Tuscany, a place of romance, sunshine, art and, of course, wine. The international glory of this region’s red wines often overshadows its equally delicious Whites. In fact, most consumers are probably not familiar with its dry white wines at all.
Let’s demystify. The main white grapes native to region are Trebbiano, Malvasia, Vermentino and Vernaccia. International varieties such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viognier are also planted here in relatively small quantities, mainly used in IGT wines. Although Chardonnay has become increasingly popular in recent years, a lot of producers have started making high-quality white blends with Chardonnay. The calcareous sediments make the soil ideal to create mineral-driven white wines. These wines are typically made in an unoaked style, with mainly refreshing primary fruit notes. The result of so many different varieties being planted is the choice of some fantastic blends, meaning that not only is this region starting to create some really fun, inventive, and tasty white wines, but there is also the guarantee to be something to suit everyone’s palate.
The full-bodied Tuscan Reds may be good with steak or lamb rack; salad, shrimp, or seafood pasta will instead call for the crispy, tasty white wines. This bottle of Carpineto Dogajolo Bianco Toscano is a blend of 40% Chardonnay, 30% Grechetto and 30% Sauvignon Blanc. Straw yellow color with slight green hues, it is pleasantly fruity and harmonious. Medium-bodied with notes of ripe peach, green apple, acacia, along with an excellent mineral touch towards the finish. To pair with it, I made a peach burrata salad – the flavors in this salad are simple but complement each other perfectly! You can also try pairing it with some raw oysters, sushi, or spicy Thai food. A fantastic everyday wine for under $15 – add it to your list!
Xingyu / winememoir: The Lesser-Known Tuscan Dry White Wine
