The Consorzio Strada del Vino Costa degli Etruschi offers its wines en primeur through Futurewine "Ownership Certificates"
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| Wine Road of the Etruscan Coast | |
In addition to giving Certificate holders the chance to meet the people behind the success of such a presigious consortium, the initiative offers the possibility of enjoying the atmosphere of this marvellous part of Tuscany, that is, one of the hundred different "Tuscanys" according to Antonio Tabucchi, a well-known Pisa writer. In fact, some time ago Tabucchi said that there is not just one Tuscany, but five, ten or even one hundred different Tuscanys, beacause each corner of this region has its own history,culture and traditions. There is the Versilia, Maremma, Casentino, Mugello and Chianti Tuscany, as well as the art cities Tuscany and the islands one.
In this region art, culture and nature are so closely intertwined that they form a kind of "virtual maze" that cannot fail to enchant the visitors. We don't want to compete with one of the greatest Italian living writers, but would like to add our humble commentary to his description.
There is a narrow strip of land, squeezed between the hills and the sea shore, known as the "Costa degli Etruschi". It begins in Livorno province, extends across the Pisa hills and the Val di Cornia (Cornia Valley), all the way to the boundary of Grosseto, and down towards the coast facing the fabulous Elba island. As Tuscany is synonymous with wine, art, culture and nature, here they combine to assume the identity of the Strada del Vino Costa degli Etruschi.
It is a beautiful area with a unique heritage. Its charm has always been so powerfull that Giosuč Carducci (famous 19th century Italian poet - N.D.T.) immortalize it in a poem that all Italian school children learn by heart:
"I cipressi che a Bolgheri alti e schietti van da San Guido in duplice filar..."
("The cypress that, tall and true, lead to Bolgheri from San Guido in a double line ..")
The title of the poem is "Davanti a San Guido" (In front of San Guido). and the history of the Consorzio della Strada del Vino Costa degli Etruschi begins right at San Guido, where its headquarters are located.
It is here that you will find the cellar of the consortium's most famous estate, the Tenuta San Guido del Marchese Incisa della Rocchetta (San Guido estate of the Marquis Incisa from Rocchetta), the creator of Sassicaia, arguably the most famous Italian wine worldwide and the first of a generation of wines that have been constantly the spearhead of quality Italian wine-making during the past ten years.
In 1944, the Marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta planted the first Cabernet vineyard in Castiglioncello di Bolgheri, within an area traditionally devoted to Sangiovese. Despite his expertise and far-sightedness, back then he couldn't have imagined the true meaning of his"revolutionary" step, which in just a few years created from scratch the legend of the "Super Tuscans".
In the following years, thanks to the passion, enterprise and initiative of local vine growers, Sassicaia was joined by other top class entrepreneurs such as Masseto, Ornellaia, Piastraia, Cavaliere, Paleo, Messorio, Grattamacco and Guado al Tasso.
This is how the legend of the little corner of Tuscany known as Bolgheri was born. Someone, rightly or wrongly, nicknamed it the "Italian Bordeaux" because of the Bordeaux-like blend that has become the basis for the majority of wines produced in the area. Through various adjustment, the blend has produced excellent results in the area, so much so that some now call it the "Bolgheri blend".
But this is just the beginning.
In just a few years, the surrounding areas have caught up with the tide of success. The Bolgheri movement has become a benchmark, the driving force behind the whole area situated between the hills surrounding the Cecina Valley and the Piombino headland and, more recently, expanded to include the Elba island.
Other great wines were created, including Gualdo del Re, Rosso delle Miniere, Rosso degli Appiani and Aleatici dell'Elba, among others.
Such a vibrant, rich and variegated wine panorama called for the creation of a consortium to gather together these pioneer winegrowers. Thus the Consorzio della Strada del Vino Costa degli Etruschi was founded wth the Marchese Nicolň Incisa della Rocchetta as its chairman.
The Consortium includes all the DOC zones from this fantastic area: Bolgheri DOC, including the sub-zone of Sassicaia, Montescudaio DOC, Val di Cornia DOC, Elba DOC, as well as the future Terratico di Bibbona DOC.
Currently the big names of the Italian winegrowing industry, such as Gaja, Allegroni and Folonari, purchased estates in Tuscany, intrigued by this ongoing success story. Foreign investors have followed as well.
However, everything we said so far shows but the tip of the icebeg of the historic, cultural and natural heritage of this region. We gladly leave the discovery to your curiosity.
| Source: Staff Futurewine |
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