Once upon a time there were Italian regions mastering the art of wine-making. Tuscan was one of them. Chianti was the Place. And Sangiovese was the grape.

But Rebels break the rules. And a bunch of Rebels established a new way of producing Tuscan wine:

• different grapes instead of pure Sangiovese or blend
• no DOC nor DOCG label
• Bolgheri area only

The first Supertuscan developed was the Tignanello by Marchese Antinori, a blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Marchese Incisa della Rocchetta developed a wine called “Sassicaia” (Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon). They launched it in 1968 and the wine was destroyed by critics used to the Chianti classics.

More followed: Grattamacco, Ornellaia, Solaia.

They established a new way of producing Italian wine. Also thanks also to a very special and top expert oenologist Giacomo Tachis.

Bolgheri and the Supertuscan gained cult status.

Innovation made sense.

Following Wine-Searcher ranking Sassicaia “is number one of the Italian wines, at position 10, while at the very top there is the “usual” trio made up of Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Lafite Rothschild and Château Margaux”.

This is how the few renown Tuscan wine producers innovated. And won.