Vermentino becomes most widely bottled variety in Maremma Toscana

Vermentino has become the most widely bottled grape varietal in Maremma in Toscana, and the main white grape variety grown in Grosseto province.  

Accounting for over half of the Vermentino produced in Tuscany, the president of the Consorzio Tutela Vini della Maremma Toscana, Francesco Mazzzei, said he was confident that the grape has what it takes to position itself alongside the great white wines of the world, and also has the qualities to compete against some of the top Tuscan reds.  

“This is an especially versatile vine, suited to the production of both young and aged wines,” he said. “Combined with a pristine and varied zone that extends from the coastal area to the Colline Metallifere and the Mount Amiata, this ensures consistent qualitative improvement in wines with outstanding consumer appeal.”  

There are currently  832 acres in production, and last year the grape accounted for a third of the total DOC Maremma Toscana harvest, weighing in at 1,722,400 bottles, making it the most bottled variety of the region.  

The second edition of the Vermention Grand Prix blind tasting organised by the Consorzio took place on the 17th April, and featured 67 wines along with a number of industry experts and top restaurateurs from the Maremma Toscana.

"As was the case last year, the awards went to the 100% Vermentino wines and some of the more mature ones from the previous year," commented Mazzei. "As the quality continues to improve, we must continue to move ahead with a well-defined objective in order to ensure the success of our appellation."

The Maremma Toscana region is now the third largest DOC in Tuscany in terms of surface area, behind Chinati and Chianti Classico. The  DOC was formed in 2011 and other grape varieties widely grown include Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon.