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Sovana is a red-wine DOC of Italy's famous Tuscany wine region. It was introduced in May 1999, at the same time as its coastal neighbor Capalbio. Sovana produces not only Sovana Rosso (which comes in higher-alcohol superiore and aged riserva forms) and a rosato (rose), but also four red varietal wines: Sangiovese, Aleatico, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This compromise between traditional Tuscan grapes and popular Bordeaux varieties reflects Italy's continuing steps towards the world's wider wine market, where names such as Cabernet and Merlot have great marketing potential.
To earn the mention superiore, a Sovana wine must spend at least 23 months in wooden barrels and a further six in bottle before being released. It must also come from vineyards cropped to lower yields and must attain an extra degree of final alcohol over the standard wines (at least 11.5%). The superiore option is available to both blended wines and varietals, as is the riserva, which extends the ageing period up to three years.
The vineyards covered by the title are those in Pitigliano, Sorano and a select few in neighboring Manciano. Pitigliano has its own white-wine-specific DOC, Bianco di Pitigliano, which was among the very first DOCs ever created, in March 1966. The Bianco di Pitigliano catchment area also covers Pitigliano, Sorano and Manciano, as well as land further to the north, while Capalbio covers Manciano in its entirety. This overlapping of DOC viticultural zones means vineyards have the choice of several titles under which to sell their wines.
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