Carmignano

The Carmignano wine-growing area, whose boundaries were defined by a decree of the Grand Duke Cosimo III de' Medici in 1716, hosts the appellations Carmignano DOCG, Barco Reale di Carmignano DOC, Rosato di Carmignano DOC and Vin Santo di Carmignano DOC, also in its Occhio di Pernice version. The territory includes the hills of the municipalities of Carmignano and Poggio a Caiano located in the province of Prato, on the eastern slopes of Monte Albano, home of Chianti Montalbano. Although the name of Carmignano was protected even before the introduction of the DOC/DOCG quality system, it was absorbed by the most prestigious Chianti and the wines of the area were sold as Chianti Montalbano. In 1975, thanks to the decisive and tenacious action of the Carmignano winemakers, the area obtained an independent DOC which was promoted to DOCG in 1990.

The Carmignano DOCG wines are obtained from a blend of sangiovese grapes, which must make up at least 50%, canaiolo nero, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. Other complementary grapes established by the disciplinary are also allowed up to a maximum of 10%. These are dry red wines in some ways similar in style to Chianti but from which it differs for precise organoleptic characteristics given by the presence of cabernet grapes. It is compulsory to age 10 months in oak and/or chestnut barrels and 12 months for Carmignano Riserva DOCG.

The wineries in the same area that do not intend to invest in the creation of a Carmignano DOCG wine can opt for the Barco Reale di Carmignano DOC appellation, considered the lighter and fresher version of the robust Carmignano DOCG, therefore considered its "younger brother", obtained from the same blend but for which no particular requirements are defined regarding the ageing period, conceived for young consumption. The name derives from the Medici Barco Reale, a vast hunting reserve established in the 17th century, even if the link between the estate and the wine is not perfectly clear. Rosé wines produced within the territory can boast the designation Rosato di Carmignano DOC.

Vin Santo di Carmignano must be produced with trebbiano toscano and malvasia del Chianti grapes, while the Occhio di Pernice version, so called because it is produced from red berried grapes, must be produced with a minimum of 50% Sangiovese to which they complement other authorized red grape varieties. The Vin Santo di Carmignano must age for 3 years in wooden casks and the Riserva version for 4 years.