“Excellence of Tuscany” and The Best 101 Labels 2025 was the conference-event organized by AIS Toscana (Italian Sommelier Association), under the patronage of the Region of Tuscany, in the city of Dante. The Metropolitan City of Florence, the Florentine Chamber of Commerce, Promofirenze, in collaboration with Toscana Promozione Turistica, Vetrina Toscana and Fondazione Sistema Toscana also participated.
This year, for the first time, important partners such as Fermento Birra, Olioofficina, Anag, Quore Toscana DOP and IGP Association, and the Women’s Wine Association of Tuscany have been added.
Extraordinary wines capable of telling the story of the whole of Tuscany were presented at the Leopolda in Florence. The meeting was preceded by an award ceremony, at the Chamber of Commerce, of the 101 best representative wines of all regional types. A recognition that highlighted, why not, even lesser-known but valuable wineries and producers.
Wine is one of the great ambassadors of Tuscan quality in the world-a true excellence, considering that last year it recorded a +3.5 percent increase in exports, surpassing even Piedmont.
We asked Stefania Saccardi, Assessore all’Agroalimentare and Vice-President of the Region of Tuscany, whether the threat of U.S. tariffs could encourage the spread of fake Italian wine.
“Yes, it may make exporting more complicated, difficult, and expensive, and thus may fuel the market for fake wine, although I sincerely hope it will not come to that. With respect to Canada, however, the U.S. administration is reconsidering, and the hope is that this will carry over generally, hoping that election promises will not be kept.”
Can this hypothetical wine downturn favor the establishment of other countries?
“Of course, it is possible. If we look around, there are so many places where they talk about uprooting vines; they do uprooting and reduce productivity, even giving premiums to decrease production. However, Tuscany is a phenomenon that is sustained only by maintaining good levels of production and sales. Taking into account the general and international picture, growing quality and keeping the level of our wines high is a condition that helps in no small way.”
Could the dreaded shrinking of the U.S. market push for shoddier production?
“I hope not. If we manage to hold our own in the market, it is because we offer products of extreme quality. It would be a mistake, in my opinion, to lower the wine value in an attempt to gain more in quantity. Never take steps backward!”
During the conference, he spoke about the revitalization of Vin Santo.
“Yes, a strongly typical product of our region. Definitely excellent! At one time it was an accompaniment wine to cantuccini, while today it is paired with foods of the highest level that deserve to be further enhanced. Good that so many companies make it truly exceptional.”
Nothing else then to soak in?
“Absolutely not! It is enjoyed like this, fair and pure.”
In your basement does it exist?
“Absolutely!”
His favorite wine?
“I don’t know-there are so many different wines for so many occasions. Personally, I like to try lesser-known wines, maybe from small wineries that produce really good things.”
Beyond Tuscany, is there more? A question in which the word “competition” hovers.
“Mah … I think of Piedmont and Veneto, which make important wines, with a level of quality that competes strongly with ours. Yeah … with the understanding, however, that the Tuscan vintage of 2024 has surpassed the ‘Gianduiotto’ region, showing abroad that real litmus test that sees 2.3 million hectoliters (+30%) produced by 12,700 Tuscan wineries, with cultivation of 60,000 hectares under vine.”
The article Duties: the views of Stefania Saccardi, alderman for Agribusiness comes from TheNewyorkese.
