Val d'Arbia is a white wine made from Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia del Chianti (70–80% together or individually), and Chardonnay (10–30%). The grapes from which Val d'Arbia wines come are grown just east of Siena, in the Arbia Valley cited in the DOC title (which was granted in 1985).
Val d'Arbia might be viewed as a type of 'white Chianti', as its production area is entirely encircled by (and interspersed with) Chianti-producing vineyards planted with Sangiovese and the Cabernet grapes. Prior to the formalization of the protected, controlled 'Chianti' name (the Chianti DOC was created in 1967), white wines from the Val d'Arbia may well have been sold as Chianti Bianco (white Chianti).
The key production area for Val d'Arbia wines lies within the administrative limits of Siena, but also spills over into several surrounding communes along the Arbia river's north-south course. Dante Alighieri refers to the Arbia in his Divine Comedy as he describes the 13th-century Battle of Montaperti and 'the great carnage that colored the Arbia red'. Today the area is much more peaceful, and is known for its successful tourist, agricultural and winemaking industries.
