Carmignano is an
Italian wine region located in the
Tuscany region and centered on the city of
Carmignano, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) northwest of
Florence. Noted for the quality of its wines since the
Middle Ages, Carmignano was identified by
Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany as one of the superior wine producing areas of Tuscany and granted special legal protections in 1716. In the 18th century, the producers of the Carmignano region developed a tradition of blending
Sangiovese with
Cabernet Sauvignon, long before the practice became popularized by the "
Super Tuscan" of the late 20th century. In 1975, the region was awarded
Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) status and subsequently promoted to
Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) status in 1990 (retroactive to the 1988
vintage. Today Carmignano has approximately planted, producing nearly 71,500 gallons ( 2,700
hectoliters) of DOCG designated wine a year.