Wines in Tuscany | Montecucco D.O.C. in the Tuscan Maremma

Montecucco D.O.C.
	The Maremma is extremely different than Northern Tuscany. While the north boasts such spectacular cities as Florence, Siena and Lucca, the region also received hoards of tourists and can be uncomfortably crowded in high season, indeed even in low season. Wine regions in Northern Tuscany, such as Chianti Classico, have extremely well developed wine tourism and most cellars open to the general public. The Maremma, on the other hand, is far more exclusive. Few cellars open to the "general public" and the region is noticeably less touristy. This is why the Maremma, for serious wine lovers is such an attractive region to visit. Indeed DOC Montecucco borders such prestigious designation as Brunello di Montalcino, Morellino di Scansano, S. Antimo and Monteregio di Massa Marittima.
Towns like Castiglione della Pescaia (with its charming fishing port and castle), Pitigliano (an amazing village completely carved out of the rocky outcrop below, an ancient Jewish village) and Massa Maritima (with its quaint cobblestoned, Medieval streets) are all fabulous little gems- they are virtually free of the crowds.Maremma is an extremely interesting sub region of Tuscany for food and wine lovers to visit. Although for centuries it was considered unfit for vineyards, in the past few decades this coastal area has become one of the most ultra exclusive wine producing regions of Italy. Therefore DOC Montecucco is one of the most promissing designation in Italy. (DOC : Denominazione di Origine Controllata – Trade name guaranteeing quality of wine. It was established in 1998 as an instrument of valorization and control which guarantees the consumer with the highest standards which characterizes Montecucco wines. The principal wine villages in the Maremma are Bolgheri, Castagneto Carducci, Scansano, Cinigiano and Suvereto. Grapes used in Maremma wines include Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Vermentino, Cabernet Franc, Alicante and Aleatico. DOC Montecucco is located in Southern Tuscany in the Maremma region which is particularly adapted to the elaboration of fine wines. DOC Montecucco allows 5 different types of wines: Montecucco Rosso: based on a minimum of 60% of Sangiovese it allows for a great freedom in terms of assembly with other vines. Rich and harmonious flavors characterize the Montecucco Rosso wine. Montecucco Sangiovese: as indicated by its name, this wine is largely made from the reputed Tuscan vine Sangiovese, also known as Brunello in Montalcino. The Montecucco Sangiovese should be composed of at least 85% Sangiovese and is often found “in purezza” (100%). Distinctive and imposing this wine may be savoured “young”, but it will be best appreciated after a few years and will reach its full potential after 10 to 20 years. Both these wine may also be found as Montecucco Riserva provided they have aged for two years of which at least 18 months in Oak barrels. These three types of red wine along with two white wines, the Montecucco Bianco and the Montecucco Vermentino, make up the whole of the DOC Monteccuco designation.

Roses in the Vineyard In the Montecucco area, you'll frequently see roses planted along the edge of vineyards. Traditionally they've served as an early warning system to protect the grapevines — the equivalent of a miner's canary. Roses also warn of other diseases and growing problems before they affect the grapevines. Roses act as early warning of mildew which is a fungal disease. There are two main kinds of mildews: powdery mildew (Oidium) which develops on all green parts of the vine. The second deadly mildew is called Downy mildew which was brought over from American to Europe in the 19th century. [2] Roses also serve as a habitat for some beneficial insects that eat other undesirable insects. And they're beautiful.

