Seven hundred years ago, Florence, the heart of Tuscany in Italy, ushered in the Renaissance, a great turning point in human history. It was a time when medieval culture, confined by divine order, was cast off and people opened their eyes to innate human value and creativity. Tuscany then was a sanctuary of innovation and art. The intense creative energy that laid the foundation of modern civilization still lives and breathes intact centuries later. The Renaissance temperament, expressed through the medium of wine, is today's Super Tuscan.
Until the 1970s, Italy's wine law (DOC) was very conservative. To make a representative Tuscan wine then, producers had to use only the traditional Sangiovese variety and were required to blend in white grapes. Because white varieties were mixed in, the wine's density dropped and the result was inevitably low-quality wine. Maximum yields per hectare and aging periods were also set, making it hard for winemakers to craft styles with their own character. Stray from any of these conditions and the wine had to receive the lowest grade within Italy's legal system.
At that point, some producers boldly rebelled. Producers emerged who said they would compete on quality, regardless of classification. Just as Renaissance masters broke with old conventions and tried new techniques, brands such as Sassicaia, Tignanello and Ornellaia began to present wines blended with varieties from France's Bordeaux, like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. They combined the strengths of different grapes to complement structure and flavor. These wines were so well made that they won high marks from leading wine critics worldwide and earned the nickname Super Tuscan. Their focus on essential taste over classification became the decisive moment that makes today's wine lovers go mad for Tuscan wine.
Gigino Grande from the Barbanera family carries on the lineage and philosophy of these Super Tuscans. Since its founding in 1938, Barbanera has been family-run for more than 80 years over four generations. One of its flagship wines is Gigino Grande Toscana Rosso. Gigino was the nickname for Luigi Barbanera, the family's second-generation head. To honor the father who devoted his life to the vineyards while building the family business for more than 80 years, they put his name front and center on the wine.
They added Grande, meaning "great." It expresses pride that, among the many wines the family produces, this has the finest quality. Ultimately, the name means a legacy made in the father's honor that links the family's past and future.
Barbanera sits on the slopes of Mount Cetona, bordering Umbria. It has geographically unique climate conditions. By day, warm winds from the Mediterranean and intense sunlight ripen the grapes sweet and concentrated. At night, cool air descending from the summit cools the vines and preserves fresh acidity. The stark diurnal shift is a key element that breathes complex flavors into the grapes. Soil mixed with gravel and clay drains well and drives the roots deep, creating more concentrated flavor.
Gigino Grande Toscana Rosso blends the Tuscan native Sangiovese with Bordeaux varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This is the common approach established by early Super Tuscans to achieve world-class quality. Barbanera in particular applies a technique of partially drying grapes to raise sugar and flavor. Compared with typical wines, it gains a heavier body and powerful structure while also achieving delicate, elegant aromas.
Separate aging tailored to each variety is also key. Sangiovese and the international varieties are harvested at different times and aged individually, then blended at the final stage. Extended aging in oak stabilizes the grape tannins.
It is densely deep, an opaque dark purple. Aromas of red fruits such as amarena cherry and redcurrant jam stand out, followed by delicate, complex notes of vanilla and caramel. The finish is weighty and long, ending with nutty, dark chocolate and arabica coffee notes. It pairs well with meats, mushroom risotto and long-aged cheeses. It received 99 points from renowned Italian critic Luca Maroni and won the grand prize in the Old World red wine category at the 2025 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards. The importer in Korea is Allvintage Wine.