Ansonica, white wine grape variety grown in Tuscany (‘Toscana’) in Italy. It thrives in the coastal Maremma region, Monte Argentario, especially on the granitic (acidic) soils found on the islands of Elba and Giglio of the Tuscan archipelago.
Characteristics: I find Ansonica has zippy lime peel and peach flavours. Low acidity. Naturally tannic (unusual for a white wine grape). Drought resistant but less comfortable in hot temperatures. Fattoria La Parrina says Ansonica has thick skins high in phenols, so its wines can age. They use skin contact (others say Ansonica oxidises easily if skin contact is overdone) and cryomaceration.
Vineyard area, Italy: Early 2000s: Nearly 9,500 ha/23,475 acres, but declining,’ (OCW: 2006, p.24).
Family relationships: A 2010 study showed Ansonica to be closely related to other Sicilian grapes Grillo, Frappato and Nerello Mascalese.
Wines: Tuscany: Ansonica Costa dell’Argentario DOC. | Elba DOC. | Sicily: Sicilia DOC. | Marsala DOC. | Terre Siciliane IGP.
Bibliography
The Oxford Companion to Wine 3rd edition ed. Jancis Robinson MW (Oxford University Press, 2006)
Dr Ian d’Agata, Native Wine Grapes of Italy (University of California Press, 2014).