Toscana – DOCG Appellations & Main Rules

TOSCANA’s DOCGs
(Click on any grape variety to see its record on our Grape Variety Archive)

1. Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

Approved as a DOC in 1966
Upgraded to DOCG in 1980

Permitted Type of Wine: Red wines only

Territory: The territory of the town of Montalcino, in the Siena district

Subzones: N/A

Permitted Varieties: 100% Sangiovese (locally known as “Brunello“)

Minimum Aging: (i) 24 months in oak barrels and 4 additional months in bottle for the base wine and (ii) 72 months (of which at least 24 months in oak barrels and 6 months in bottle) for the “Riserva” wine

2. Carmignano DOCG

Approved as a DOCG in 1990

Permitted Type of Wine: Red wines only

Territory: hilly areas adjacent to the towns of Carmignano and Poggio a Caiano, both in the Prato district

Subzones: N/A

Permitted Varieties: 50% or more Sangiovese; up to 20% Canaiolo Nero; 10% to 20% Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon; up to 10% Trebbiano Toscano, Canaiolo Bianco and/or Malvasia del Chianti, provided that up to 10% of other black-berried varieties permitted in the Toscana region may also be used

Minimum Aging: 8 months for the base wine and 12 months for the “Riserva” wine

3. Chianti Classico DOCG

Approved as a DOC in 1967
Upgraded to DOCG in 1984

Permitted Type of Wine: Red wines only, which must bear on the bottle the black rooster “Gallo Nero” logo

Territory: A portion of the territories of the cities of Firenze and Siena, and particularly the areas adjacent to the towns of Greve in Chianti, Castellina in Chianti, Radda in Chianti and Gaiole in Chianti, as well as portions of the territories of the towns of San Casciano Val di Pesa and Tavarnelle

Subzones: N/A

Permitted Varieties: 80% to 100% Sangiovese, which may be blended with up to 20% of other black-berried varieties permitted in the Toscana region

Minimum Aging: (i) N/A for the base wine; (ii) 24 months, of which 3 months in bottle for the “Riserva” wine; and (iii) 30 months (of which at least 3 months in bottle) for the “Gran Selezione” wine

4. Chianti DOCG

Approved as a DOC in 1967
Upgraded to DOCG in 1984

Permitted Type of Wine: Red wines only, which may be made according to the traditional “governo all’uso toscano” enological practice (literally, “handled the Tuscan way“, a practice under which the wine is refermented using slightly dried grapes of any of the permitted varieties)

Territory: Portions of the hilly territories of the cities of Arezzo, Firenze, Pistoia, Pisa, Prato and Siena

Subzones: “Chianti Colli Aretini”, “Chianti Colli Fiorentini”, “Chianti Colli Senesi”, “Chianti Colline Pisane”, “Chianti Montalbano”, “Chianti Montespertoli” and “Chianti Rufina”

Permitted Varieties:

1. For all versions except the “Chianti Colli Senesi” wine: 70% to 100% Sangiovese, which may be blended with other black-berried or white-berried varieties permitted in the Toscana region, provided that (i) the white-berried varieties must not exceed 10% and (ii) there must be not more than 15% of Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon
2. For the “Chianti Colli Senesi” wine: 75% to 100% Sangiovese, which may be blended with up to 25% of other black-berried varieties permitted in the Toscana region, provided that there must be not more than 10% of Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon

Minimum Aging: (i) N/A for the base wine; (ii) 24 months for the “Chianti Riserva” wine; (iii) 24 months, of which at least 6 months in wood barrels for the “Chianti Colli Fiorentini Riserva” or “Chianti Rufina Riserva” wines; and (iii) 24 months, of which at least 8 months in wood barrels and 4 additional months in bottle for the “Chianti Colli Senesi Riserva” wine

5. Elba Aleatico Passito DOCG

Approved as a DOC in 1967
Upgraded to DOCG in 2011

Permitted Type of Wine: Sweet red raisin wines only

Territory: The entire territory of the Elba Island

Subzones: N/A

Permitted Varieties: 100% Aleatico

Minimum Aging: N/A

6. Montecucco Sangiovese

Approved as a DOC in 1998
Upgraded to DOCG in 2011

Permitted Type of Wine: Red wines only, which must bear on the bottle the black rooster “Gallo Nero” logo

Territory: Areas adjacent to the towns of Cinigiano, Civitella Paganico, Campagnatico, Castel del Piano, Roccalbegna, Arcidosso and Seggiano, all in the Grosseto district

