An On-Site Report of Tuscany’s Latest Wine Releases
By Gabriel Riel-Salvatore, Food & Wine Editor
Each February, the Tuscan wine world quietly resets its compass in Florence and surroundings for the Anteprima Toscana week.
Anteprima offers an early glimpse into the newest vintages from Tuscany’s leading wine regions—long before the wines land on SAQ shelves or LCBO listings. The 2026 edition once again gathered journalists, buyers, educators, and sommeliers for a tightly packed programme that included the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Preview, Chianti Classico Collection, L’Altra Toscana with upcoming docs such as Montecuco or Carmignano, Chianti&Rosso Morellino, and the Valdarno di Sopra Day.
For Canadian wine drinkers, this week offers more than just a sneak peek—it signals where Tuscany’s export-driven denominations are heading next.
A Quality Pyramid Designed for the Modern Drinker
One of the most significant developments across Tuscany’s flagship appellations—particularly Chianti Classico and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano—has been the gradual evolution of their quality pyramid in the past decade.
Borrowing from the logic of Burgundy, the current framework moves from entry-level Annata wines toward Riserva and ultimately single-vineyard expressions such as Gran Selezione or Pieve bottlings. The strategy aims to simplify messaging for newer drinkers—often through approachable wines such as Chianti Classico Annata or Rosso di Montepulciano—while creating a natural pathway toward cru-level expressions.
Vintage Report
For the most recent 2024 which will end up on the Canadian shelves within the next 6 to 12 months, think about fresh leaning reds with a clear fruit-forward character for an easy, yet elegant drink.
For later-released Riserva or Gran Selezione wines, the 2023 vintage proved to be a challenging year, marked by downy mildew pressure that resulted in uneven outcomes depending on the region and producer. Where vineyard management was rigorous, however, the wines display balance, soft tannins, and notable freshness—yielding reliable, approachable expressions.
By contrast, the warmer 2022 vintage is characterised by riper tannins and moderate acidity, offering a more harmonious and consistent profile overall, albeit with slightly less ageing potential.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano’s New Chapter
Held within the imposing walls of the Fortezza di Montepulciano, this year’s Anteprima Vino Nobile offered a comprehensive preview of the appellation’s stylistic range—from juicy Rosso expressions to age-worthy Riserva bottlings.
Vino Nobile wines have been present on the Canadian market for decades, with flagship producers such as Carpineto leading the way. Other established names—including Avignonesi and Poliziano—have since been joined by newer household labels such as La Braccesca (Antinori) and Tenuta Calimaia (Frescobaldi). Yet a whole generation of young winemakers remains to be discovered in this appellation, which stylistically falls midway between Chianti Classico’s finesse and the opulence of Brunello di Montalcino.
Producers such as Bindella, Boscarelli, Icario, and Talosa reflect the enduring potential of a noble land planted with vineyards for centuries. Keep an eye on Le Berte, which has recently entered the Canadian market on commission with an approachable Rosso di Montepulciano marked by crunchy red fruit alongside a more serious Riserva offering deeper tones of dark fruit, sweet spice, and charred oak. Also worth noting is Poggio alla Sala, a property recently acquired by Italian-Canadian entrepreneur from Montreal, Eric Toppetta. His wines should enter the market on commission withing the next few months.
Based on a minimum of 85% Sangiovese—locally known as Prugnolo Gentile—the more serious Pieve designation, encompassing 12 subzones, undergoes at least three years of ageing prior to release and is, for the most part, 100% Sangiovese-based. The result are structured wines that can be thought of as mini-Brunellos—often at a fraction of the price.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Producers to watch for: Le Berte, Sanguineto, La Braccesca, Bindella, Boscarelli, Carpineto, Poggio alla Sala, Icario
Chianti Classico Collection 2026: Culture in the glass
Held at Stazione Leopolda on February 16–17, the 33rd edition of Chianti Classico Collection brought together a record 223 producers presenting 680 wines—a powerful snapshot of stylistic diversity across Tuscany’s most recognisable denomination.
This year’s theme, Wine Is Culture, reflects Chianti Classico’s enduring identity as more than a commercial category. Since its production boundaries were first defined in 1716, more than 300 protected historical sites have been identified within the appellation—underscoring the territory’s deep cultural resonance.
While Annata wines are trending toward a lighter, more approachable profile, the steady qualitative gains seen in Riserva and Gran Selezione since the early 2000s—both in the vineyard and the cellar—are yielding Sangiovese-based wines with notable ageing potential.
For Canadian consumers, the shift toward premiumization is becoming increasingly evident. According to Consorzio data, Riserva and Gran Selezione accounted for 43% of total production volume and 55.2% of overall value in 2025, while Canadian consumption of these higher-tier wines rose by nearly 30% over the same period.
In a market defined by moderation and more cultured drinkers, Tuscany’s message appears to resonate: drink less, drink better.
Chianti Classico Producers to watch for: Felsina (Castelnuovo Berardenga), Nittardi (Castellina), Ricasoli (Gaiole), Le Miccine (Gaiole), Isole e Olena (San Donato in Poggio), Fontodi (Panzano), Fonterutoli (Castellina), Castello di Ama (Gaiole), Querciabella (Greve), Antinori (San Donato in Poggio)
Beyond the Black Rooster
Anteprima also offers an invitation to look beyond the Gallo Nero. Appellations such as Morellino di Scansano or Valdarno di Sopra continue to expand Tuscany’s stylistic palette with terroir-driven wines that are quietly gaining traction among younger and premium-curious Canadian drinkers alike.
