More than just wine.

"Here there is light, the sun. Radiant sunlight and the right soil are the soul of wine. But the tradition of the countryside and the memory of men are the solid bases of the extraordinary Tuscan wine culture."

The Land

Tuscany is home to some of the world's most notable wine regions. The history of viticulture dates back to the 8th century BC. Tuscany has warm Mediterranean climate. The terrain is quite hilly, progressing inward to the Apennine Mountains. The hills have a tempering effect on the summertime heat with many vineyards planted on the higher elevations of the hillsides. The soil has a high concentration of limestone having the potential to produce elegant wines with forceful aromas.

The Origin

The Etruscans imported the grapevine from the Orient and made the cultivation of the vine an important part of agriculture. The grapevines of Etruria were strong and wild, they grew like trees producing so many grapes that Etruscans could sell them on markets beyond the sea. They planted the grapevines along the sea - so the lands of Maremma and the coastal regions south of Livorno were the first cradle of Tuscan wine. The Greeks called this region of central Italy Enotris, meaning "the land of wine".

The Grapes

The Sangiovese grape is Tuscany's most prominent grape, however, many different clonal varieties exist, as many towns have their own local version of Sangiovese. Cabernet Sauvignon has been planted in Tuscany for over 250 years, but has only recently become associated with the region due to the rise of the Super Tuscans. Other international varieties found in Tuscany include Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah.

Borgo della Rocca

Literally means Town of the Fortress. In Roman and Medieval times it was common in Tuscany, like the rest of Italy and all across Europe, to build military outposts on top of hills for strategic purposes. The villages started to develop inside and around these fortresses for better protection from enemies. Famous towns like Montalcino, San Gimignano, and Certaldo, are perfect examples, as are less famous towns like Etruria Wine's owner is from.