About The Wines of Tuscany

Tuscany’s wines are woven through the fabric of the land and intimately connected to the people who live there. The grape vine has been cultivated here since the time of the Etruscans, who flourished from the eighth century BCE, and its wine story is one of constant evolution that continues to this day. The current generation of winegrowers are creating wines that respect these centuries of tradition while continuing to experiment and question, ensuring there is always something new to discover.

In The Wines of Tuscany, wine educator Andrea Eby guides readers expertly through the wine landscape, detailing all the denominations and introducing the most influential, interesting and innovative producers making wine today. She begins with history, from the early grape growers, through the mixed farms of the Middle Ages, to the Super Tuscan movement of the late twentieth century. Tuscany’s geology is clearly described and Eby shows how landscape and climate are intertwined, although the unpredictability of climate change is now presenting both challenges and opportunities. Tuscany’s ten most important native varieties, including its signature grape, Sangiovese, are profiled in detail and Tuscan wine law explained, followed by a chapter on Vin Santo, Tuscany’s distinctive appassimento wine.

Famous denominations are covered in detail: the terroir-expressive wines of Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, one of Tuscany’s pure-Sangiovese wines, and the influential Bolgheri region, central to the wider Super Tuscan story. Eby also introduces readers to many smaller and less well-known denominations. Some have centuries of history, like those around the Tuscan capital, Florence, tied to the success and tastes of the city; others, such as those in the previously marshy coastal Maremma, have built their modern reputation in less than a century. Illustrated throughout with colour photographs and maps, the book is a comprehensive guide for visitors to the region and armchair travellers alike.