Monteregio di Massa Marittima DOC in Tuscany dates from 1994. It is described by Nicolas Belfrage MW (2001, p.155-7) as one of a series of hitherto obscurish but increasingly trendy wine-producing zones tucked away along or near the coast of Tuscany. The area takes its name from the fortress (‘massa’) town of Monteregio. In the early Middle Ages Monteregio was an independent republic. It was during this period that the cathedral which dominates the main square was built.
Wine style: In my report for the 2013 Decanter World Wine Awards (for which I was Tuscany Chair) I wrote that Montereggio di Massa Marittima’s reds offer much more consistency, complexity and value compared to Morellino di Scansano DOCG at not dissimilar prices.
Production zone: The DOC zone covers seven communes in Grosseto province: all of Massa Marittima and Monterotondo Marittimo, and parts of Roccastrada, Gavorrano, Castiglione della Pescaia, Scarlino and Follonica. In the north it touches the Val di Cornia DOC and Suvereto DOC, and to the south it touches the Morellino di Scansano DOCG (Rosemary George MW: 2004, p.288). Vineyards on the valley floor (eg. along the Bruna river which reaches the Tyrrhenian Sea at Castiglione della Pescaia), do not qualify for the DOC.
Outside investors: DOC status sparked interest from outside investors including Antinori, Zonin 1821, Ezio Rivella (ex chief of Castello Banfi), and Chianti Classico producers San Felice, Roberto Guldener from Fattoria Terrabianca (Chianti Classico), and Castellare di Castellina (which under Paolo Panerai established the first major Franco-Italian joint-venture with Domaines Baron de Rothschild using their technical consultant Christian le Sommer). The main producer here is Moris Farms. Others include Serraiola in Monterotondo Marittimo and I Campetti of Roccastrada. The historic producer was Harald Bremer, a German wine shipper who purchased a property near Castiglione della Pescaia in 1972 in the sub-DOC Rosso Vetluna.
Wines
Monteregio di Massa Marittima Bianco DOC: Minimum 50-100% Trebbiano Toscana and/or Vermentino and 0-50% other white grapes permitted in Tuscany with the exclusion of Moscato Bianco.
Monteregio di Massa Marittima Vermentino DOC: 90-100% Vermentino, plus 0-10% white wines grapes allowed in Tuscany with the exclusion of Moscato Bianco.
Monteregio di Massa Marittima Viognier DOC: 90-100% Viognier, plus 0-10% white wines grapes allowed in Tuscany with the exclusion of Moscato Bianco.
Monteregio di Massa Marittima Rosso, Rosso Riserva, Rosato, and Novello DOC: 50-100% Sangiovese, plus 0-50% red wines grapes allowed in Tuscany with the exclusion of Aleatico.
Monteregio di Massa Marittima Sangiovese, Sangiovese Riserva, Sangiovese Rosato, and Sangiovese Novello: 85-100% Sangiovese, plus 0-15% red wines grapes allowed in Tuscany with the exclusion of Aleatico.
Monteregio di Massa Marittima Syrah: 85-100% Syrah, plus 0-15% red wines grapes allowed in Tuscany with the exclusion of Aleatico.
Monteregio di Massa Marittima Vin Santo: 50-100% Trebbiano Toscana and/or Vermentino and 0-50% other white grapes permitted in Tuscany.
Monteregio di Massa Marittima Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice & Riserva must contain 50-100% Sangiovese and 0-50% other red grapes permitted in Tuscany.
Wineries
No certification: I Campetti (Roccastrada). | Suveraia (Monterotondo Marittimo).
Contact
Associazione Strada del Vino Monteregio di Massa Marittima
Via Norma Parenti, 10
58024 Massa Marittima (GR), Italy
Tel+39 0566.902756