Maremma Toscana DOC

Vine growing in the Grosseto area dates back to the Etruscan period, with evidence at the Etruscan cities of Vetulonia, Roselle and Sovana, while the villa of Settefinestre near Capalbio is an example of a Roman villa devoted to viticulture. At Marsiliana on the Albegna river, finds include pithoi and kilns for wine amphorae, and stone palmenti used by the Etruscans and later the Romans for crushing grapes have been found in parts of the province and on the Isola del Giglio. The land reclamation begun in the 1700s by the Grand Dukes of Lorraine spread vines and olives across the reclaimed Maremma, a situation that continued through the 1800s. In 1884 Dr Alfonso Ademollo, reporting to the Jacini parliamentary inquiry, listed alicanti, sangioveto and cannaiole among the province's main varieties. The disciplinare credits the cooperative wineries (Cantine Sociali) built in the 1960s with a decisive contribution to the local wine industry. A geographical indication for Maremma Toscana Bianco and Rosso was recognised by ministerial decree of 22 March 1988 and replaced by the IGT on 9 October 1995; the DOC followed by ministerial decree of 30 September 2011.

• Etruscan and Roman sites tied to early viticulture include Vetulonia, Roselle, Sovana, Marsiliana on the Albegna, Cosa, and the Roman villa of Settefinestre near Capalbio
• Land reclamation begun in the 1700s by the Grand Dukes of Lorraine spread vines and olives across the reclaimed areas, a situation that continued through the 1800s
• The disciplinare credits cooperative wineries (Cantine Sociali) built in the 1960s with a decisive contribution to the birth of the local wine industry
• IG by decree of 22 March 1988, IGT by decree of 9 October 1995, DOC by decree of 30 September 2011; the Consorzio was founded in 2014

The zone lies in southern Tuscany and covers the whole province of Grosseto, bounded by the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west, the province of Livorno to the north along the Cornia and Pecora rivers, the Lazio province of Viterbo to the south along the Fiora river and the Chiarone ditch, and the provinces of Pisa and Siena to the east. The province divides into three zones: a mountain zone in the northeast, about 14% of the territory, where Monte Amiata rises above 1,700 metres; a hill and foothill belt of about 70%, where most farming is concentrated and vines and olives dominate; and a plain of about 16% around Follonica, Grosseto and Orbetello-Albinia. Average altitude is about 140 metres and the prevailing exposure is southeast. The climate is temperate Mediterranean: rain is concentrated in autumn and winter, peaking in November, spring and summer are dry, and average annual rainfall in the province does not reach 750 mm, with a Huglin index of 2,100 to 2,500 units depending on the area. In summer the Maestrale blows from the sea but is dry, regulating temperature. Soils range from alluvial soils in the Ombrone, Osa, Albegna, Fiora and Cornia valleys to sandy, Pliocene and coarse gravelly soils in the hills, and tufaceous volcanic soils found above all in the comuni of Pitigliano and Sorano. The Argentario promontory and the Isola del Giglio carry limited viticulture on terraces above the sea, and the coastal belt has clay soils.

• The zone is the whole province of Grosseto: 4,500 square kilometres reaching from Monte Amiata to the coast, the Argentario and the Isola del Giglio
• Three zones: mountain (about 14%), hill and foothill (about 70%, where vines and olives dominate) and plain (about 16%)
• Three climate types: warm temperate on the coast with under 700 mm of rain a year, sublittoral inland with about 800 mm, and cool temperate on Monte Amiata with about 1,100 mm
• Tufaceous volcanic soils occur above all in Pitigliano and Sorano; the Amiata hills have volcanic and clay-limestone soils, and the coastal belt has clay soils

The traditionally grown native varieties are Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, Canaiolo Nero, Alicante, Pugnitello, Trebbiano Toscano, Ansonica, Malvasia Bianca Lunga and Vermentino, alongside Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Viognier. International varieties joined the native grapes from the 1990s, and Sangiovese covers less than half of the 8,750 hectares planted in the province. Among whites, Vermentino is the most widespread variety, especially in the coastal area, and the DOC's most bottled varietal type. Varietal wines may be labelled for Ansonica, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Trebbiano, Vermentino and Viognier among whites and for Alicante or Grenache, Cabernet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Canaiolo, Ciliegiolo, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Pugnitello, Sangiovese and Syrah among reds, each with at least 85% of the named grape. Two varieties of the same colour may also be named on the label, provided the lesser one makes up at least 15%. Styles include Bianco, Rosso, Rosato, Novello, Riserva, Vermentino Superiore, Spumante made by the Martinotti or Classico method, Vendemmia Tardiva, Passito and Vin Santo.

