Commercial Farm and Agriturismo La Carletta
Staff Writer - June 1, 2008
Ten kilometers from Grosseto, upon the Tuscan Maremma hills in the municipality of Scansano, there is the Azienda Agricola La Carletta, an organic commercial farm associated with and guaranteed by the Consorzio per il Controllo dei Produttori Biologici (CCPB, or Consortium for the Control of Organic Producers). The estate was founded in the 19th century by the grandparents of the current owner, Sante Massini, who focused their agricultural production on grape growing and winemaking. La Carletta includes 60 hectares (around 148 acres) of hilly countryside. Sixteen hectares (40 acres) are cultivated with vineyards, five (about 12,5 acres) are dedicated to the olive groves, and the remaining 39 hectares (around 96 acres) are used for pasture and grain cultivation.
The most important wines produced at the farm are the two Morellino di Scansano DOC labels 'Fontetinta' (Colored Fountain) and 'La Carletta' (Pretty Charlotte). In 2001 though, the estate created a new red Toscana IGT called 'Il Tempio' (The Temple), a true Super Tuscan made with Sangiovese, Alicante, Merlot and Cabernet grapes which currently represents the top wine produced by the Azienda Agricola La Carletta.
Other important wines produced by the estates are the Bianco d'Elisa (Elisa's White), a fresh, young white wine made with Vermentino grapes, and Antosa, a structured white made with the native grape Ansonica, cultivated along the Tuscan Maremma coast and in Sicily, where it is known as Inzolia.
Other wines produced by the estate include the Rosato D'Elisa (Elisa's Rosé) and the Novello (New Wine) made with Ciliegiolo, Sangiovese and Aleatico grapes cultivated in the municipality of Scansano. Other farm products available for tasting or to purchase include:
- Extra virgin olive oil 'Fontetinta', made with olives of the varieties Leccino, Pendolino, Frantoiano and Olivastra Harvested by hand in the estate olive grove.
The oil is not filtered to maintain all the natural characteristics of the olives.
- Grappa Bianca, a young distilled, limpid and transparent, with 42% alcohol.
- Grappa Riserva, amber colored with spice notes and nuances of dried fruits, acquired during the ageing in wood barrels.
- Honey.
In addition to a tasting room where guests and visitors can taste the wines and other products produced by the commercial farm, such as the extra virgin olive oil, honey and various types of fruits, the estate which was originally established strictly as a farm, has now expanded its business and established two agriturismo, or Country Inns. In fact, weekly or weekend tourist packages are available upon reservation, and apartments, single or double rooms are avaolable at the agriturismo La Carletta, located at the 58.4 kilometer of Provincial Road (Strada Provinciale), number 159, in the village of Preselle Sergardi.
La Quercia (The Oak Tree) Apartment at Azienda Agricola La Carletta
The other agriturismo is called Echi D'Etruria (Echoes of the Etruscan Homeland), located at the 4.3 kilometer of Provincial Road, number 79, in the hamlet of Poggio la Mozza, just seven minutes from Grosseto, 10 minutes from the seashore of Marina d'Alberese and the gorgeous Uccellina park, 30 minutes from Argentario, Punta Ala and Saturnia hot springs. In addition, is surrounded by the archeological sites of Roselle and Cosa.
Both country inns are located in the heart of a historic area once inhabited by the Etruscans, near important tourist, seaside and historic sites, such as l'Alberese, with the beautiful Parco dell'Uccellina, Marina di Grosseto, Castiglione della Pescaia, Saturnia, well known for its hot springs, Pitigliano, Sovana and other tourist destinations which make Tuscany one of the most visited regions of Italy.
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