Val d’Orcia, Montepulciano, Carmignano and the Undiscovered Tuscany

Pulling back the curtain on some of Tuscany’s lesser-known
appellations reveals a rich tapestry of history and a bevy of stunning yet
largely overlooked wines.

As great as the best reds of Montalcino, Bolgheri and
Chianti Classico are, Tuscany has so much more to offer the consumer beyond
just those wines. Carmignano, Val d’Orcia and Montepulciano are three areas steeped
in history. Val d’Orcia is most accurately described as a collection of towns,
each with their own attributes, but in Carmignano and Montepulciano, we find
two distinct&nbsp;appellations with oenological traditions that go back centuries. As is the
case throughout most of Tuscany (parts of the coast excepted), Sangiovese is a
common thread that links these regions

Carmignano

Located just a few kilometers away from Florence, Carmignano
boasts a rich heritage of viticulture and winemaking. One of the unique
attributes of Carmignano is its long relationship with Cabernet Sauvignon,
which according to some accounts was first planted here in the 1600s for Caterina
de Medici, the Queen of France. In 1975, Carmignano became the first Italian
DOC to permit the inclusion of Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, Cabernet Sauvignon
(and Cabernet Franc) are commonly seen alongside with Sangiovese in Carmignano,
although they are also occasionally bottled separately or in Bordeaux-style
blends.

Val d’Orcia

The Val d’Orcia is a group of villages that essentially lie
between Montalcino and Montepulciano, mostly to the south of both appellations.
Gently sloping hills, curving roads and some of the most exhilarating scenery
anywhere in Italy awaits visitors. It is hardly surprising a number of
high profile movies have been shot here. The Val d’Orcia is both vast as an
appellation and also young from a modern-day viticultural perspective. Tenuta
di Trinoro in Sarteano and Podere Forte in Castiglione d’Orcia are both
leading, world-class estates that are showing what is possible here. If I had
to name the most exciting emerging viticultural area in Tuscany, Val d’Orcia
would be it.

&nbsp;<img alt="" src="https://allgrapes.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads%2F1412265616649-Vald%27Orcia+-+Vinous.jpg">

The evocative
landscape of the Val d’Orcia

Montepulciano

Montepulciano is the exact opposite of Val d’Orcia. One of
Italy’s most beautiful fortified hillside towns, Montepulciano also gives it
name to Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, a wine that was highly prized well before
Brunello di Montalcino was born. Sadly, Montepulciano seem and its wines seem&nbsp;relegated to second-tier status in the shadow of
nearby Montalcino. The surrounding countryside is every bit as
striking and evocative, though. Sangiovese, known here as Prugnolo Gentile, can
take many shapes. Readers will find everything from mid-weight, floral wines
that show the more delicate side of Sangiovese to more full-bodied, intense reds
similar in style to Brunello. In recent
years, the finest top-flight Rossos from Montalcino have become increasingly sought after and&nbsp;expensive, yet&nbsp;the best Rossos from Montepulciano&nbsp;remain reasonably priced, delicious reds that
can be enjoyed guilt-free.

Readers who want to look beyond the tried and true will find
much to admire in the wines from some of Tuscany’s less heralded appellations. Best
of all, with just a few exceptions, pricing remains very much favorable to the
consumer. All of the wines in this article were tasted between May and July
2014.&nbsp; This article also includes a few
wines from Montalcino, Cortona and the surrounding areas that I tasted around the
same time.

-- Antonio Galloni

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