Description
The Elba PDO is reserved for the following typologies of wine: White, Red, Rosé, Spumante, Passito, Vin Santo and Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice. The Designation also incorporates numerous grape variety specifications.
Production Area
The production area of Elba PDO is within the entire territory of the municipalities of the Island of Elba, in the Province of Livorno, in the Tuscany region.
Blends
White, Spumante, Vin Santo: 10-70% Trebbiano Toscano, 10-70% Ansonica and/or Vermentino, pure or with the addition of grape berries similar in colour and originating from other grape varieties suitable for cultivation in the concerned area, max. 30%.Red (incl. Riserva): min. 60% Sangiovese, pure or with the addition of grape berries similar in colour and originating from other grape varieties suitable for cultivation in the concerned area, max. 40%.Rosé, Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice: min. 60% Sangiovese, pure or with the addition of red grape berries originating from other grape varieties suitable for cultivation in the concerned area, max. 40%; the use of white grape berries originating from other grape varieties suitable for cultivation in the concerned area is permitted up to max. 20%.White Passito: min. 70%, individually or combined, Ansonica, Moscato, Trebbiano Toscano, Vermentino, pure or with the addition of red grape berries originating from other grape varieties suitable for cultivation in the concerned area, max. 30%.
Description of product typologies
Elba PDO Bianco varies from straw-yellow to straw in colour; the nose is fresh, displaying delicate fragrances of acacia flowers, white fruit and apples; it is dry, harmonious and pleasantly sapid on the palate. Elba PDO Rosso has a strong ruby-red colour; the nose displays a delicate fragrance reminiscent of pansy and fruity notes; it is dry and full-bodied on the palate, with a long and persistent finish. It can display Riserva on the label if the wine has undergone a mandatory aging period of at least 24 months, at least 12 months of which must be in wooden recipients. The aging period commences November 1st of the year in which the grapes were produced. Elba PDO Rosé is pink in colour, varying in intensity; the nose is fresh and fruity; it is dry on the palate, with a freshness that supports the delicate fruitiness.Elba PDO Spumante is straw-yellow in colour, varying in intensity and with a fine and persistent perlage; the nose is delicate and smooth; it is dry and harmonious on the palate. Elba PDO Passito varies from straw-yellow to amber in colour; it is ethereal, intense and characteristic on the nose; the palate is harmonious and velvety. Elba PDO Vin Santo is straw-yellow in colour, tending towards golden and intense amber; it is ethereal, intense and characteristic on the nose; the palate is harmonious, velvety and rounded. Elba PDO Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice varies from intense to pale pink in colour; it is warm and intense on the nose; the palate offers sweet, harmonious, velvety and rounded flavours. After careful selection, the grapes destined for the production of Elba PDO Bianco Passito wine (including those with indication of grape variety) must be dried outside or in suitable areas for a minimum of 10 days, with the possibility of partial dehydration with ventilated and/or dehumidified air, until the sugar content has reached a minimum of 30%.Elba PDO Vin Santo and Elba PDO Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice wines are vinified with traditional methods which involve the carefully selected grapes being dried naturally and not being mashed before November 1st of the harvest year, and no later than March 31st of the following year. The criteria of the latter are due to the particular climatic conditions of the island of Elba. The drying of the grapes must take place in suitable areas and partial dehydration with ventilated air is permitted; preservation and aging must take place in wooden recipients kegs with a capacity of no more than 5 hectolitres.Elba PDO Vin Santo and Elba PDO Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice cannot be made available for consumption before November 1st of the third year following that in which the grapes were produced.
Grape variety specifications
The Elba PDO may display the specifications of the following grape varieties. From white grape varieties: min. 85% Ansonica (incl. Passito), Trebbiano Toscano (or Procanico), Vermentino, pure or with the addition of grape berries similar in colour and originating from other grape varieties suitable for cultivation in the concerned area, max. 15%.From red grape varieties: min. 85% Sangiovese, pure or with the addition of grape berries similar in colour and originating from other grape varieties suitable for cultivation in the concerned area, max. 15%.The characteristics of the colour, fragrances and flavour of each specification are those typical of the grape variety and terroir of origin.
Additional specifications
The Elba PDO designation can be followed by Vigna (Vineyard) with the relative toponym.In the Designation and presentation of Elba PDO Moscato Passito, Elba PDO Ansonica, Elba PDO Ansonica Passito and Elba PDO Bianco Passito wines, the indications of typology or grape variety can precede the Elba PDO, or be followed by the “dell’Elba” specification.