Colli Etruschi Viterbesi

The types of wine that fall under the Protected Designation of Origin "Colli Etruschi Viterbesi", also known as Tuscia, includes red wines (with medium sweet, sparkling and novello versions), rosé wines (also medium sweet and sparkling) and white wines (also medium sweet and sparkling). There are also wines with specific grape varieties: Procanico, Grechetto, Rossetto, Moscatello, Moscatello passito, Sangiovese, Sangiovese Rosato, Violone, Canaiolo and Merlot. The types of wine that come under the Protected Designation of Origin "Colli etruschi viterbesi", also known as “Tuscia”, include red wines (with an lovable sparkling and novello version), rosés (also sweet and sparkling) and white (also sweet and sparkling) . There are also wines with specification of vine: “Procanico”, “Grechetto”, “Rossetto”, “Mascatello”, “Moscatello passito”, “Sangiovese”, “Sangiovese rosato”, “Violone”, Canaiolo and Merlot.

Grapes

White wines are produced using grapes from vineyards composed of between 40% and 80% Trebbiano toscano (locally known as Procanico) and 30% (maximum) Malvasia Toscana or Lazio. Reds, on the other hand, are made from Montepulciano (between 20% and 45%) and Sangiovese (between 50% and 65%) grapes. Production with an indication of the vine, on the other hand, must always contain 85% of grapes from the reference vine. Finally, in all types, for the remaining part, other grape varieties of similar color, suitable for cultivation in Lazio, with the exception of Malvasia Candia (for whites) and Ciliegiolo (for reds).

Physicochemical and Organoleptic properties

White wines have in common a fresh and balanced character and a pleasant tonality, ranging from straw to golden. The reds also have recurring characteristics, such as good structure, fullness of body and the absence of roughness. Rosés, on the other hand, stand out for their freshness, lightness and vivacity. In the product specification it is then possible to trace all the peculiarities that the wines inherit from the vine of production.

Grape production area

The production area includes Upper Lazio and the central-southern part of the province of Viterbo. The climate is Mediterranean temperate, with summer aridity not too marked.

Specificity and historical notes

The name reveals the Etruscan origins of viticulture in Viterbo, which already in 600 BC was developed and gave rise to wines used for foreign trade. A key activity, therefore, which continued with equal success during the Roman domination and then in the Middle Ages.