Most lovers of Italian wines have yet to realize the difference between Montepulciano, the medieval town in southwest Tuscany, Italy, and Montepulciano, the grape. Many, if not all, think them the same, stating, “Well, that’s easy. It’s the grape grown in and around Montepulciano.”

But it’s not. The grape varietal that is cultivated in and around Montepulciano is Sangiovese. That’s right, the same family of Sangiovese grapes that you could find in Chianti, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Rosso di Montepulciano, Morellino, Chianti Classico, Morellino di Scansano, Rosso di Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino, Rosso di Montepulciano, Montefalco Rosso, Tignanello and many others.