Can a Super Tuscan be a DOCG?

Can a Super Tuscan be a DOCG?

Hello Abe,

In short, no. DOC's have been drawn up to cover some of the Super-Tuscans (e.g., Bolgheri DOC in Maremma, and Sant Antimo DOC in Montalcino), but the 5 red DOCG's (Chianti, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Brunello di Montalcino, Carmignano, and Morellino di Scansano) do not allow for blends that could be considered "Super Tuscans." It should be noted that the production codes for Chianti, Vino Nobile, and Carmignano all allow for up to 20% of Merlot, Cab Suav, or Cab Franc.

Best Wishes,
Ryan

Thanks!

Super Tuscans are not in the DOCG, because the wine-rules in Italy don't allow non-italian grapes in the DOCG (yet). On Super Tuscans bottles you'll find the description IGT or Indicazione Geografica Tipica.

As Ryan notes, several of the Tuscan DOCGs DO allow non-Italian grape varieties, though they require majority to be Sangiovese. That of course is not the only issue, as some SuperTuscans/IGTs have historically been all Sangiovese (Pergole Torte).

Quite a few of them can, if they are produced in the Chianti region of production. But many have elected to retain the sexy moniker of "Super Tuscan" under the IGT banner. You can now add up to 10% of non-traditional grapes to Sangiovese. More likely than not though, most are probably produced outside the Chianti DOCG zone and have to use the IGT. And you can now produce Chianti from 100% Sangiovese, which was not allowed when the IGT craze was fomented. Take all this with a grain of salt, since the Italian laws change like the seasons.