The Ultimate Tuscan Road Trip For Wine Lovers

29.05.2024 - 13:17 / forbes.com

Pisa attracts more than five million tourists yearly to see its world-famous Leaning Tower. But few realize this proverbial “half-day city” is the gateway to Terre di Pisa, one of Italy's newest and most exciting DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) wine appellations.

This up-and-coming wine region offers an unforgettable experience for wine lovers who want to travel slowly and escape the crowds pervasive in many Italian cities.

Imagine rolling Tuscan hills, vineyards stretching toward the horizon, and passionate winemakers eager to share their craft and explain how their wines are shaped by the contours of the land and centuries of history.

Throughout the province, wine lovers can sip regional wines and savor local food products and dishes, creating a truly Tuscan culinary adventure.

The Terre di Pisa DOC appellation was established in 2011, attesting to the unique character of the wines.

In 2018, 10 producers formed the Terre di Pisa Wine Consortium to raise awareness and promote the quality of these regional wines; the number has now grown to 19 in 2024.

Terre di Pisa wines offer a symphony of flavors. The carefully controlled Terre di Pisa DOC appellation includes Terre di Pisa Bianco, Terre di Pisa Vermentino, Terre di Pisa Rosato, Terre di Pisa Rosso, and Terre di Pisa Sangiovese.

Visitors can explore reds like Sangiovese, the king grape of the region, or whites like Vermentino. They can also indulge in rosės and sparkling wines.

Most high-quality wines with the Terre di Pisa DOC label are reds with at least 95% Sangiovese grapes. Winemakers rely on these and other indigenous grapes to produce interesting blends with international varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah.

This unique hyper-local terroir is blessed with sandy soil rich in limestone and clay. Millions of years ago, the land was part of the ocean, so seeing whole seashells as you walk among the vineyards is common. Some winemakers even find marine fossils under the soil dating back to this heritage.

The hills and valleys of Terre di Pisa are conducive to viniculture because of the area’s temperate climate, which has warm days, cool nights, moderate rainfall, and ocean breezes from the nearby Tyrrhenian Sea year-round. The wines offer minerality and salinity.

Pisa is both the name of this province and its better-known capital city. While wine (along with the tilted tower) takes center stage, Terre di Pisa offers many diverse experiences.

Tourists can meander the two-lane roads traversing the countryside by car and discover this less-traveled province’s cultural, historical, and epicurean riches.

Terre di Pisa wineries are committed to sustainable practices, ensuring the land thrives for future generations. So, it’s