Super Tuscan Wine, What is it, 10 best wines of 2021

Super Tuscan Wine (What Is It, 10 Best Wines 2024)

by Anthony Zhang

Super Tuscan wines embody the rebellious spirit of Italian winemakers from the 1970s.

Shattering the traditions of most classic Italian wine producers, Super Tuscans have emerged as a category of their own. Most of these enigmatic red wine blends are created from French grapes grown in the unique Italian terroir.

What’s so unique about Super Tuscan wines? Should you invest in them?

Let’s explore the Tuscan wine region, the best Super Tuscan wines, and how to distinguish among them. We’ll also reveal how you can easily invest in these prestigious wines.

What is a Super Tuscan Wine?

“Super Tuscan” wines are those red Tuscan wine blends that include non-indigenous grapes like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah. These international grape varieties were not approved by the official DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) and DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) classification system of Italy.

Since the wines could not be classified as superior DOCGs, they were named Super Tuscans to emphasize their high quality.

The first “Super Tuscan” wines emerged in the 1970s, and by the 1980s, the term had become quite popular in Italy and around the world.

Most Famous Super Tuscan Producers

Some of the most renowned Super Tuscan producers and their signature wines include:

Next, let’s explore the fascinating history of these outstanding wines.

A Brief History of Super Tuscan Wines

In the 1960s, Italy created its own DOCG wine regulation system modeled similar to the French wine AOC classification.

In the 1970s, many Italian wine producers started using Bordeaux varieties in their wine blends (making them unqualified to pass the DOCG requirements.)

Winemaker Marchesi Mario Incisa della Rocchetta of Tenuta San Guido is said to be one of the pioneer of the Super Tuscan movement. He had been growing the Bordeaux grapes Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon in Italy since the 1940s. The first Super Tuscan Bolgheri Sassicaia was released in 1968 and it was a huge success.

Next, the 1971 vintage of Tignanello (made by Antinori) came out, and it was a fine blend of the Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc grape varieties.

Since the Marchese Piero Antinori wine producer was located in the Chianti Classico appellation of the Chianti region, according to the DOCG requirements, he could not use international grapes. The Cabernet blend had to be sold as a regular table wine, and wine lovers started calling it a Super Tuscan.

More Tuscany Bordeaux blend wines followed and the category of Super Tuscans gained a stronghold in the wine world. They often exceeded the quality of the finest Italian DOCG wines and were often compared to their French counterparts at wine tasting events.

In 1992, Italy created a separate classification for the Super Tuscan wines called Toscana IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica.)

Now let’s see the main differences between Super Tuscans and most Italian wines.

Difference Between Super Tuscans and Other Italian Wines

The main factors that set apart a Super Tuscan from traditional wines like Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino, for example, are:

Italian wines including Tuscan wine had to be made with native grape varieties. For example, the Tuscan wine Brunello di Montalcino was made exclusively with the Sangiovese grape variety, while Chianti was made with at least 80% Sangiovese wine grapes and a small portion of white grapes. No international grape varieties were allowed in these DOC blends.

But, Super Tuscans could include non-indigenous grape varieties as well.

The Super Tuscan winemakers could also experiment with the winemaking and aging techniques. Most of them followed Bordeaux style aging in small French oak barrels. The oak barrels give the wines a vanilla-spice aftertaste, typical of most Bordeaux wines.
In the past, Super Tuscans were excluded from the superior DOCG classification. Even though they produced high quality wines, the Super Tuscan winemakers had to label them as Vino da Tavola (table wine.) Today, most of them fall under the IGT category.

There are a few exceptions, like the iconic Sassicaia that are classified as DOCGs.

If you're in the UK you can get a case of fine Tuscan wine at VinoSelect.

But how do you know that the Italian wine in front of you is a Super Tuscan or not?

How to Identify a Super Tuscan Wine from its Label

The easiest way to know if a wine is a Super Tuscan is to find the Toscana IGT classification on the wine’s label.

However, since not all Super Tuscans fall under this category, there’s another identification that will guarantee you’re looking at a Super Tuscan bottle.

All of them use a unique name (that is not the appellation or grape variety name) put in parenthesis. For example, Sassicaia would be labeled as Tenuta San Guido ‘Sassicaia’, Tignanello would be Antinori ‘Tignanello,’ and so on.