Roses act as early warning of mildew which is a fungal disease.[1]
	Strada del Vino di Montecucco - Toscana
Strada del vino Montecucco	The Montecucco Wine Trail runs through a vast area situated on the slopes of Mount Amiata, which has its centre at Cinigiano, lying between the Maremma region and Amiata. The vineyards are situated on the southwest hillsides of the Amiata Mountain, directly opposite the Brunello slopes; the two enjoy the same microclimate. The seven Comuni which produce the Montecucco DOC wine are all to be found in the Province of Grosseto, in South Tuscany, and are, besides Cinigiano: Civitella Paganico, Campagnatico, Castel del Piano, Arcidosso, Seggiano and Roccalbegna. The Montecucco wine trail (La Strada del Vino Montecucco) consists of a main roadway with five turn-offs. It can also be found on the official site of Strada del Vino Montecucco - Montecucco Wine Trail. This little-known area strikes the visitor as a kind of enchanted garden, with endless discoveries to be made - a different Tuscany, the real one, in which tradition and innovation are combined. It is an unspoilt landscape whose natural dignity and resources have been respected, especially in more recent wine-growing. Apart from Montecucco DOC and Maremma Toscana IGT wines, the area also produces olive oil (IGP Toscano - Seggiano is particularly worth a mention), chestnuts, which are shortly to receive IGP recognition Mount Amiata Chestnut), mushrooms, notably the ceps and ovolo species, and excellent honey. The Trail is arranged in one main itinerary and five mini-itineraries which wind through the most beautiful and interesting parts of the area from the viticultural, historic, cultural and environmental point of view. The following towns are touched upon: Paganico, Sasso d'Ombrone, Poggi del,Sasso, Montecucco, Cinigiano, Porrona, Montenero, Montegiovi, Montelaterone, Castel del Piano and Seggiano.
	Pdf \| Download the map of the Strada del vino Montecucco Strada del vino Montecucco Itineraries (it)
	Organic wines in southern Tuscany More and more wineries believe in maintaining the delicate chain of a balanced biological ecosystem and use organic or sustainable approaches to winemaking. Proponents of organically grown wine believe that chemical farming destroys the uniqueness of the land, and the unique flavor that this 'terroir' imparts to the wine. Wines in Tuscany \| The biological wine in Tuscany Map of Organic or biological wine in southern Tuscany

	Member companies of the DOC Montecucco
Banfi, Castello di Poggio alle Mura, view from Podere Santa Pia	Castello Colle Massari, view from Podere Santa Pia	Castel Porrona, a charming medieval village dating back to the 11th century, between Cinigiano and Castiglioncello Bandini

	AZIENDA AGRICOLA AGRITURISMO ASSOLATI \| Loc. Pod. Assolati, 58040 - Montenero Ref. Loriano Giannetti e Daniela Sani \|Tel./Fax 0564 954146 Cell. 338 2253951 \|silviagiannetti@tiscali.it

	AGRITURISMO LA BANDITACCIA \| Podere la Banditaccia, 58047 Monticello Amiata Ref. Claudio Bechini \| Cell. 347 4167275 - Cell. 347 4230889 \| www.banditaccia.com \|info@banditaccia.com

	AZIENDA AGRICOLA BASILE \| Podere Montemario, 58044 Cinigiano Ref. Giovan Battista Basil \| Tel. fax 0564 993227 Cell. 335 5882149 \| www.vinicolabasile.it \| info@vinicolabasile.it

	AZ. AGR. BEGNARDI - SAPORI DI MONTEANTICO \| Podere Camporosso, 34 58030 Monteantico Ref. Michele e Luca Begnardi \| Tel. Fax. 0564/991030 Cell. 3332013670 \| begnardi.lm@libero.it

	AZ. AGR. CAMPINUOVI \| Podere Campinuovi, 58044 Cinigiano Ref. Nadia Riguccini \| Cell. 349 8588147

	AZ. AGR. CAPANNE RICCI \| Loc. Capanne Ricci, 58044 Cingiano Ref. Ferruccio Ricci \| Tel.-Fax 0564 902063 \| capanne_ricci@virgilio.it

	AZIENDA AGRICOLA CASA VACANZE CASALE POZZUOLO \| Pod. Pozzuolo Borgo S. Rita 58044 Cinigiano Ref. Galluzzi Daniele \| Tel/Fax. 0564/902019 Cell. 3356252517 328419758 \| e-mail info@casalepozzuolo.it \| www.casalepozzuolo.it

