Morellino di Scansano : DOCG Tuscany Wine

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Maggio 6, 2008

Of all the four types of wine, the red one is revered as the sweetest and the most delightful. White wine is great for beginners, but even so, more and more people prefer the red wine. A new star in ‘red’ vinification is the Morellino di Scansano wine, a product of Scansano, Grosseto, Italy. Just recently, it received a DOCG label from Italy’s food quality assurance agency.

Being awarded a DOCG status meant that the Morellino di Scansano wine is produced based on Italy’s high standards in food production. There are basically three labels or ratings for food quality: the lowest is DOC, followed by DOCG, then the DO. Morellino di Scansano earned a DOC rating in 1978. Then in 2007, Italy raised it to DOCG. The need to upgrade the status was a result of Scansano’s increasing wine production, which required strict compliance and constituency for quality. Scansano reportedly vinificated 554,000 liters of wine in 1812, and since then, winemaking in the region grew unceasingly.

The DOCG status upgrade, however, contributes to only a small part of the wine’s success. The history behind the name Morellino somehow just keeps people interested in the product.

Contrary to popular belief, Morellino is not a name of a grape specie. The wine is actually made from a type of grape called Sangiovese, a common ingredient used to make Tuscan wines like the Chianti. Sangiovese grapes produce a slight spicy and strawberry-like flavor. But unlike other Sangiovese made wines, the Morellino di Scansano is not aged in wood barrels for long. Although it would shorten shelf life, Morellino di Scansano wine is best loved by people because of its astoundingly fresh state.

Nobody knows exactly where Morellino came from. Most wine lovers think the name is derived from the word ‘Morello’ or brown, the color of horses found in Maremma, a Tuscan town where Morellino di Scansano wine was believed to have originated.

As interesting as its name is, the wine continues to grow as a major favorite among red wine novices and connoisseurs. Still haven’t tried the Morellino? The next time you stop by a wine shop, ask for a Morellino di Scansano. And don’t forget to look for the DOCG label.

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