Made in Tuscany: three of the best buys

White or red, riserva or vintage? Tuscany is one of Italy's biggest wine-producing regions, and looking at its landscapes, you can see why: miles and miles of vines stretch over the hills from the Lunigiana to Val d'Orcia. 11 wines have the DOCG, 41 the DOC and 6 the IGT certificates, and all have helped to make the region world-famous for its wine. Many wineries sell directly on-site, from the cellar, while also shipping throughout Italy and all over the world, thanks to their e-commerce apparatus. The Consorzio Chianti Classico's website, for example, provides you with a list of their producers who sell online. If you are interested in something else, we can point you in the direction of the respective websites of the different consortia, each of which represents a wine denomination of origin: have a look at their list of companies and get in touch with them.

There are more than 400 examples of typical Tuscan produce, but only 31 have the EU quality certificates that attest to their authenticity. The DOP and IGP certifications (PDO and PGI in English) guarantee that the customer is buying a food product made in accordance with strict quality controls. On the consortia websites you will find all the information you need about production methods, about how the businesses produce and distribute their wares.

Fresh, seasoned Pecorino Toscano DOP, for example, is a cheese made exclusively with whole milk from sheep in Tuscany and on the fringes of neighbouring regions, as is traditional. These sheep graze mainly on natural meadows, and the unique, delicate flavour of their cheese tells a story that starts with the Etruscans and continues to the present day. If you want to have it delivered to your home, here are the companies that sell it through their online shops.

The production line of Olio Toscano IGP is rigorously controlled in Tuscany, from the olive grove to the packaging. This oil, moreover, undergoes scientific and tasting tests, the latter conducted by recognised commissions from the Ministry of Agricultural Policy, in order to confirm that it completely adheres to quality controls. The Consorzio dell'Olio Toscano IGP has put together a list here of companies that offer home delivery (and without shipping costs).

Tuscany is one of the artisan regions par excellence. In the hilltop villages and even in the streets of busier cities, there are any number of opportunities to visit centuries-old workshops. The Centro per l'Artigianato Artistico e Tradizionale della Toscana (Artex) has compiled a list of recommended tours and different enterprises, divided according to sector: from ceramics to silversmithing, from perfumery to texiles, these lists can be found on their website ARTOUR. Some of these artisan businesses have an online sales section on their own websites. A godsend for anyone in search of authentic, Made in Tuscany craftsmanship.

For other recommendations on typical Tuscan products, visit the Food and Wine and crafts sections of our website.