The Global Wine Masters highlights excellence in Tuscany

Following the first ever Tuscan Masters tasting earlier this month, db can confirm that this single region is producing exceptional wines, from whites to reds and rosés.

Indeed, relative to the number of wines that featured in this tasting, the results in the Tuscan Masters were better than any other competition we’ve hosted, with as many as four Masters awarded – the ultimate accolade for outstanding entries – and an incredible 16 Golds given out, meaning that more than one quarter of the samples picked up a top result.

“I saw more star wines today than at any other tasting in the Masters Series,” said Jonathan Pedley MW, tasting panel chair, after the Tuscan sampling was over.

Similarly enthusiastic, long-time Global Masters judge Patricia Stefanowicz MW commented that she “could judge these wines all day without palate fatigue,” due to “the refreshing acidity and judicious oak use and well-managed tannins in the red wines.”

Overall, this tasting showed that Tuscany is underrated as a diverse fine wine producing region. Although it contains famous red wine producing appellations, the tag of Toscana should be viewed as a badge of quality itself, and for all wine colours, not just the big red ‘Bs’ of this area: Brunello and Bolgheri.

While the Global Wine Masters runs a series of blind-tasting competitions throughout the year focused on varieties – from Chardonnay to Cabernet – and wine styles, from rosé to sparkling, the programme of events also includes judging sessions on key regions to shine a spotlight on wine quality and style in a particular place.

Over the years, such tastings have taken in Rioja, Champagne, and Prosecco.

However, last year we decided to launch a new competition for the range of wines produced across Tuscany, believing this part of the wine world to be underrated for value and quality.

The Global Masters: making winners out of winemakers

Home to fashionable wine producing areas such as Brunello and Bolgheri, but also up and coming places such as the Maremma, and the famous, reinvigorated region of Chianti Classico, this is a large and diverse area of the Italian wine landscape stood out to us as particularly ripe for appraisal.

Importantly, we wanted to take our blind tasting format from the Global Wine Masters to Tuscany to highlight the new and unexpected, as well as test the quality of the established fine wine heartlands in this high-profile part of Italy.

And the results were a revelation, showing that Tuscany is a one-stop-shop for fine wine lovers, with outstanding whites from Vermentino – including barrel-influenced examples – and delicious refreshing rosés from Sangiovese, along with great reds from native grapes, along with French varieties, and a blend of the two.

The wines were judged over the course of one day at Les 110 de Taillevent in London on 11 July by myself, Patricia Stefanowicz MW, Jonathan Pedley MW and Matthieu Longuère MS.

We will be revealing the results in full shortly, including the styles that wowed, and the brands that shone.

Meanwhile, please visit the Global Masters website for more information, or, to enter future competitions, please call +44 (0)20 7803 2420 or email Sophie Raichura at: sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com