If you’ve any time in the Italian section of a wine menu or wine shop, chances are you’ve come across the term Super Tuscan. While it sounds like a formal classification, it’s really just a nickname given to a group of wines that shaped modern Italian winemaking.
Super Tuscans came to be in the 1970s when Tuscan producers began experimenting outside the strict rules governing traditional wines like Chianti. They were inspired by the wines in Bordeaux, and came up with a way to make similarly structured wines that blend their native Sangiovese grape with Bordeaux varietials like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Super Tuscans are big, fruit-forward wines — rich, polished, and almost always a guaranteed crowd favorite. This is one of my go-to picks!
Super Tuscans: What to Know
So again, Super Tuscan is not an official wine classification but rather a term used for high-quality Tuscan wines that don’t follow the traditional DOC or DOCG blending rule. Historically, Chianti wines had strict requirements — including mandated grape varieties and aging methods. Some producers felt those rules limited quality and creativity.
So, they began making wines that included Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Cabernet Franc. These wines sometimes are also blended with Sangiovese, but sometimes aren’t.
Over time, the Italian classification system evolved, and many of these wines are now labeled under the IGT Toscana category.
Many of the most famous Super Tuscans come from Bolgheri, a coastal area in western Tuscany. The climate here is influenced by the Mediterranean Sea, giving it warm days, cooling breezes and ideal conditions for Bordeaux-style grapes.
Super Tuscan wines are typically:
- Full-bodied
- Structured with firm tannins
- Rich in dark fruit flavors that often include black cherry, blackberry, plum, cedar, tobacco and cocoa
- Balanced by Tuscan acidity
- Often aged in oak, especially French barriques, which add structure and notes of spice and vanilla
- Excellent in aging potential, though many drink beautifully within a decade of release
Super Tuscans: What to Drink
A handful of producers helped define the Super Tuscan movement and remain benchmarks today. If you’re looking to explore these wines, here are a few great starting points.
Iconic Premium Super Tuscans
- Sassicaia
- Ornellaia
- Tignanello
- Solaia
Entry-Level Super Tuscans
- Le Serre Nuove (the lower cost label from Ornellaia)
- Guidalberto (the lower cost label from Tenuta San Guido, which produces Sassicaia)
- Brancaia Tre
- Grattamacco Bolgheri Rosso
A tip: Look for “Toscana IGT” on the bottle to find other options under $50.
Food Pairings
Super Tuscans are incredibly versatile at the table, thanks to their balance of richness and acidity.
They pair particularly well with:
- Grilled steak or lamb
- Bolognese or other slow-cooked ragù
- Mushroom dishes
- Aged cheeses like Parmigiano Reggiano
- Tuscan-style roasted meats
A tip: Wines tend to pair best with the foods of the regions they come from!
Cheers!
xx—BB
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