Excursion to Maremma & the beautiful Tuscan Seaside Villages.

A Visit To The Wild West And To The Seaside -- All in One Trip!

Italy's very own Wild West has been tamed. Till as late as the 19the century it was the land of marshes, mosquitoes and malaria, condemned by Dante as inhospitable to even the wildest of beasts. It is now the land of the Supertuscans. The transformation was wrought by the grape -- plump clusters drop from the stakes that march across the countryside, taming the land and turning it into an exclusive tourist destination. It is a mere infant compared to the other vine-growing regions of Italy, which can trace their origins to the Etruscan past, yet Maremma has quickly acquired such a reputation for wines that every wine-lovers will value a visit to this territory.

Maremma-- the word has its origins in mare or the sea, and it is to the maritime nature of the climate and soil that the wines of this region owe their specialty. Top names include Sassicaia, Tignanello and Ornellaia. They contain varietals like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, which have been grown in this region for years, but were still considered “foreign” by the wine regulatory councils and therefore found not eligible for the coveted DOC and DOCG status. Other grapes used are Chardonnay, Vermentino, Cabernet Franc, Alicante and Aleatico.

The wine makers of Maremma were confident enough of their produce to bank on them gaining a reputation without the aid of the DOC or DOCG labels. And their confidence was not misplaced. Today they’re savored around the world.

Tourism here is not as commercial as in some other regions of Italy. Maremma’s towns are still unspoilt, take for instance Castiglione della Pescaia, a fishing village complete with port, and a castle thrown in for good measure, Pitigliano, an ancient Jewish village carved out of a rocky outcrop and Massa Maritima, which still retains the medieval cobblestones on its streets. Even the wine tours cannot be taken for granted. Only some wineries open their cellars to the public, and exclusivity is the name of the game. All the more reason why you should grab this chance to visit the region.

The West came to know of Maremma wines only in the 1980s, and that was thanks to Marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, who pioneered Sassicaia.

In respect of wins, Maremma can be divided into alta and bassa or North and South, the former with towns like Bolgheri which has now become world famous for wines, and the latte with villages like Scansano which are hot investment areas for wine makers now.
The velvety red wines of Bolgheri now have DOC status, and include names like Grattamacco, Guado al Tasso, Le Macchiole, and Michele Satta.

Down south, the sangiovese is king, and other local varieties are the ciliegiolo and alicante.

Our tour will start at around 8.30 am from your hotel or villa. We’ll travel south, through Montenero´s hills and stop at Jacopo Biondi Santi ´s estate, where a distinctive wine from this area, “Morellino di Scansano” and a wonderful SuperTuscan called "Schidione" are produced.

You’ll get to visit the striking Castle of Montepo, go down into its cellars and taste the wines.

Then we move on with our journey, taking a relaxing drive along the Tuscan coast, enjoying the views of the Mediterranean Sea till we come to Castiglione della Pescaia, which is a popular summer get away for people of Tuscany. Lunch will be at a typical restaurant in the town, where you’ll be served fresh seafood and nice local wine. Work it off by taking a walk along the coast!

You’ll be able to get back to your villa or hotel by late afternoon.

We would be glad to draft a customized itinerary for other tours in Tuscany for our customers. We are just an email away and would love to hear your feedback.
** Please note that all prices below are quoted considering a pick up and drop off in Florence. We can organise for the driver to come to your villa or accommodation in other areas of Tuscany and prices will be quoted seperately upon request **

Print this Page

Tell a Friend

Enquire Now