Have you ever wondered why the Mona Lisa has that charming smile on Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting? Well, the very moment you enter the gates of Tuscany you can't help smiling at the beauty of the region, and once you discover the pleasures connected to the local food and wines, that smile won't go away easily.
The word wine itself is immediately echoed by the name Tuscany. Ever since it became the focal point for the Renaissance, the area has earned a bit of a snobby reputation, partly thanks to its centuries-old traditions of winemaking. There are only a few other areas in the world that have as much wine-based history as Tuscany, which is something the locals are very proud of.
However, in the shade of these centuries-old vineyards lies a new wave of young innovators who have helped preserve Tuscany’s title as one of the best wine-producing regions in the world. This new generation are taking the native grape varieties of the area and reworking them, achieving top quality results. Some of the most important, traditional winemakers are based in Tuscany, but the growing number of organic, natural and biodynamic wines made in the region are becoming just as important.
If you want to see what all the fuss is about, it can be a little daunting to know where to start – so here are the DOCG, DOC and IGT varieties which best represent Tuscan wine.