- segreteria@grandicru.it
We are nestled against the Apennines, just beneath the peaks of the Pizzorne Plateau. Water is plentiful here, with rivers and streams flowing generously down from the mountains.
The coastal influence manifests as a mitigation of humidity, yet the climate remains consistently cool with few heat extremes.
Native grape varieties such as Sangiovese ripen without difficulty, seamlessly welcoming the presence of international companions like Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Syrah.
The easternmost area, Montecarlo, was known at the beginning of the last century as the ‘Chablis of Tuscany’ due to the outstanding quality of its numerous white wines.
Today, Tuscan grapes like Sangiovese prevail alongside excellent Syrah and Pinot Nero, while the local winemaking scene also features a notable production of sparkling wines.
The northernmost part of the province has recently undergone a transition from Chianti Colline Pisane to the new Terre di Pisa designation. The area encompasses the hills of San Miniato, the Terricciola district in the Val d’Era, and extends to the mouth of the Arno River, including the hills of Crespina and Fauglia.
The current focus on Sangiovese is highly rigorous.
This grape variety continues to serve as the backbone of local production, accompanied by a significant recovery of lands with exceptionally high potential. Great attention is also dedicated to Cabernet, Merlot, and Syrah, which find strong support under the recently established Costa Toscana IGT.
Heading south, the Cecina River valley divides two major areas of the Coast. The right bank of the river is home to the Colline di Riparbella, featuring an exceptional microclimate and soil profile.
The territory has been dedicated to viticulture since the Etruscan era, boasting a unique biodiversity of soils. In the northern part of the valley, the soils are mainly clay-based and of ancient lacustrine origin, with the presence of rock fragments known as ‘palombini’ (alberese limestone).
These soils are particularly suited to Sangiovese. In the central area, there are also inclusions of volcanic soils, with a composition exceptionally well-suited to international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.
Furthermore, the river shapes a very distinctive climate: on warm summer nights, after sunset, a cool breeze rises from the hills of Volterra and blows down toward the sea. As temperature and humidity drop, the grapes benefit from a perfect, gradual ripening. In recent years, this area has seen the establishment of major, highly prestigious wineries.
Outstanding results are also found among the white wines: in Riparbella, a white wine was recently ranked first among the top wines of the Mediterranean Coast in a recent Decanter article.
On the other hand, the left bank of the Cecina River is still dedicated to the production of the Montescudaio DOC in the municipalities of Montescudaio, Guardistallo, and Casale Marittimo. However, producers are now increasingly leaning toward the Costa Toscana IGT, as the DOC, one of the oldest in the area, has lost much of its appeal. One of the Grandi Cru Association’s missions is to restore the prestige of this name to its historical value.