• Rosso and Rosato: at least 60% Sangiovese, Cabernet (Franc and Sauvignon), Merlot, Syrah and Ciliegiolo, alone or together, with up to 40% of other black grapes suitable for cultivation in Tuscany
• Bianco: at least 60% Vermentino, Trebbiano Toscano and Viognier, alone or together; Vermentino Superiore needs at least 95% Vermentino
• Varietal wines need at least 85% of the named grape; in two-variety wines the lesser grape must be at least 15%
• The Governo all'uso Toscano, a slow refermentation with lightly dried black grapes, is permitted for Rosso and Sangiovese

Fattoria Le Pupille is led by Elisabetta Geppetti with her children Clara and Ettore; Geppetti was the first president of the Morellino di Scansano consortium. The estate's Saffredi, a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot blend, is labelled IGT Toscana Rosso, with vintages listed back to 1987, while its Rosamati is labelled Maremma Toscana DOC. The Moris family owns two estates, Poggio la Mozza in Scansano and the Poggetti estate near Massa Marittima; Poggio la Mozza, purchased in 1971, has 35 hectares of vineyards on sandy soils. Rocca di Frassinello was born from an Italian-French joint venture and has nearly 90 hectares of vines, with a first official vintage in 2004; its flagship red was made by Christian Le Sommer, oenologist of Les Domaines Baron de Rothschild-Lafite, together with Alessandro Cellai. Azienda Bruni describes itself as a pioneer of Vermentino in the Maremma, with its first bottling in 1982. The Consorzio Tutela Vini della Maremma Toscana, founded in 2014, has 460 member companies, including 350 growers and 112 estates that vinify and bottle their own grapes, with a total of 7 million bottles a year.

• Fattoria Le Pupille (Elisabetta Geppetti with Clara and Ettore): Saffredi is labelled IGT Toscana Rosso; Rosamati is labelled Maremma Toscana DOC
• Moris Farms: Poggio la Mozza (Scansano, purchased 1971, 35 hectares of vineyards) and the Poggetti estate near Massa Marittima
• Rocca di Frassinello: an Italian-French joint venture with nearly 90 hectares of vines and a first official vintage in 2004
• Consorzio Tutela Vini della Maremma Toscana: founded 2014, 460 member companies and 7 million bottles a year

The DOC was approved by ministerial decree of 30 September 2011 (Gazzetta Ufficiale no. 236 of 10 October 2011) and its disciplinare has been amended several times since, most recently by ministerial decree of 8 May 2023. Under the 2023 text, Rosso Riserva must age at least 24 months, at least 6 of them in wood, counted from 1 November of the harvest year, and cannot be released before 1 November of the second year after the harvest; Bianco Riserva needs at least 12 months. Rosso and the red varietals cannot be released before 1 March of the year after the harvest. Minimum total alcohol under the 2023 text is 10.50% for Bianco and Rosato, 11.00% for Rosso, 11.50% for the red varietals and 12.00% for Rosso Riserva. Maximum grape yields under the 2023 text are 13 tonnes per hectare for Bianco and 12 for Rosso. Vintage dating is compulsory for every type except spumante. Vinification outside the zone is allowed only in wineries in the provinces of Pisa, Livorno, Siena, Florence and Arezzo belonging to growers with vineyards registered for the denomination. Within the province, Morellino di Scansano is a separate DOCG: a DOC by DPR of 6 January 1978 and a DOCG by decree of 14 November 2006, it requires at least 85% Sangiovese, or 90% for the Riserva, under its disciplinare as amended in 2026.

• DOC by ministerial decree of 30 September 2011; latest amendment by ministerial decree of 8 May 2023
• Rosso Riserva: at least 24 months of ageing, at least 6 in wood, release from 1 November of the second year after the harvest (2023 disciplinare)
• Minimum total alcohol (2023 disciplinare): 10.50% Bianco and Rosato, 11.00% Rosso, 11.50% red varietals, 12.00% Rosso Riserva
• Morellino di Scansano: DOC 1978, DOCG by decree of 14 November 2006; at least 85% Sangiovese, 90% for the Riserva (2026 disciplinare)

Primary sources (the MASAF disciplinari for Maremma Toscana DOC and Morellino di Scansano DOCG, the Consorzio Tutela Vini della Maremma Toscana, and the producers named): https://www.masaf.gov.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeAttachment.php/L/IT/D/1%252Ff%252F6%252FD.b5bdd1dbb38eb7253e5a/P/BLOB%3AID%3D4625/E/7z?mode=download, https://www.consorziovinimaremma.it/consorzio/, https://www.consorziovinimaremma.it/terroir-e-vitigni/, https://www.consorziovinimaremma.it/vitigni/, https://www.consorziovinimaremma.it/vini/, https://www.consorziovinimaremma.it/colline-di-tufo/, https://www.consorziovinimaremma.it/colline-amiatine/, https://volpaia.com/famiglia/prelius-cabernet-sauvignon/, https://www.aziendabruni.it/prodotto/plinio/, https://www.castellare.it/it/rocca-di-frassinello/, https://www.castellare.it/it/rocca-di-frassinello/rocca-di-frassinello-vino/, https://www.castellare.it/it/rocca-di-frassinello/ornello/, https://www.fattorialepupille.it/en/la-famiglia, https://www.fattorialepupille.it/en/vini/saffredi, https://www.morisfarms.it/en/2163114/the-poggio-la-mozza-estate, https://www.fattorialepupille.it/en/vini. Secondary source: https://italianwinecentral.com/denomination/maremma-toscana-doc/. Last verified 2026-10-05