Fun fact: Many Super Tuscans end with the suffix “aia.” In the past, this easily distinguished them from the rest of the Italian wines (since they did not have their own classification or were labeled as the lower quality Vino da Tavola.)

The Most Outstanding Super Tuscan Wines to Buy in 2024 (Including Prices, Tasting Notes)

We’ve selected some of the best Super Tuscan wines for you:

1. Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri 1998

Super Tuscan Wine: Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri 1998

Coming from the coastal Tuscan wine region of Bolgheri DOC in Maremma, this exquisite Super Tuscan wine is made exclusively with Bordeaux varietals. The wine has a balanced acidity, high tannin levels, and a silky mouthfeel, thanks to the Cabernet wine grapes. On the palate, beautiful blackberry fruit notes combine with plum, oak, and smoky aromas.

Price of Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri 1998: $440

2. Masseto Toscana IGT 1985

Super Tuscan Wine: Masseto Toscana IGT 1985

Here we have a 100% Merlot Super Tuscan from the famous winemaker Masseto. The wine has an elegant silky tannin mouthfeel and a robust flavor profile. The nose is opulent with herbal notes, while the palate has layers of chocolate, truffle, and blackberry fruit.

Price of Masseto Toscana IGT 1985: $2,696

3. Lodovico Antinori Tenuta di Biserno 'Lodovico' Toscana IGT 2016

Super Tuscan Wine: Lodovico Antinori Tenuta di Biserno 'Lodovico' Toscana IGT 2016

This great wine is made with the Sangiovese grape variety in the Chianti appellation of Tuscany. It has delightful acidity and mild tannin levels. The palate is fruity with hints of black currant and blackberry. On the nose, an aromatic bouquet of oak, earth, and tar ease into an elegant long finish.

Price of Lodovico Antinori Tenuta di Biserno 'Lodovico' Toscana IGT 2016: $502

4. Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT 1990

Super Tuscan Wine: Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT 1990

This spectacular red wine is lush and elegant with a pleasant ruby red color. On the palate, red fruit, licorice, and cherry tasting notes are accompanied by more subtle mocha, oak, and leather flavors.

Price of Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT 1990: $1,113

5. Marchesi Antinori Solaia Toscana IGT 1978

Super Tuscan Wine: Marchesi Antinori Solaia Toscana IGT 1978

Depicting the true essence of Tuscany, this Cabernet-Sangiovese wine offers a dense flavor profile and a beautiful bright acidity. The silky tannin mouthfeel is accompanied by blackberry fruit, cassis, and plum notes. On the nose, intense oak and chocolate aromas will delight your senses.

Price of Marchesi Antinori Solaia Toscana IGT 1978: $638

6. Marchesi Antinori Tenuta Guado al Tasso Matarocchio Bolgheri Superiore 2017

Super Tuscan Wine: Marchesi Antinori Tenuta Guado al Tasso Matarocchio Bolgheri Superiore 2017

This is a beautiful Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The grapes come from Maremma and carry the gentle freshness of the Tuscan coast vineyard plots. The palate offers black fruit tasting notes combined perfectly with oak, chocolate, and pepper aroma.

Price of Marchesi Antinori Tenuta Guado al Tasso Matarocchio Bolgheri Superiore 2017: $510

7. Le Macchiole Messorio Toscana IGT 1994

Super Tuscan Wine: Le Macchiole Messorio Toscana IGT 1994

This Merlot wine from Italy is a true delight for any red wine lover. The opulent bouquet of vanilla and chocolate aromas is overpowered by blackberry fruit and berry flavors. On the palate, there are intense spice notes, soft acidity, and silky tannin texture.

Price of Le Macchiole Messorio Toscana IGT 1994: $528

8. Bibi Graetz Colore Toscana IGT 2006

Super Tuscan Wine: Bibi Graetz Colore Toscana IGT 2006

This exquisite Chianti wine blend is produced just outside Florence. The wine is dry with mild acidity and tannin levels. The palate offers layered flavors of red fruit, cherry, and plum with tobacco and leather hints.

Price of Bibi Graetz Colore Toscana IGT 2006: $605

9. Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore 1985

Super Tuscan Wine: Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore 1985

This red wine blend from the Tuscan coast is harmonious with silky tannins and bright acidity. This Ornellaia is of exceptionally high quality with elegant blackberry and violet flavors and a floral nose.

