Elba Aleatico Passito DOCG
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A rare passito sweet red from Napoleon's island exile, made entirely from sun-kissed Aleatico grapes on the Tuscan coast.
Elba Aleatico Passito DOCG is a rare Italian sweet red wine made from 100% dried Aleatico grapes on the island of Elba. It became the first DOCG from the Tuscan Archipelago islands in 2010/2011. The wine offers intense aromas of red fruits, rose petals, and mulberry with an intense ruby color and violet reflections.
- 100% Aleatico grapes required; no blending permitted
- Grapes dried 10-20 days on wooden racks before pressing
- Minimum 30% residual sugar must be achieved at harvest
- Maximum yield of 35% from fresh grapes; production capped at 70 tons per hectare
- First DOCG in the Tuscan Archipelago, elevated from DOC in 2010/2011
- Approximately 40 hectares under Aleatico cultivation for DOCG production
- Wine may be released to market from March 1 following the harvest year
History and Heritage
Wine production on Elba stretches back to Etruscan times, and the Roman writer Pliny the Elder described the island as 'insula vini ferax,' meaning 'island that produces a lot of wine.' By 1870, vineyards covered 5,000 hectares, representing 20% of the island's entire surface. Aleatico gained particular fame when Napoleon Bonaparte favored the grape during his exile on Elba from 1814 to 1815. The broader Elba DOC was established in 1967 for Elba Bianco and Elba Rosso, and Aleatico was added to the denomination in 1994. The appellation was elevated to DOCG status in 2010/2011, becoming the first DOCG from the Tuscan Archipelago islands, with the first DOCG bottles released from the 2011 harvest.
- Wine production on Elba documented since Etruscan times
- Pliny the Elder called Elba 'insula vini ferax' (island that produces a lot of wine)
- Napoleon favored Aleatico during his 1814-1815 exile on the island
- Elevated to DOCG in 2010/2011, the first such designation from the Tuscan Archipelago
Terroir and Climate
The island of Elba covers 224 km² in the Tuscan Archipelago off the coast of central Italy. Vineyards range from sea level up to 450 meters elevation, with soils composed of sandy loam underlaid by mineral-rich material including traces of iron, quartz, and rocky matter from mineral erosion. The Mediterranean climate delivers mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers with ample sunshine, conditions that allow Aleatico to fully ripen and concentrate its aromatic compounds before harvest.
- Sandy loam soils with iron, quartz, and mineral-rich underlay
- Elevations range from 0 to 450 meters across the island
- Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters
- Approximately 40 hectares currently under Aleatico cultivation for DOCG production
The Aleatico Grape
Aleatico is an aromatic red grape variety aromatically related to the Muscat family. On Elba, it is the sole grape permitted in this DOCG, with 100% varietal production mandatory. The variety produces wines with intense ruby red color and violet reflections, along with characteristic aromas of red fruits, rose petals, and mulberry. Vineyard density must reach a minimum of 5,000 bushes per hectare, supporting the concentration needed for passito production.
- Aromatically related to the Muscat family of grapes
- Produces intense ruby red wines with violet reflections
- Aromatic profile centers on red fruits, rose petals, and mulberry
- Minimum vineyard density of 5,000 bushes per hectare required
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Open Wine Lookup →Production Rules
Elba Aleatico Passito DOCG is a natural, non-liquorous passito wine, meaning no fortification is permitted. After harvest, grapes must be dried for 10 to 20 days on wooden racks or in ventilated facilities, concentrating sugars and flavors. Grapes must achieve a minimum of 30% residual sugar at harvest, and the finished wine must reach a minimum total alcohol content of 11.5%. The maximum yield is strictly capped at 35% of the fresh grape weight, and production is limited to a maximum of 70 tons of grapes per hectare. The wine may be released to market from March 1 of the year following the harvest.
- Grapes dried 10-20 days on wooden racks or in ventilated facilities
- Minimum 30% residual sugar required at harvest
- Maximum yield of 35% from fresh grape weight
- No fortification permitted; this is a natural passito wine
Intense ruby red with violet reflections. Aromas of red fruits, rose petals, and mulberry with the concentrated sweetness typical of dried-grape wines. The palate is lush and sweet, balanced by the natural acidity of Aleatico, with a fragrant, floral finish.
- Tenuta La Chiusa Aleatico Passito dell'Elba DOCG$25-40One of Elba's most established producers, delivering the classic rose petal and red fruit profile of the DOCG.Find →
- Fattoria delle Ripalte Aleatico Passito dell'Elba DOCG$30-45Coastal estate on Elba producing concentrated, aromatic Aleatico with mineral character from iron-rich soils.Find →
- Azienda Agricola Monte Fabbrello Aleatico Passito dell'Elba DOCG$50-70Small-production DOCG wine from a focused estate, showcasing the intense mulberry and floral aromas of the variety.Find →
- Elba Aleatico Passito DOCG became Italy's first DOCG from the Tuscan Archipelago islands, elevated from DOC status in 2010/2011
- 100% Aleatico is mandatory; grapes must be dried 10-20 days and achieve minimum 30% residual sugar at harvest
- Maximum yield is 35% of fresh grape weight; maximum production 70 tons per hectare; minimum 11.5% total alcohol
- Aleatico is aromatically related to the Muscat family and produces wines with intense ruby color and violet reflections
- The broader Elba DOC was established in 1967; Aleatico was added in 1994 before the DOCG elevation