	AZ. AGR. AGRITURISMO LE CALLE \| Loc. La Cava , 58040 Poggi del Sasso Ref. Riccardo Catocci \| Tel/fax 0564 990472 Tel. 0564 990432 Cell. 348 9307565; Savina cell. 3473321201 \|www.le-calle.it \| e-mail lecalle@tiscali.it

	AZ. AGR. LE CAPANNACCE \| Le Capannacce, Casal di Pari Ref. Alberto Porta \| Tel. 0564/908848 Fax. 0564/908710

	AZ. AGRICOLA AGRITURISMO CIVETTAIO \| Loc. Podere Civettaio, 58045 Civitella Paganico Ref. Gregorio Dell'Adami de Tarczal \| Cell. 348/7029229 \| www.ilcivettaio.it \| e-mail civettaio@civettaio.it

Azienda Colle Massari, cantina	AZ. AGR. COLLE MASSARI S.P.A. \| Poggi del Sasso, 58044 Cinigiano Tel. 0564 990496 Fax. 0564 990498 \| e-mail info@collemassari.it \| www.collemassari.it
	Colle Massari, owned by sister and brother, Maria Iris Bertarelli and Claudio Tipa, comprises two estates in Tuscany: Castello ColleMassari, bought in 1999 and Grattamacco, taken over in 2002. ColleMassari was established in 1998 and is part of the Montecucco DOC in Alta Maremma, among the Docg Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and Morellino di Scansano DOC; conditions are ideal for growing sangiovese. The year 2000 saw the first vintage. Grattamacco, established in the late 1970s and part of the Bolgheri DOC, promptly caught the interest of the market for this new cradle of Cabernet Sauvignon in Italy. The first vintage was produced in 1978 from a cut of Cabernet Sauvignon with Sangiovese and Merlot. The main wines produced are ColleMassari and Rigoleto in the Montecucco DOC and Grattamacco and Bolgheri in the Bolgheri DOC; all very prestigious wines.
	AZ. AGR. FUSI ORIO E IRIO \| Podere Santa Chiara, 58040 Montenero Fax. 0564 954083 Tel. 0564 954201 Cell. 333 3773822

	AZ. AGR. IL GALLETTO \| Loc. Santa Rita, 58044 Cinigiano Ref. Renato Savelli \| Tel.-Fax 0564 902072 Cell. 328 1121007

	AZ. AGR. LANZINI E SACCHI \| Loc. Fabiani, 58040 Montenero Ref. Marcello Lanzini \|Tel.- Fax 0564 954084 Cell. 335 6574345 \| Cell. 333 5257890 \| e-mail letiziasacchi@virgilio.it \| nero.di.bosco@virgilio.it

	AZ. AGR. FATTORIA LA LECCIAIA di pacini mauro \| Loc. Poggio Giannino, 58042 Campagnatico Ref. Pacini Mauro \| Tel. 0583 928366 Fax 0583 927295 \| e-mail lecciaia@pacinimauro.com

	AZ. AGR. FRANCO MASCELLONI \| Loc. Fabiani, 58040 Montenero Ref. Franco Mascelloni \| Tel. - Fax 0564 954039 Cell. 347 8548341 \| www.aziendamarinelli.it \| e-mail aziendamarinelli@libero.it

	AZ. AGR. NICCOLÒ MASCELLONI \| Podere Coniella, 58040, Montenero Ref. Niccolò Mascelloni \|Tel./Fax 0564 954107 \| e-mail coniella@tiscalinet.it

	AZ. AGR. FABIO MONACI GABRIELLA LANZINI \| Pod. Vignacci,22 58033 Castel del Piano Ref. Fabio Monaci \| Tel. - Fax 0564 954039 Cell. 347 8548341

