Wine TrailsMontecucco.
The Montecucco Wine Trail runs through a vast area situated on the slopes of Mount Amiata, which has its centre at Cinigiano, lying between the Maremma region and Amiata. The seven Comuni which produce the Montecucco DOC wine are all to be found in the Province of Grosseto, in South Tuscany, and are, besides Cinigiano: Civitella Paganico, Campagnatico, Castel del Piano, Arcidosso, Seggiano and Roccalbegna.

This little-known area strikes the visitor as a kind of enchanted garden, with endless discoveries to be made - a different Tuscany, the real one, in which tradition and innovation are combined. It is an unspoilt landscape whose natural dignity and resources have been respected, especially in more recent wine-growing. Apart from Montecucco DOC and Maremma Toscana IGT wines, the area also produces olive oil (IGP Toscano - Seggiano is particularly worth a mention), chestnuts, which are shortly to receive IGP recognition Mount Amiata Chestnut), mushrooms, notably the ceps and ovolo species, and excellent honey. The Trail is arranged in one main itinerary and five mini-itineraries which wind through the most beautiful and interesting parts of the area from the viticultural, historic, cultural and environmental point of view. The following towns are touched upon: Paganico, Sasso d'Ombrone, Poggi del,Sasso, Montecucco, Cinigiano, Porrona, Montenero, Montegiovi, Montelaterone, Castel del Piano and Seggiano.

Main Route: Paganico - Sasso d'Ombrone - Poggi del Sasso - Montecucco - Cinigiano - Porrona - Montenero - Montegiovi - Montelaterone - Castel del Piano - Seggiano.

The itinerary passes through the most important Montecucco DOC wine-growing zones. Setting off from Paganico, a lively, modern town with an interesting four-gated wall dating from the fourth century ???, we reach the Monteverdi farm and then on to Sasso d'Ombrone, with its imposing bridge and medieval gate. We then climb up to Poggi del Sasso, a little rural town and centre of Montecucco wine production. This area is abundant in vineyards, cellars and wineries, but is also noteworthy for the beautiful castles at Vicarello and Colle Massari. A few kilometers from Poggi del Sasso is the Montecucco Farm which has lent its name to the eponymous DOC wine. This area, in front of Mount Amiata, is the heart of wine-growing activities. Numerous holiday farmhouses, traditional trattorie, and extensive wildlife make this area very rewarding from the hunting and culinary point of view. Nearby is the Porrona Castle, a stunning village whose image has been borrowed to promote DOC Montecucco wine. Montenero is the other DOC Montecucco "capital",and it houses the Museum of Wine and Vine. There are many cellars where wine, oil and other local products may be savoured.

During the summer in a park in Montenero an open-air wine bar is set up for the tasting of Montecucco wine. Also here one may visit the seventeenth century well and the town wall gate. Leaving Monyenero and proceeding towards Mount Amiata we arrive in the Montegiovi area - a veritable museum of viticulture, with its little groves of mixed olives and patches of vines. In fact a real vine museum is planned for the conservation of germoplasm and particularly autochthonous species of grapevine. Also to be admired is the centre of Montegiovi, where on the last Sunday of September a country fair, devoted to Bruschetta, is held. Montelaterone is the last village before Castel del Piano - the incredibly well-preserved centre is worth a visit.

Then Castel del Piano itself: it is one of the most important towns of Mount Amiata, and the visitor should seek out Palazzo Nericci, which is soon to be a museum dedicated to peasant culture, the Castiglionese Gate, Corso Nasini, the Monaci, Cantucci, Bruni, Alluigi and Cerboni Palaces, the Teatrino and the Loggia della Mercanzia. The trail finishes up in Seggiano, or rather a little further on - another area given over to vine and olive-growing. Here the Logge del Mercato and the historically important centre, with its cellars carved out of rocks, are worth seeing, as are the charming Potentino Castle and Daniel Spoerri's unusual "Garden of Art". One should also visit the Olivastra Seggianese olive-pressing works where the only single-variety Tuscan oil, denominated "Seggiano", is produced from the locally cultivated Amiata olive. The annual Oil Festival is held on the first Sunday of December.

Mini-itinerary: Monte Antico - Casenovole - Casal di Pari - Bagno di Petriolo

This trail is particularly rich in history, as the Castles of Monte Antico and Casenovole testify. We wind along a route not far from the River Ombrone, in an area once famous for wine-growing and which is today regaining it old splendor and vocation. The little towns of Pari and Casal di Pari, veritable rural gems, are a must, as is the charming spa of Petriolo, set in the Nature Reserve of Basso Merse. There are also numerous farm guesthouses and traditional restaurants, making this place rather special.

Mini-itinerary: Paganico - Civitella Marittima

After Paganico, famous for its Frog(-eating) Festival on the first Sunday of every September, we reach Civitella Marittima, a friendly, hospitable town that acts as centre for this trail, adjacent as it is to the DOC Monteregio di Massa Marittima wine-growing zone. The stupendous Ardengesca Abbey, an ancient monastic complex situated on the so-called "Salt Road", begs to be seen.

Mini-itinerary: Campagnatico - Cinigiano

Campagnatico is the starting point for this trail - this important Maremma town was even mentioned by Dante. The Civic Theatre, the Aldobrandesca Rock and the Pretorio Palace should all be seen. Views of olive groves and vineyards are splendid along this route, against the delightful backdrop of the Maremma plain. The unusual Palio dei Ciuchi (donkey race) is held every September.

Mini-itinerary: Castiglioncello Baldini - Stribugliano - Cana

This delightful trail is centred on Castiglioncello Baldini, which is dominated by a splendid castle - the castle's cellars, currently undergoing restoration, are worth a visit. The trail touches on the Poggio all'Olmo and Monte Labbro Nature Reserves. Then we reach the town of Stribugliano, which is part of the Comune of Arcidosso, and which gives the impression of a huge terrace with its breathtaking view. Cana, a village of Etruscan origin in the Comune of Roccalbegna is a DOC Montecucco zone. On the third Sunday of every October is held a festival dedicated to the Chestnut. The seventeenth century Medici Cistern should be seen.

Mini-itinerary: Sasso d'Ombrone - Cingiano - Monticello d'Amiata

This route through the Cinigiano area follows the old mountain road linking the plain with Mount Amiata, and thus linking corn with chestnuts. However, also the grape is ubiquitous here. Sasso d'Ombrone, originally Sasso di Maremma, is a little village on the River Ombrone, in which an unusual festival is held on the third Sunday of every September - the Festival of the Eel ! Ponticello Amiata is a well-preserved, historically interesting town with a delightful ethnographic "house-museum". Here the chestnut is king, and a festival is held in its honour onthe second sunday of every October.