The Wines of Maremma Tuscany

Wine is “a mix of humor and light”, said Galileo Galilei. The Maremma Toscana is an indisputably unique land. Extremely diverse climatic, pedological and morphological conditions make it ideal for producing different types of wines that express the vast and varied terrain of the Maremma itself. Viticulture has contributed to shaping the Maremman landscape ever since the time of the Etruscans.

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Modern agronomic and enological techniques are now driving new generations to set increasingly higher quality standards and thereby boost the quality of wines from this area. Grapevines find an ideal habitat in Maremma also in terms of natural sunlight. Ripe fruit, subtle complexity, crispness and a pleasant mouth feel are common characteristics of the wines from Maremma. No other area in Tuscany can offer such a wide variety of wines, also due to the essential characteristics of the grape varieties grown here.

In the 90’s, cultivation of indigenous varieties like Ciliegiolo, Canaiolo Nero, Alicante, Sangiovese, Pugnitello, Aleatico, Vermentino, Trebbiano, Ansonica, Malvasia and Grechetto was expanded to include foreign grape varieties such as the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet franc, Merlot, Syrah, Viognier, Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Petit Verdot, which found a new, hospitable home in Maremma. Therefore, Maremma Toscana is no longer synonymous with Sangiovese grapes. In fact, although still the sole variety cultivated by some growers, Sangiovese now occupies less than half of the overall 8,750 hectares of vineyards in the province of Grosseto.

The result is a more “innovative” range of Tuscan wines, capable of satisfying different needs and palates, from reds made with a single variety or a blend of foreign grapes, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, or indigenous Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo and Alicante-based reds.

The majority of red grape varieties certainly have the common trait of producing easy-drinking wines bound to suitably express their character even if bottled a few months after the harvest. Nonetheless, in the last few years consumers have also increasingly started to look for superior local wines of yet untapped potential, apt to age well and yield excellent results in the medium to long-term. Vermentino, especially in coastal areas, is the main white grape cultivar used to produce the best-selling and most bottled DOC wine in the market. This grape has proven to produce high quality wine with a very complex aromatic profile, even in the worst grape-growing years. Rosé, produced with Sangiovese, Syrah, Ciliegiolo, Alicante, Merlot, and even Aleatico grapes, is another increasingly popular type of wine.

The consortium

The Consortium has undertaken to promote projects focused on highlighting the value of those very aspects and to communicate new action plans designed to better illustrate the natural characteristics of the area. The ultimate goal is to raise market awareness of a territory and Denomination characterized by the quality of its vines, as well as care and respect of their land of origin.

Vineyards are cultivated with methods that fully respect and enhance the characteristic features, beauty and recognizability of the Maremma Toscana region. Great attention is paid to the territory, and to minimizing the potential impact of production activities. Our vinicultural heritage is preserved through increasingly sustainable management of fertilizers, use of organic fertilizers, cover crop plantings, and soil management practices de – signed to preserve fertility and combat erosion. Phytosanitary protection is ensured by integrated or organic methods, using innovative tools and control systems that minimize treatments.

The prudent management of soil, water, air and the preservation of biodiversity play a crucial role in ensuring the quality of the crops and soil. Environmental and landscape protection measures preserve the wealth and characteristics that make a location unique and unmistakable, while keeping the ecosystem in balance.

The Consortium actively promotes all the positive values, traditions, stylistic consistency, ties to a specific location, sensorial excellence and sustainability that make the wine industry – an icon of Italian agro-food production and exports – such a unique and precious heritage. Protecting our heritage ensures our future!

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