text: Confident people tend to challenge themselves and compete, even when their efforts yield small victories. Small victories build new androgen receptors in the areas of the brain responsible for reward and motivation. This increase in androgen receptors increases the influence of testosterone, which in turn increases your confidence and your eagerness to tackle future challenges. When you have a series of small victories, the boost in your confidence can last for months.
  Nothing builds confidence like a talented, experienced person showing you the way and patting you on the back for a job well done. A good mentor can act as a mirror, giving you the perspective you need to believe in yourself. Knowledge breeds confidence--knowing where you stand helps you focus your energy more effectively. Beyond that, a mentor can help educate you on some of the cultural inner workings of your organization. Knowing the unwritten rules of how to get things done in your workplace is a great confidence booster.
  Like it or not, how we dress has a huge effect on how people see us. Things like the color, cut, and style of the clothes we wear--and even our accessories--communicate loudly. But the way we dress also affects how we see ourselves. Studies have shown that people speak differently when they're dressed up compared with when they're dressed casually. To boost your confidence, dress well. Choose clothing that reflects who you are and the image you want to project, even if that means spending more time at the mall and more time getting ready in the morning.
  Aggressiveness isn't confidence; it's bullying. And when you're insecure, it's easy to slip into aggressiveness without intending to. Practice asserting yourself without getting aggressive (and trampling over someone else in the process). You won't be able to achieve this until you learn how to keep your insecurities at bay, and this will increase your confidence.
  Your confidence is your own to develop or undermine. Confidence is based on reality. It's the steadfast knowledge that goes beyond simply "hoping for the best." It ensures that you'll get the job done--that's the power of true confidence.
  
  Central Italy’s most important wine region—and the country’s sixth-largest wine-producing region, Tuscany produces a diverse selection of internationally recognized wines from both indigenous and international varieties.
  Tuscany stretches from the Tyrrhenian coastline inland toward the Apennine Mountains, with multiple elevations, expositions, soil types, and climatic conditions.
  More than half of Tuscany’s hillside vineyards are planted with Sangiovese grapes. Historically, the region is known for its production of Chianti. In fact, the Chianti zone is the oldest appellation in the region.
  These sub-appellations may be featured on Chianti wine labels. Chianti Classico and Chianti Rufina are some of the most distinctive wines coming out of the Chianti area.
  Sangiovese is the star grape of the Tuscany wine regions as it is widely cultivated. The wines must be mostly made from Sangiovese, a small percentage of additional varieties may be used. While in the past even white varieties were added to Chianti wines, today it mostly involves local varieties like Colorino or Canaiolo Nero or international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, which are added in small amounts.
  Tuscany is known for Sangiovese-based Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which is made near the hill town of Montepulciano. These wines show similar characteristics as Chianti Riservas. Another Sangiovese-based wine, Brunello di Montalcino is a world-class red which is considered one of Italy’s finest and most age-worthy wines made with 100 per cent Sangiovese grapes.
  The region’s other most significant red wines are the famed Super Tuscans from their heartland, Bolgheri and Bolgheri Sassicaia, which have recently received DOCs denominations, which means they’re generally high- to very high-quality wines. A local take on the classic Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah (and sometimes Cabernet Franc), these wines were developed, in part, as a reaction to the restrictive regulations in Tuscany during the 1970s. At the time they emerged, they were considered some of the region’s best reds.