Let’s go to taste the best Tuscan wines

FLORENCE, ITALY – It’s time of  previews for Tuscan wines: the most intense week of the year will start with the “Nobile di Montepulciano”, from February 18, through the Vernaccia di San Gimignano (February 19), the Chianti Classico (February 20) and Brunello di Montalcino (February 24). In addition, Chianti and Carmignano consortia will present new wines this year.

These events primarily related to the insiders – international buyers, producers, distributors and specialistic press – represent an important showcase for the whole region. There will be buyers from Europe and North America with a large delegation from China and Asia (Japan, Singapore and Korea), India and Brazil.

According to major international critics is the first date, Montepulciano’s one, to emphasize the relationship between wine, the consortium and the territory. The effects of synergy between producers and the “public” can be seen in the Fortress of Montepulciano (February 18-20 and 23, the Noble Reserve 2008-2009; www.consorziovinonobile.it).

A few days later, following in the footsteps of a centuries-old tradition of wine, at the Stazione Leopolda in Florence there will be the “Chianti Classico Collection”, that stages the premiere of the Chianti Classico Riserva (February 20-22, www.chianticlassicocollection.it) for the years 2011, 2010 and 2009. Then it will be the time of  “Benvenuto Brunello” in Montalcino (February 24-27; www.consorziobrunellodimontalcino.it) with its “super-stars”: five stars (the highest rating given to harvest) to Brunello 2007, five to the Reserve 2006 (and five for vintage 2010).

About white wines, Tuscany will show the best of its production on February 19-20, at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in San Gimignano, with the preview of the Vernaccia wine vintage 2011 (www.vernaccia.it).

It will be the beginning step, instead, of the preview appointments for Chianti consortium at Palazzo Borghese in Florence (February 18, www.consorziovinochianti.it) dedicated to the 2011 wine of the largest designation in Tuscany, and the consortium of Carmignano, around the Prato’s zone. (ma.ge.)