Subzones: N/A

Permitted Varieties: 90% or more Sangiovese, which may be blended with up to 10% of other black-berried varieties permitted in the Toscana region except however any of Malvasia Nera, Malvasia Nera di Brindisi or Aleatico

Minimum Aging: (i) 12 months in wood barrels and 4 additional months in bottle for the base wine; (ii) 30 months, of which 24 in wood barrels and 6 months in bottle for the “Riserva” wine

7. Morellino di Scansano DOCG

Approved as a DOC in 1978
Upgraded to DOCG in 2006

Permitted Type of Wine: Red wines only

Territory: Hilly areas between the Ombrone and Albegna rivers, including the entire territory of the town of Scansano and portions of the territories of the towns of Manciano, Magliano in Toscana, Grosseto, Campagnatico, Semproniano and Roccalbegna, all in the Grosseto district

Subzones: N/A

Permitted Varieties: 85% or more Sangiovese, which may be blended with up to 15% of other black-berried, non-aromatic varieties permitted in the Toscana region

Minimum Aging: (i) N/A for the base wine; (ii) 24 months, of which 12 months in wood barrels for the “Riserva” wine

8. Suvereto DOCG

Approved as a DOCG in 2011

Permitted Type of Wine: Red wines only

Territory: Areas adjacent to the town of Suvereto, in the Livorno district

Subzones: N/A

Permitted Varieties:

1. For the “Suvereto” version: 85% to 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Merlot, which may be blended with up to 15% of other black-berried, non-aromatic varieties permitted in the Toscana region;
2. For the “Suvereto Sangiovese” version: 85% to 100% Sangiovese, which may be blended with up to 15% of other black-berried, non-aromatic varieties permitted in the Toscana region;
3. For the “Suvereto Merlot” version: 85% to 100% Merlot, which may be blended with up to 15% of other black-berried, non-aromatic varieties permitted in the Toscana region;
4. For the “Suvereto Cabernet Sauvignon” version: 85% to 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, which may be blended with up to 15% of other black-berried, non-aromatic varieties permitted in the Toscana region

Minimum Aging: N/A

9. Val di Cornia Rosso DOCG

Approved as a DOCG in 2011

Permitted Type of Wine: Red wines only

Territory: (i) the entire territories of the towns of Suvereto and Sassetta and portions of the territories of the towns of Piombino, San Vincenzo and Campiglia Marittima, all in the Livorno district; (ii) the entire territory of the town of Monteverdi Marittimo, in the Pisa district

Subzones: N/A

Permitted Varieties: 40% or more Sangiovese, which may be blended with up to 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Merlot and with up to 20% of other black-berried varieties permitted in the Toscana region except only Aleatico

Minimum Aging: 18 months in wood barrels and 6 months in bottle

10. Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG

Approved as a DOC in 1966
Upgraded to DOCG in 1993

Permitted Type of Wine: White wines only

Territory: Hilly areas adjacent to the town of San Gimignano, in the Siena district

Subzones: N/A

Permitted Varieties: 85% or more Vernaccia di San Gimignano, which may be blended with up to 15% of other white-berried, non-aromatic varieties permitted in the Toscana region (i) except any of the following: Traminer, Moscato Bianco, Müller Thurgau, Malvasia di Candia, Malvasia Istriana and Incrocio Bruni, and (ii) provided that Sauvignon Blanc and/or Riesling must not exceed 10%

Minimum Aging: 11 months and 3 months in bottle

11. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG

Approved as a DOC in 1966
Upgraded to DOCG in 1980

Permitted Type of Wine: Red wines only

Territory: Hilly areas adjacent to the town of Montepulciano, in the Siena district

Subzones: N/A

Permitted Varieties: 70% or more Sangiovese (locally known as “Prugnolo Gentile“), which may be blended with up to 30% of other black-berried or white-berried varieties permitted in the Toscana region, provided that (i) the white-berried varieties may not exceed 5% and (ii) the use of aromatic varieties is prohibited, except only Malvasia Bianca Lunga

Minimum Aging:

1. Any of the following combinations for the base wine: (i) 24 months in wood barrels or (ii) 18 months in wood barrels plus 6 months in other material barrels or (iii) 12 months in wood barrels plus 6 or more months in bottle plus any remaining months up to 24 months altogether in other material barrels;
2. 36 months, of which 6 months in bottle for the “Riserva” wine