Following World War II, Italy’s Chianti wines became popular throughout the world. The traditional blend called for the addition of a bit of white wine, specifically Malavasia, to keep the wine vivacious; but as Chianti’s popularity exploded, producers began to add other white grapes (as it was required by law to add a percentage of white grapes) to the blend, usually the unexciting Trebbiano. Several forward-minded Tuscan producers chose to make more quality-oriented wines with a blend that didn’t necessarily abide by the laws of Chianti, wines that became known as “Super Tuscans.” Unfortunately these wines could then only legally be labeled Vino da Tavola (table wine), the very lowest level of Italian...   Read more