Bianco Toscana IGT is a broad designation for white wines from Toscana in central Italy. While the region is first and foremost known for its red wines based on Sangiovese (think Chianti and Brunello), it is here at the IGT level that producers have the freedom to make white wines outside the strict DOC and DOCG rules. The category was introduced in Italy in 1992 as a level between Vino da Tavola and DOC/DOCG, and it largely came about to give the so-called Super Tuscans a quality classification outside the more rule-bound appellations.
Freedom is precisely the point. The rules are far more flexible than under DOC and DOCG, and a wide range of grapes is permitted. This means a producer can blend at their own discretion, for example with international varieties such as Chardonnay alongside the native grapes, without having to follow a fixed varietal set of rules. The overall requirement is that at least 85% of the grapes come from Toscana, and if a wine is labelled with a single grape variety, it must contain at least 85% of that particular variety. In addition to white wine, red wine, rosato and sparkling wine may also be made under the overall Toscana IGT designation.
For you as a drinker, this means an exciting field to explore. Here you will encounter everything from fresh, aromatic whites to fuller interpretations, where modern, international winemaking and barrel ageing lend structure and complexity. The IGT designation imposes no requirements for traditional techniques or particular vinification methods, and it is precisely this openness that makes the white wines under Bianco Toscana IGT interesting.
Although Toscana these years draws much of its attention towards Sangiovese and red wine, the white wines under Bianco Toscana IGT are a small but lively part of the region's world. Here tradition and fresh thinking meet in the glass, and you can find expressions ranging from the pure and light to the more ambitious. If you want to explore more of Toscana's styles, we also carry a broad selection of red wines from the region.