	AZ. AGR. MONTEANTICO \| Loc. Monteantico Pod. 216, 58045 Civitella Paganico Ref. Cesare Borri \|Tel/fax. 0564/991013 \| e-mail info@monteantico.it

	AZ. AGR. MONTEBENDICO \| Via Vittorio Veneteo Castel del Piano Ref. Toninelli Simone \| Tel/fax. 0564/973223 - Cell. 3396902444 \| www.agricolamontebendico.it \| montebendico@hotmail.it

	AZ. AGR. STENTI \| Via Traversa 12, 2 Loc. Stenti 58033 Montenero (GR) Ref. Pieri Carlo \| Tel. 0564/954171 - Cel. 3488907146 \| www.poggiostenti.it \| info@poggiostenti@it

	TENUTA DI MONTECUCCO \| AGRITURISMO MONTECUCCO \| Loc. Montecucco 13, 58040, Sasso d'Ombrone Ref. Stefano Alessandri \| tel/fax. 0564/973223 - Cell. 3396902444 \| www.tenutadimontecucco.it \| info@tenutadimontecucco.it

	AZ. AGR. ORCIAVERDE \| Podere Ente Maremma 369, 58040 Montenero Ref. Simone Governi, Emanuela Mezzani \| Tel./Fax 0564 954112 Cell. 347 1072895 - 328 2060957 \| e-mail info@orciaverde.it \| www.orciaverde.it

	AZ. AGR. PARMOLETO \| Podere Parmoletone, 58040 Montenero \| www.parmoleto.it Ref. Duilio Sodi \| Tel./Fax 0564 954131 - Cell. 338 8906876 \| duiliosodi@libero.it

	AZ. AGR. DARIO PASQUI AGRICOLTORE \| Podere Montesalario, 58040 Montenero Ref. Dario Pasqui \| Tel./Fax 0564 954125 - Cell. 340 3459203 \| trottolowine@libero.it

	AZ. AGRARIA PERAZZETA \| Via dell'Aia, 14, 58040 Montenero Ref. Alessandro Bocci \| Tel./Fax 0564 954158 Cell. 380 3545477 \|www.perazzeta.it \|e-mail: info@perazzeta.it

	AZ. AGRICOLA E AGRITURISMO PETEGLIA \| Podere Peteglia, 58033 Montenero d'Orcia Ref. Marco Innocenti \| Tel-fax 0564 954108 \| Cell: 349 8335438 - 393 8819705 \|www.peteglia.com \|e-mail: info@peteglia.com

	AZ. AGR. PIANDIBUGNANO \| Loc. Pian di Bugnano Seggiano Ref. Giorgio Bucelli \|tel/fax. 0564/950773 \| Cell. 335374291 Sig. Paolo - 3356398819 Sig. Carlo \| www.piandibugnano.com \| e-mail info@piandibugnano.com

	AZ. AGR. PODERE IL CASINO \| Loc. Podere il Casino 58038 Seggiano Ref. Anders Gautschi \| Tel 0564 950473 Cell. 339 6493576 \| www.podereilcasino.net \| e-mail: info@podereilcasino.net

	AZ. AGR. PODERE POGGIO AL GELLO \| Pod. Poggio al Gello, Loc. Il Gello, 58048 Paganico Ref. Alda Chiarini \| Tel. 0564 906025 Cell. 335 376383 \| www.poggioalgello.it \| e-mail pod.poggioalgello@alice.it

	AZ. AGR. LA PODERINA TOSCANA \| Loc. Poderina 58030 Montegiovi Ref. Davide Borsell \| Tel/Fax. 0564/956546 \| www.lapoderinatoscana.com \| e-mail info@lapoderinatoscana.co

	AZ. AGR. POGGIO LEONE \| Podere Coniella - 58033, Montenero Ref. Dario Mascelloni \| Tel. 0564 954072 Fax 0564 954203 \| Cell 328 2186156 \| www.poggioleone.it \|e-mail info@poggioleone.it

