The Origin and Rise of Super Tuscans

Super Tuscan? Those are powerful and beautiful red wines from Tuscany. In the mid-1970s, this term got its shine, attributed to red wines from the Chianti region. Produced without following the strict rules of the local DOC.

The seed for Super Tuscans was planted in and around the Chianti region. A group of rebellious winemakers had had enough of the mediocre quality of the wines and decided to change course. They started working with other grape varieties and new winemaking techniques. And what turned out to be a hit.

Ten years earlier, the DOC Chianti was established; to get this label, a Chianti had to consist of 80% Sangiovese, the rest was often supplemented by various local white grape varieties. There was nothing wrong with that 80% Sangiovese, where it did become a bit dubious was that remaining 20%. Since there was no strict regulation for that, these often became lower-quality grapes.

These pioneers, including the Antinori family with their iconic Tignanello, decided to break with these restrictions. They introduced grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah and used French oak barrels for ageing instead of the traditional Slavonian oak barrels. This resulted in wines with a powerful flavour profile and unprecedented complexity, which soon caught the attention of wine lovers around the world.

Super Tuscans were previously sold as Vino da Tavola (table wine) because they did not comply with DOC rules. But the quality spoke for itself and these wines soon gained cult status. Today, many Super Tuscans fall under the IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) Toscana, a classification that gives winemakers creative freedom to make their own mark without being bound by the strict rules of the DOC.

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• What is ONWINE?
  Through ONWINE, a direct transaction takes place between you and the winemaker.
• The wine lover makes a selection of several unique wines from the same winery (the selection is a multiple of 6).
• The winemakers themselves determine the selection and prices, so each winery has its own ‘shop’ within the platform.
• The winemakers also pack and then send the wines themselves, directly from Italy.

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It is important to note that you cannot recognize a Super Tuscan just by looking at the bottle, as it never says on the bottle that it is a Super Tuscan. Take, for example, the ‘Sarrocchino’ Toscana IGT Sangiovese from Tenuta Scrafana.

It is the wine's reputation, and often its price, that indicate you are dealing with a Super Tuscan. These wines rarely come cheap, partly due to the high appreciation of the international wine press. Demand for Super Tuscans is high and some of these wines are among the most expensive in Italy.

Meanwhile, Bolgheri's potential has been fully discovered. This coastal area of Tuscany offers an ideal climate for grapes, with sunny, dry and windy conditions. As a result, grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and even Sangiovese thrive excellently, although Sangiovese may only be used in Bolgheri wines to a limited extent.

A little further north and a little further inland sits Pietro Beconcini, Pietro Beconcini is an organic winemaker from San Miniato, Tuscany and led by Leonardo Beconcini and Eva Bellagamba. The history of the winery begins in the middle of last century when Leonardo's grandfather was able to acquire a piece of land. One of Pietro Beconcini's wines is a true super tuscan: the ‘Vigna le Nicchie’ Tempranillo Prephylloxera.

In short, the rise of Super Tuscans has rocked the Tuscan wine world. Thanks to their innovative approach and uncompromising quality, these wines remain a favourite among connoisseurs and enthusiasts worldwide.

ONWINE's winemakers are proud of their wines but are sometimes limited in their resources to comply with DOCG/DOC regulations. Hence, many wines have IGT/IGP status on the website. So this does not detract from quality, but does confirm how the small winemaker has to puzzle to get his wines to market. Fortunately, at ONWINE the winegrower gets a fair price for his/her wines. Because you order directly from the winemaker.