The first day of the Anteprime Toscane is one of my favorites.  We have the opportunity to try wines from many different areas in Tuscany, including Maremma DOC. This designation was assigned in September 2011. There has been a Maremma IGT since 1995. The Consorzio that monitors the area is called the Consorzio di Tutela Vini della Maremma Toscana. The wines that are included in this large area include novello, bianco, rosso and rosato. They also have Sparkling, Vin Santo, passito and late harvest wines and many varietal wines such as Ansonica, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Trebbiano, Vermentino and Viognier for whites. Alicante, Cabernet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Canaiolo, Ciliegiolo, Merlot, Sangiovese and Syrah for reds. In order to have this varieties on the label the wine must be made from 85% of that grape variety.

The Maremma production area includes the entire province of Grosseto. There are many different soils and micro-climes in the large area that includes the island of Giglio and the Monte Argentario which allows for the production of so many different wines styles. People often compare Maremma to California.

The planting density is 3,000 vines per hectare. The yields are 91 hl/ha for the white wines and sparklers, 84 hl/ha for the reds, rosé and novello wines and 45.5 hl/ha for the Vin Santo, 44 hl/ha for the passito wines and 40 hl/ha for late harvest wines.

At the Anteprime, I tasted through a number of the Vermentino wines from this area. Vermentino is a grape that I favor and that I think should be on everyone’s radar. Vermentino grows throughout the Mediterranean and can be found in Liguria, Sardinia and Corsica in abundance. Vermentino from Maremma is often seen on its own and at times is blended with Chardonnay to add a touch of sweetness. I found them to be a bit rounder that some of those that I have had in Liguria. Most age in stainless steel but some do use wood aging. Some also use skin contact to give the wine more texture but most vinify only in stainless steel.

I have tasted wines from:

Fattoria San Felo produces wines that are clean and very modern versions of these wines.

Azienda Santa Lucia is a winery I have known for a long time thanks to their Morellino di Scansano production. Many of the wineries that make Vermentino also make Morellino di Scansano.

Tenuta Montauto is a winery that has been around for more than 60 years.

I tried those wines last year and this year, I tried the wines from Colle Petruccio. I liked their Maremma DOC Vermentino :Norcias” alot. Made from 100% Vermentino is was filled with acidity and minerality with white stone fruit aromas. A real beauty and a breadth of summer in a glass.

I also tried the Val delle Rose – Tenuta della Famiglia Cecchi. Their Maremma DOC Vermentino “Cobalto” was a Vermentino blend of grapes that had fermented in different vessels, some oak (50%) some amphora (34%) and some stainless steel (16%). It was a richly textured wine with a lot more structure that would pair well with a meaty fish such as salmon.

Another wine that I enjoyed was the Val de Toro Maremma DOC Vermentino “Auramaris.” A lovely wine that I can imagine drinking in large quantities at a picnic with pasta salads, it was a blend of 85% Vermentino and 15% Grechetto.

There are so many areas to discover in Maremma, it is worth a visit for the wines, the countryside, the food and the sea, among other things. It’s truly beautiful and I can’t wait to go back.