The Finest Wines of Tuscany and Central Italy: A Regional and Village Guide to the Best Wines and Their Producers

by Nicholas Belfrage, Hugh Johnson (Foreword by)

Overview

The wines of Tuscany were famous long before Leonardo da Vinci described them as “bottled sunshine,” and they are at the forefront of the remarkable renaissance of Italian wine over the past 30 years. In this groundbreaking new book, Nicolas Belfrage shares his insider’s knowledge acquired as a specialist wine trader and writer. Mindful of the region’s fascinating past, Belfrage brings its story up to date, discussing such subjects as geology and geography, grape varieties, and the latest research into Sangiovese, the variety used in the top wines of Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. He also clarifies the regulatory framework and follows the recent controversial developments in viticulture and winemaking, including the rise of the Super-Tuscans and the ongoing “Brunellogate” scandal that broke in 2008. At the heart of the book are in-depth, illustrated profiles of more than 90 of the most interesting producers, large and small, with insightful notes on the essential character of their finest wines. The author also offers a comprehensive review of vintages and selects his top 100 wines in ten different categories, while wines of special quality or value are indicated throughout.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780520259423
Publisher:	University of California Press
Publication date:	10/14/2009
Series:	The World's Finest Wines
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Nicolas Belfrage MW has worked with Italian wine, either in the trade or as a writer, since the early 1970s and qualified as a Master of Wine in 1980, the first American to achieve this honor. He is the author of Barolo to Valpollicella: The Wines of Northern Italy and Brunello to Zibibbo: Tuscany, Central and Southern Italy.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Hugh Johnson

Preface

Introduction
1 History, Culture, and the Market: Renaissances in the Land of Vines
2 Geography, Geology, and Climate: Terroir in the Sangiovese Belt
3 Grape Varieties: By the Blood of Jove
4 Viticulture: Tradition and Innovation
5 Winemaking: Blends, Trends, and Techniques
6 Regulations and Statistics: From DOC to Super-Tuscan

The Finest Producers and Their Wines
7 Chianti Classico
8 East and West of Florence
9 Tuscan Coast
10 Montalcino
11 Montepulciano
12 San Gimignano
13 Umbria
14 Romagna
15 Marche

Appreciating the Wines
16 Vintages Young and Old: Year by Year 2008–1990
17 Wine and Food: New Horizons
18 Top-Ten Tables: The Finest 100

Glossary
Bibliography
Index
Author’s Acknowledgments
Photographic Credits

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Straightforward yet refreshingly opinionated."—New York Times

"Any serious Italophile needs this book." A Best Book of 2009—Wine & Spirits Magazine

"An excellent introduction to Tuscany's viticultural renaissance. "—Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Editorial Reviews

Any serious Italophile needs this book.” A Best Book of 2009

Wine & Spirits Magazine

An excellent introduction to Tuscany’s viticultural renaissance. “

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Straightforward yet refreshingly opinionated.

New York Times

"Straightforward yet refreshingly opinionated."--New York Times

"Any serious Italophile needs this book." A Best Book of 2009--Wine & Spirits Magazine

"An excellent introduction to Tuscany's viticultural renaissance. "--Pittsburgh Tribune Review

From the Publisher