Sangiovese, the most widely planted grape in Italy, is at once famous and infamous. We know and love the Tuscan variety, from full-bodied red wines like Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino, and as the catalyst of the Super Tuscan style. However, Sangiovese has not always been admired. Throughout its storied past, the grape has paved the way for Italian wines while simultaneously been at the heart of several viticultural controversies. The first records of Sangiovese can be traced back to the age of Etruscan winemaking, when the grape was named for “the blood of Jove.” This was no trivial nomenclature. Jove, called Jupiter and Zeus in Roman and Greek mythology respectively, was king of all the gods. When we experience the deep flavor, high acidity, and tannins in a wine made with 100% Sangiovese, we totally get it. From then over the next thousand years, the dark-berried vine has been cultivated primarily in its native Tuscan hills.
Sangiovese from Tuscany has a rich and storied tradition, and the wines produced from this grape are celebrated for their diversity and unique expressions of the land. Though there are many famed appellations, we are highlighting the hidden gems that may sometimes slip through the cracks but are spectacular expressions of the grape!
