Many will not know about a small appellation, south of Livorno and not far from the west coast of Italy. A metamorphosis has taken part in this region, transforming the area from an obscure and little-known area to veritable stardom within wine circles.
Surrounded by far bigger, well established grape varieties, with the ever popular Chianti and Brunello taking the prize for many years, Bolgheri, a small strip of land was originally a swamp, mosquito infested area, producing very little apart from a inhospitable and harsh terrain, wild animals, and in many a case, bandits. Go back to the 20’s and you would have left minus your wallet, with a bottle of wine nowhere to be seen.
The super Tuscan, reportedly created out of frustration of the trading laws in Italy at the time
The name Super Tuscan is somewhat ironic, but justly apt all the same. Bourne out of non-conformity by experimental wine makers, its creation ignited a rare innovation against well-established wine-making traditions. The era of the 70s and 80s saw the introduction of Super Tuscan wine into international menus, immediately earning it Vino da Tavola, or Table Wine status, perhaps not the start envisaged.
It was not until 1992 that the wine was recognised and reclassified to an IGT wine by the Italian Government. A veritable promotion to a higher tier, driven by customer expectation, but not least because it was becoming fashionable.
The dominant varieties found in wine from Bolgheri are merlot and the cabernet types, not always the Sangiovese as many believe.
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