Aleatico dell’Elba Passito or Elba Aleatico Passito DOCG is a sweet, dried-grape red wine made from 100% Aleatico grown on the Italian island of Elba in Livorno Province, Tuscany, Italy. It is the Tuscany region’s 8th DOCG. See Elba DOC.

History: Aleatico is a native wine grape. It covers about 40 hectares out of 170 cultivated for the production of Elba Doc. It has a delicate and thin skin and cannot withstand a long stay on the plant after ripening. It has a very low yield.

Site-specific wines: The term “Vigna” may be mentioned as long as it is followed by the relative toponym and certain winemaking practices are respected.

Viticulture: Minimum vine density of 5,000 plants per hectare.

Yields: Maximum production of grapes per hectare 70 quintals. The production per vine must not exceed 1.8 kg.

Picking: The grapes intended for vinification must ensure, at the time of harvest, a minimum total alcoholic strength by volume of 11.5%

Wine making: Grapes for Elba Aleatico Passito DOCG must be subjected to natural drying in the air for at least 10 days until they reach a sugar content of at least 30%.

Winemaking: The maximum yield of grapes into wine must not exceed 35% referring to fresh grapes. The grapes, after careful selection, must be subjected to a minimum period of 10 days of drying in the air or in suitable rooms, until a minimum sugar content of 30% is reached. After the drying operations, the grapes undergo a pressing followed by fermentation in contact with the skins. Once the desired alcohol content is reached, the wine is separated from the skins (pomace, from which a very good grappa is obtained). At this point the wine can undergo a refinement in steel, or an aging in wooden barrels.

Labelling: On the labels of each type of DOCG Elba Aleatico Passito wine it is mandatory to report the year of production of the grapes.

Sales: Aleatico dell’Elba Passito DOCG can be released for sale from March 1st of the year following that of production.

Food matches: Fruit tarts. Also “schiaccia briaca”, a typical dessert made with raisins, pine nuts, dried fruit and, indeed, Aleatico. It can go with preparations based on chocolate and red fruits. Also with sliced peaches. Blue cheeses such as Gorgonzola or Roquefort.

Bibliography: http://www.aleaticoelba.it/aleatico.php