Price of Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore 1985: $569

10. Marchesi Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT 1971

Super Tuscan Wine: Marchesi Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT 1971

Here we have a beautiful Cabernet and Sangiovese blend from the Chianti region. This was also the first vintage of Tignanello to be named a Super Tuscan. This Tuscan wine has an overpowering nose of dark fruit and oak. On the palate, ripe plum and black cherry flavors are accompanied by chocolate and smoke hints.

Price of Marchesi Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT 1971: $423

So are these great Super Tuscan wines worth investing in for the long term?

Investing in Super Tuscan Bottles

Super Tuscan wines are an expensive but highly sought-after investment option with a stable return on investment. They also age exceptionally well - expect a shelf life of at least 1-2 decades.

Some of the most famous Super Tuscans enjoy steady price increases over time. For example, between 2019 and 2021:

Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri 2010 had a 47% growth from $208 to $306.
Marchesi Antinori Solaia Toscana IGT 2016 steadily rose from $286 to $391 - a 36% increase in value.

These wines are also sought-after in auctions:

11 bottles of Sassicaia 1985 were sold for $16,762 at a Sotheby’s auction in 2020.
In a 2015 Christie’s auction, 6 bottles of Tenuta dell'Ornellaia, Masseto 1994 sold for $3,185.

But, do you need to wait for another auction to get hold of these wines?

No. Here’s a much easier way to add these wines to your portfolio:

Buy Super Tuscan and Other Exquisite Wines Through Vinovest

Vinovest is an expert wine investment company that lets you buy sought-after wines from the best wine brands in the world, including Super Tuscans. Vinovest will also authenticate, store, or even help you sell your wine bottles for a profit.

How Does it Work?

To get started, just follow these steps:

Sign up on the Vinovest platform.
Answer a quick questionnaire on your risk appetite and investment style.
Fund your account with at least $1,000.
Let Vinovest customize your portfolio and watch it grow while you sip on a delicious Petit Verdot or a Pinot Noir wine!

Benefits of Wine Investing via Vinovest

Vinovest also offers lots of benefits like:

1. Best Prices

Vinovest sources its wines directly from trusted wine merchants, winemakers, and global wine exchanges. This way, you get to enjoy the best possible prices on your favorite Super Tuscan, a Tuscan wine like San Gimignano, a Pinot Noir, Chianti, or an exquisite white wine.

2. Easy Buying and Selling

With Vinovest, you can buy fine and rare wines from the most exquisite Pinot Noir to the best Brunello Montalcino bottles from all over the world with just a few simple clicks.

3. Optimal Storage

With Vinovest, you don’t have to worry about cellaring your wines. All your bottles will be stored in bonded warehouses located near some of the best wine regions in the world. All facilities maintain optimal light, vibration, temperature, and humidity levels, 24/7.

4. Provenance and Authenticity

Are you worried about getting a counterfeit bottle when you purchase fine wine online? Vinovest goes the extra length to check each wine bottle’s authenticity and trace its provenance before making your purchase.

5. Curated Portfolio

If you’re not sure how to build a successful wine portfolio, Vinovest’s expert wine team will help you. The master sommeliers and data scientists do all the hard research and number crunching for you, so you get a winning portfolio of investment-grade and En Primeur wines.

6. Low Overall Costs

Vinovest charges an annual fee of 2.5% or 1.9% for portfolios of above $50,000 - much lower than what most wine investment companies charge. The fee covers everything from wine buying, selling, and insurance to fraud detection and portfolio management.

7. Easy Delivery

Do you want to enjoy the Super Tuscan or Chianti wine you just bought or perhaps gift it to your wine lover friends? Or maybe you want to ship it to a buyer? Just let Vinovest know about the shipping details, and they’ll deliver it safely anywhere in the world.

8. Full Ownership

And the best part is you own 100% of the wine bottles you buy through the platform.

Add an Iconic Super Tuscan to Your Wine Collection

Super Tuscans are Italian wines like no other. The combination of international grape varieties and the unique Tuscan terroir create exquisite wines with incredible longevity and investment potential.

Owning a bottle of these seductive wines is a must for any wine lover.

To get a bottle of this great wine and more, hassle-free, you can use the help of the Vinovest wine investment platform. Simply sign up and start building your wine collection today!