	AZ. AGR. POGGIO SACCONE \| Loc. Canali, 51, 58031 Arcidosso Ref. Rossella Piccionetti \| Tel/Fax. 0564 967401 Cell. 339 6789256 \| e-mail poggiosaccone@tiscali.it

Castello di Potentino,	AZ. AGR. POTENTINO S.R.L. \| Castello di Potentino, 58038 Seggiano Ref. Charlotte Mary Horton \|Tel/Fax. 0564 950014 \| e-mail castellodipotentino@virgilio.it

	AZ. AGR. LE QUERCIOLE \| Podere Querciole, 58040 Montenero d'Orcia Ref. Conti Elisa \| Tel 0564/ 451607 \| e-mail lequerciole@virgilio.it

	AZ. AGR. RABAGLI GIANNI \| Pod. S. Margherita 58040 Cinigiano Ref. Gianni Rabagli \| Tel./fax. 0564990735 Cell. 3357316150

	AZ. AGR. FRATELLI RONGO \| AGRITURISMO POGGIO AL NINFALE \| Loc. Montecucco Podere Sant'Agostino, 58044 Poggi del Sasso Ref. Raffele Rongo \| Tel. 0564/994644 fax. 0564/99496 \| www.fratellirongo.it \| e-mail info@fratellirongo.it

	AZ. AGR. SALUSTRI \| AGRITURISMO IL MANDORLO \| Loc. La Cava 7, 58040 Poggi del Sasso Ref. Marco Salustri \| Tel./Fax 0564 990418 \| Tel.-Fax 0564 990529 \| Cell. 335 35773 \| www.salustri.it \| e-mail info@salustri.it

	AZ. AGR. SANTO STEFANO \| Via G. Brodolini n.18, 58040 Montenero Ref. Paolo Bianchini \| Tel. 0577 835616 Fax 0577 835785 \| www.ciaccipiccolomini.com \| e-mail paolo@ciaccipiccolomini.com

	AZ. AGR. LIBERTARIO SAVELLI E CESIRA ROSSI \| Pod. S. Roberto- Montenero 58040 Castel del Piano Ref. Libertario Savelli \| Tel. 0564/954147

	AZ. AGR. FRATELLI RONGO \| AGRITURISMO POGGIO AL NINFALE \| Loc. Montecucco Podere Sant'Agostino, 58044 Poggi del Sasso Ref. Raffele Rongo \| Tel. 0564/994644 fax. 0564/99496 \| www.fratellirongo.it \| e-mail info@fratellirongo.it

	AZ. AGR. LA SCHIACCIONAIA \| Via della Fontanella 1/3, 58031 \| Loc. Bagnoli, Arcidosso Ref. Marcella Turziani \| Tel./Fax 0564 967202 Cell. 335 8303241 \| e-mail info@schiaccionaia.it \| www.schiaccionaia.it \|

	AZ. AGR.TIBERI MIRENO \| Loc. Serripori 12/b 58040 Montenero d'Orcia Ref. Tiberi Mireno \| Tel. 0564/954085 Fax. 0564/954456 \| Cell. 335813646

	AZ. AGR. VEGNI, MEDAGLINI, GIANNETTI \| Loc. Porrona Podere Poggio Paolo, 58044 Cinigiano Ref. Marcello Vegni \| Tel. 0564 993507 \| Tel. 0564 993371 Fax 0564 993263 \| Cell. Marcello Vegni 349 2839150 \| e-mail rosive6791@tiscali.it \| e-mail info@vegnimedaglini.it \| www.vegnimedaglini.it

	AZ. AGR. LE VIGNE \| 58040 Montenero Ref. Andrea Pettini \| Tel./Fax 0564 954116 Cell. 328 9710663 \| e-mail info@aziendalevigne.com \| www.aziendalevigne.com
	Other wines in southern Tuscany Brunello di Montalcino