Equally beautiful, but less touristy, southern Tuscany is known for its sun-drenched farmlands, picture perfect hill towns, and Italy's best red wines. Morellino di Scansano became a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) recognized wine starting with the 2007 harvest. 

The Morellino di Scansano wine originates in one of the most natural and uncontaminated areas of Tuscany: the southern coastal area of the region known as the Tuscan Maremma, located between the valleys of the Ombrone and Albegna Rivers, which includes the territory of the municipality of Scansano, the territory where Biondi Santi produces an excellent Morellino and other world-renowned wines, as well as parts of the municipalities of Grosseto and Magliano in Toscana towards the Tyrrhenian Sea, and the municipalities of Campagnatico, Roccalbegna, Semproniano e Manciano in the direction of Monte Amiata and the interior of the region.

Morellino is the local name for the Sangiovese grape variety. According to tradition, the Morellino wine gets its name from the bay horses called "morelli" – that used to pull the carriages of the public officials and their families moving to Scansano for the summer, as it recalls the horses’ strength and the intense colour of their coats.
During this period Scansano became the summer capital of the Maremma region, and was transformed into a lively and prosperous town where viticulture was an integral part in the economy of the town along with mining and trading activities. [1]

The wine, which was granted DOC status in 1978, then upgraded to DOCG status beginning with the 2007 vintage, is made from at least 85% Sangiovese, which is also the basis of the Tuscan wines Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. The remaining 15% can comprise any non-aromatic black grape varieties included in a list made and periodically updated by Tuscan wine authorities.

The production area of Morellino di Scansano covers approximately 65,000 hectares of land in the southwest of the province of Grosseto, the southernmost area of Tuscany. It includes the entire territory of the municipality of Scansano; most of the towns of Grosseto, Magliano in Toscana, Manciano; part of the municipalities of Campagnatico, Roccalbegna and Semproniano. There are about 1,500 hectares of vineyards in the Morellino di Scansano register. [1]

The area covered by the vineyards includes hills and foothills sloping south from the north and the east towards the plain of Albinia and westward to the Tyrrhenian coast and the plain of Grosseto. With this exposure, the area is protected from the cold north winds, and open to the temperate sea breezes.[1]

Morellino di Scansano does not need to age in wood and can be released in March after harvest, meaning that it can be found on the shelf at less than 8 months old, thus a fresh and crisp wine.

Morellino di Scansano Riserva can be released on 1 January two years after the harvest, at least one of which it has to age in wood.

The Consorzio Tutela del Vino Morellino di Scansano (Consortium for the conservation of the Morellino di Scansano wine) was founded in 1992 by a small group of wine producers determined to support and enhance their own DOC-designated product through its promotion and protection. Morellino di Scansano obtained DOCG status in 2007.
Over the years the consortium has grown and now has more than 200 members.

Events

The Festa dell'Uva is the culmination of a month's worth of wine-themed celebrations held in Scansano throughout September.

Comune di Scansano


Consorzio di Tutela del Morellino di Scansano
Via Marconi, 23 - 58054 Scansano (GR)

www.stradavinimaremma.it

Wines in Southern Tuscany | Organic winegrowing in the Montecucco and Brunello di Montalcino and Morellino ii Scansano regions

Producers

The Morellino di Scansano wine cooperative is composed of some 150 members. Created in 1972, it has 400 hectares of vineyards between its members who represent a small community in which each winemaker is directly involved. The vineyards are situated on the hills around Scansano, in the province of Grosetto. Among the coop’s members is Chiara Farusi, a former journalist who began a new life in the Maremma area of Tuscany. She owns 14 hectares of vineyards and produces the cooperative’s only organic wine.


Roggiano Morellino di Scansano Docg
The wine is a blend of 90% Sangiovese with the remaining part made up of Syrah, Ciliegiolo and Alicante grapes.

Cantina Cooperativa Vignaioli del Morellino di Scansano
BORGATA Saragiolo O
58054 SCANSANO

Fattoria Le Pupille