that created it.
Our Designation wine map with DOCs (gray zones, and sometimes overlapping colored DOCG zones).
DOCGs:
Chianti Classico (deep red)
Chianti (pink - overlaps some other DOCGs, but not the Chianti Classico)
Brunello di Montalcino (dark blue)
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (deep green)
Vernaccia di San Gimignano (yellow)
Carmignano (purple)
Morellino di Scansano (orange)
Montecucco (turqoise)
Suvereto (baby blue)
Val di Cornia Rosso (light green)
Aleatico Passito dell’Elba (light purple)
The Story Continues
The history of Tuscan wine is still being written.
New generations of winemakers are exploring forgotten grape varieties, refining sustainable practices and discovering new ways to express Tuscany's diverse terroirs.
Yet despite constant innovation, the connection to the past remains strong.
Every glass of Tuscan wine carries echoes of the Etruscans, the Romans, the monks, the merchants, the Renaissance and the countless families who have cultivated this landscape for nearly three millennia.
The wines may evolve, but the story continues.
Experience Tuscany's Wine History for Yourself
Reading about Tuscany is one thing. Standing in a vineyard, tasting wine with the people who made it, and hearing the stories behind every bottle is something entirely different.
At Grape Tours, our small-group wine tours take you beyond the labels and into the heart of Tuscany's wine culture—where nearly 3,000 years of history come alive, one glass at a time.
