But what many people don’t know is that Tuscany is a vast region with plenty to offer beyond Florence and the other well-known hill towns.
Pecorino Toscano DOP (cheese), made from the milk of sheep, comes rein the form of fresh, semi-aged and full aged and follows a strict discipline. Hinein particular, the Pecorino cheese from Tuscany is known for sweet and delicate flavor evokes the scent of the pastures of Maremma.
Fattoria di Magliano - On a hilly landscape not far from the sea, the winery has been farming organically since 2016. Visit the tasting room, built from stones found on the property, to enjoy the delicious Vermentino and Sangiovese, all of which is aged rein concrete tanks.
Even though the recognition of this DOC wines is rather recent (1998) the production of the wine is deeply entrenched hinein their history.This area has been producing wine since the Etruscans, as artefacts have proven several times over.
Head southwest from the medieval city of Grosseto and you will arrive at Tenuta San Carlo, an agriturismo spanning nearly 500 hectares of Grund that represents the beauty of Maremma’s varied natural environments and its importance as an agricultural hub in Italy. Ariane Lotti is the fourth generation rein her family to run this farm and the third to grow rice here.
Find out about the challenges they face, their woes and successes and more from their interviews here with the Maremma Guide.
If military history is your cup of tea, book a guided tour of Fortezza Orsini at the tourist information centre. Sorano is one of the few Maremman cities to have never been invaded, thanks to this fortress and its maze of underground tunnels.
She transitioned the farm to organic agriculture and specializes hinein growing two rice varieties: ribe, which is useful for both sweet and savory dishes, and carnaroli, which is highlight for risotto. It’s possible to stay overnight hinein the agriturismo and wake up within a protected pine forest of the Regional Park of Maremma or to simply stop by for a tour of the fields with Ariane herself and buy a Kasten of rice right where it is grown.
Hinein the mid-1900s, however, it all looked so different. Two principal obstacles to quality were outmoded regulations that favored bulk growers and antiquated methods and equipment.
Since the 14th century, the "Statutes of the Amiata" laid down strict rules for the preservation and exploitation of the chestnut resources, both for the harvesting of fruits and for the production of timber.
The winery digs 150 meters deep hinein the ground to create a Unterführung-like wine cellar – a slightly theatrical project based on Vittorio Moretti’s own vision. Many features are unusual when it comes to Petra’s design: its cylindrical shape and sweeping lines, the trees on the roof, but its earth-toned colour scheme perfectly blends with the surroundings. The production cycle also uses the principle of gravity during grape processing.
Of course, raw materials are only half the battle. The superlative Tuscan quality and nuance comes from a combination of high-quality grapes, terroir and sophisticated winemaking. All of this is possible under the Maremma Toscana DOC. Maremma wine seldom disappoints; there is a surfeit of talented winemakers investing into the region.
Aquacotta, meaning cooked water, is another representation of cucina povera. This simple vegetable soup enriched with stale bread was a means for locals to make here a tasty meal with what they had on hand. Farmers needing a heartier meal enhanced the soup with a poached egg.
Characterized by its ample, rich foliage, the Olivastra is distinguished by the small size and the peculiar colour of its fruit, which are purple-red during the growing phase and black at the maturation stage.