Ansonica Costa Dell’Argentario DOC is a dry white wine from the southern part of Grosseto province in the south of the Tuscan Maremma. The DOC dates from 1995 and has been modifed several times since, the last of which was in 2011. Ansonica Costa Dell’Argentario DOC is made 85-100% from the Ansonica grape with an optional 0-15% other authorised white grapes.
Ansonica: Nicolas Belfrage MW (2001, p.206-7) says ‘Ansonica is the local name for Sicily’s Inzolia grape…[and] because Ansonica (Inzolia) seems happiest in meridional Mediterranean climates it is unlikely Ansonica was brought to Sicily by the Normans ‘who are not, it must be said, noted for their high quality grape varieties.’ Ansonica is the local name for Sicily’s Inzolia grape, which would have arrived in Tuscany via Sicily, Calabria and then Sardinia, and which typically produces white wine which is spicy and somewhat nutty on the nose, with a pleasantly juicy palate (Nicolas Belfrage: 2001, p.206-7). The grape was originally known here as Ansoria.
Geography: The Ansonica Costa dell’Argentario DOC covers the entire territory of the townships of Monte Argentario (a peninsula from which the DOC takes its name) and Isola di Giglio (an island), as well as part of the townships of Manciano, Orbetello and Capalbio.
Terroir: Hilly region dotted with ancient villages: Capalbio with its Etruscan, Roman and medieval ruins; Ansedonia, a modern village built near what was an ancient Roman settlement; Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole with their medieval fortresses; and the Isle of Giglio with its stunning wilderness.
Viticulture: It seems some vineyards on both Monte Argentario and Giglio are terraced.
Wine production: 2018 84,320 kg of grapes produced 57,995 thousand litres of wine.
Wineries
Certified organic: Il Cerchio Azienda Agricola Biologica (Capalbio).
No certification: Altura. | Fattoria La Parrina.
Bibliography
Burton Anderson, The Wine Atlas of Italy (Mitchell Beazley, London, 1990).
David Gleave, The Wines of Italy (Salamander Books, London, 1989).
Nicolas Belfrage MW, From Brunello to Zibibbo–The Wines of Tuscany, Central and Southern Italy (2nd edition, London, 2003).