Ansonica Costa dell Argentario
The Argentario coast is one of the most picturesque areas in Tuscany, covering part of the territory of the Manciano municipalities, Orbetello i Capalbio, Monte Argentario and the island of Isola del Giglio. Argentario is also the name of white wine, which has been produced since ancient times in the vicinity of Monte Argentario, Costa d Argento and on the island of Isola del Giglio. The Ansonica wine produced in this region was only recently released, nota bene fully deserved, DOC appeal rights.
Traveling along this picturesque coast is a real adventure, during which we encounter old towns over and over among the hills, ruins and monuments: Capalbio with interesting monuments of Etruscan art, Roman and Gothic; Ansedonia is picturesquely situated, a town founded near an ancient Roman settlement; Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole with their medieval fortresses, and finally the island of Isola del Giglio, which captivates with its wild nature. Both on the headland, and on the island, due to the terrain conditions, grapevines are grown in terraces. Although this type of cultivation makes it difficult to access the vineyard, at the same time provides the best quality product. The same high quality is also obtained from vineyards located in the hills along the coast, as evidenced by the DOC appeal that covers these areas.
Little is known about the origin of the Ansonica strain. Opinions are divided: some say, that the variety came here from Sicily, others see its roots in French Normandy. However, supporters of the Sicilian origin of the grapevine are overwhelmingly large. Whether, where the truth lies, it remains certain, that the variety has been cultivated since time immemorial in Sicily, Sardinia, Elbie and in the Argentario area. However, there is no historically confirmed information, which would explain how this grapevine ended up in such distant parts of Italy.
In each of the above-mentioned places, the development of Ansonica cultivation went in a completely different direction: in Sicily, this variety is currently the third largest crop on the island, in Sardinia, it has completely disappeared from the vineyards there, and on Elba it is used to produce table wines. Only in the Argentario region, it was possible to create a wine with unique properties with her participation, which has obtained the right to appeal, completely unlike wine produced in Sicily.