Exploring the Tuscan Coast

The Tuscan coast excels with rich, ample reds. With careful selection, readers will find plenty of gorgeous wines in both the 2011 and 2012 vintages.

A long strip of land that runs approximately 150 miles (250 kilometers) from south to north, the Tuscan coast, also known as Maremma, is not easy to grasp. The region starts just above Rome and runs all the way up to Pisa. Sangiovese excels in the province of Grosseto, especially in and around the Morellino di Scansano appellation, where it is often blended with international grapes. When done well, Morellino is one of the very best budget-friendly wines in Italy.

Further north, starting around Suvereto and going up to Livorno, the climate and terrains turn much more favorable to international varieties. In recent years, Cabernet Franc has become the darling grape as an increasing number of producers have come to realize just how magical these coastal sites can be for Franc. There are only a few places in the world where Cabernet Franc can be utterly profound. Maremma is one of them

Cabernet Franc at Le Macchiole, Bolgheri