Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
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 of DOCG designated wine a year.