The Island of Elba DOC and DOCG wines

Elba wines

"The inhabitants of the Island of Elba are strong and healthy because the wine of the island gives strength and health."

This was often said by Napoleon upon his return to France. And how could he be wrong? Perhaps it's the sun, the sea breeze, the fragrances of the Mediterranean scrub: the wines of the island are truly precious and unique and tell a very ancient story.

The Island of Elba has a long history related to winemaking that dates back to the Etruscan era. The discovery of many artifacts from the Greek and Roman periods, many of which were used for storing and transporting wine, confirms that in ancient times, in addition to abundant production, the trade was also very prosperous.

If we focus on more recent times, we can discover that in the early 1900s, among the three largest wine regions in Tuscany, one was precisely the Island of Elba.

At that time, the profile of Elba was very different from today, shaped by stone walls and terraced vineyards that covered the slopes of the hills, reaching up to about 400 meters in height: this was the way vineyards were cultivated.

The advent and continuous development of tourism (along with pathogens and pests like phylloxera) led to the abandonment of the vineyards. The wine heritage drastically diminished, and cultivation shifted to flatter areas, leaving the terraces abandoned, which over time became covered by scrub and forests.

In the 1970s, a historical low was reached with only 100 hectares of cultivated land.

However, the development of tourism later generated a resurgence of the local wine market, and today, the wineries that produce and bottle wine have significantly increased, thus requalifying the sector and focusing more on quality products.

In the early 1990s, almost all Elban companies came together to form a Consortium for the Protection of Elba Wine, established under law 164/92.

DOC and DOCG

The Denomination of Controlled Origin Elba was established in 1967 with the types Elba Bianco and Elba Rosso. In 1994, the denomination was expanded to include Elba Aleatico, Elba Ansonica, Elba Ansonica Passito, and Elba Rosato. In 1999, the Moscato dell’Elba denomination was recognized, and in 2011, the Elba Vermentino, Elba Trebbiano, and Elba Sangiovese types were also included.

In 2011, the DOCG was recognized for Elba Aleatico.

The Wines of the Island of Elba

From vines positioned in breathtaking locations, often overlapping with the protected areas of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, many of which overlook the sea, a wide variety of wines is produced.

To discover Elban wines, there is no better way than to visit the vineyards and farms scattered across the territory that continue to pass down the tradition and culture of winemaking, where you can also enjoy tastings (reservation recommended).