Super Tuscan wine with steak

How to Find the Perfect Super Tuscan Food Pairing

Italy, Tuscany, Wine Regions

From the first bottling of Tignanello back in the 1970s, Super Tuscan wines have played the part of the rebellious youths of the Italian wine industry, daring to step outside of conventional prescriptions of what Italian wine should be to deliver bold, powerful, unforgettable experiences. Born of necessity in the same region that sparked the Renaissance centuries before, Super Tuscan wines were created as part of an effort to revitalize Italy’s wine industry—and they continue to surprise and delight us to this day.

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Giodo made an excellent 2015 Brunello di Montalcino.

2015 Brunello di Montalcino: A Fruit-Forward Crowd Pleaser

Brunello, Italy, Tuscany, Vintage

The hotly anticipated release of 2015 Brunello di Montalcino is finally here, and many critics are already raving about the power and purity of these Tuscan wines. After the difficult 2014 vintage (a year that was plagued by cool, wet weather and under-ripe grapes), winemakers had an excellent 2015 season. Hot, dry weather resulted in quality wines that are lush, but not overly ripe, with plush tannins and relatively low acidity. This is a great vintage for Italian wine enthusiasts, especially those looking for exceptional young wines to drink over the next few years.

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Tenuta dell’Ornellaia makes some of the best Super Tuscan wines.

The Best Super Tuscan Wines of All Time

Italy, Tuscany

Tuscany epitomizes a great Italian wine region. The area is known for producing some of the world’s finest wines, from Chianti to Brunello di Montalcino. While Super Tuscan wines don’t have the storied history of styles like Brunello, it didn’t take these wines long to earn both the respect and the value associated with the very finest traditional Italian wines. If you enjoy drinking a Super Tuscan wine at your favorite Italian cafe but have yet to add a bottle to your collection at home, it’s time. You can’t go wrong by choosing from among some of the best Super Tuscan wines ever made, so we’ve gathered a list of the very finest examples to help you get started.

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2001 Masseto is one of the top ten wines in Tuscany

The Top Ten Wines from Tuscany for Collectors

Collecting, Investing, Italy, Tuscany

To help you explore the region’s most complex and age-worthy wines, we’ve created a list of the top ten wines from Tuscany that are perfect for serious wine enthusiasts and collectors. While Tuscany has many other top-quality wines to offer, these ten are among the best on the market today. They are enthralling, complex, valuable, and have great aging potential, making them a wise choice for almost any collection. 

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Some of the best wines from Umbria are Sagrantino-based wines.

What Are the Best Wines from Umbria?

Collecting, Enjoying Wine, Investing, Italy, Wine Regions

The Umbrian wine region of Italy may be small, but its wines pack a powerful punch. The best wines from Umbria are racy and vibrant and many have aging potential. This region is also incredibly diverse; while it’s known for citrusy, dry white wines, Umbria also produces many bold, tannic red varieties that are gaining in popularity among Italian wine collectors. This guide will explore what collectors need to know about this marvelous “green heart of Italy,” including the area’s best-known subregions, finest producers, and most collectible blends. 

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A Comprehensive Guide to the Top-Rated Barolo Wines

Buying Wine, Collecting, Italy, Piedmont

Enthusiasts call Barolo “the king of wines and the wine of kings.” This tart, complex Italian wine is so high in quality that it’s often compared to grand cru Pinot Noir from Burgundy. Like exceptional Burgundy, top-rated Barolo is acidic and bracing in its youth, but develops multilayered flavors of earth, dark dried fruit, and alluring floral aromatics as it ages. Great Barolo is worth waiting for. 

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Gaja produces some of the best Langhe wines

How to Build a Collection of the Best Langhe Wines

Collecting, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Regions

In Langhe, wine is more than a beverage—it’s a way of life. Winemakers in this hilly area located in the Piedmont region of northern Italy have been cultivating grapes here for many centuries. The region even has a coveted spot on the UNESCO World Heritage list due to its long history of winemaking. The best Langhe wines (particularly Nebbiolo) are intense, tannic, and long-lived, full of heady perfume and bright acidity. Its rich history coupled with the incredibly high quality of the wines has made Langhe a top destination for wine-loving tourists and serious collectors. 

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Some of the best Barolo vintages include 2010, 2006, 2001, and 1996.

Your Guide to the Best Barolo Vintages

Collecting, Investing, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Regions

Vintage quality is an important factor to consider whenever you buy fine wine, but when you buy Barolo, it’s absolutely essential. That’s because the quality of Barolo significantly impacts its aging potential, and a fine aged Barolo is truly a special experience. A well-made wine from a top-quality vintage will taste astoundingly complex at age 20 or 30. Even some of the best wines from the 1950s and 1960s are still drinking well today. However, for Barolo to be this long-lived, it must be high in quality and perfectly balanced.

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