← Plan a route through Italy
Curated by Michele Edington, Certified Sommelier
Reached via Livorno, the port for Florence, Pisa, and Chianti-country day trips. Sangiovese is the backbone of both Chianti Classico and Brunello di Montalcino (100% Sangiovese, aged longer); Bolgheri is the coastal 'Super Tuscan' zone built on Bordeaux varieties instead.
Grapes
white: Vernaccia
red: Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Wines & pairings
Chianti Classico
Starters
- Crostini with chicken liver pate — Sangiovese's bright cherry acidity is a classic match for the earthy richness of chicken liver.
Entrées
- Bistecca alla fiorentina or wild boar ragu — The definitive Tuscan pairing — high-acid, medium-tannin Sangiovese cuts through grilled or braised red meat.
Brunello di Montalcino
Entrées
- Roast game or aged pecorino toscano — Brunello is 100% Sangiovese aged longer than Chianti, giving it more tannin and depth to match richer, more concentrated dishes.
Desserts
- Aged hard cheese, served on its own — A structured red like Brunello is often better as a cheese-course pour than with a sweet dessert.
Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Starters
- Tuscan white bean bruschetta or a simple seafood antipasto — Tuscany's signature white — crisp and almond-noted — is built for light starters rather than the region's heavier reds' territory.
Entrées
- Grilled fish or roast chicken with herbs — Clean acidity and a faint bitter almond note on the finish keep lighter dishes feeling fresh.
Bolgheri
Entrées
- Grilled steak or lamb chops — Bolgheri's Bordeaux-variety blends (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, sometimes with Sangiovese) give a richer, more structured red than most of Tuscany, built for simply grilled red meat.
Featured along
- Italy — Livorno
Common questions
- What wine is Tuscany known for?
- Tuscany, in Italy, is known for Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, made from grapes such as Vernaccia, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot.
- What grapes are grown in Tuscany?
- Vernaccia, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot.
- What food pairs with Tuscany wines?
- Classic local pairings include Crostini with chicken liver pate, Bistecca alla fiorentina or wild boar ragu, Roast game or aged pecorino toscano, Aged hard cheese, served on its own, Tuscan white bean bruschetta or a simple seafood antipasto.