Elba Aleatico Passito

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• In the western part of the island, the Monte Capanne massif has soils derived from the breakdown of granitic rocks, giving rise to loose, highly permeable terrain.
• The central part of the island, of sedimentary origin, features small transitional plains between the coastline and gently sloping hills, with calcareous, stony, and moderately clayey soils.
• In the eastern part of the island, of metamorphic origin, shallow soils predominate, with a coarse skeleton and a good presence of minerals.
• The climate is Mediterranean in type, with a mean annual temperature of approximately 17 °C, mean winter temperatures of 10 °C, mean summer temperatures of 24 °C, and mean annual rainfall of approximately 700 mm.
• Rainfall reaches peaks of 900 mm on the northern slopes of the Monte Capanne massif, while vine cultivation extends from sea level up to 450 metres in altitude.

• The production rules place the origins of viticulture on Elba in the Etruscan period, while the traditional bush-vine (alberello) training system reveals Greek influence.
• During the Renaissance the island received grape varieties from various parts of the Mediterranean: Trebbiano, Sangiovese, and Aleatico from Tuscany, Ansonica and Moscato from Sicily, and Vermentino from Corsica and Liguria.
• In the mid-nineteenth century an epidemic of powdery mildew led to the uprooting of a large proportion of the island's vineyards, coinciding with a demographic decline of more than 10% on the island.
• In 1870 the island's vineyards extended over 5,000 hectares, equivalent to 20% of the total island surface, testifying to the historical importance of viticulture. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
• The grapes are sun-dried for a brief period of 10 to 20 days, a practice typical of Mediterranean island viticulture and dictated by the high temperatures and sunny conditions of September.

• The Aleatico variety adapts to the island's different soil types thanks to the robustness of the vine, its low productivity, and the loose, open structure of its bunches, which confers resistance to fungal disease during the ripening phase.
• The hot, dry climate during the summer months results in low yields per hectare and per vine, and promotes early ripening and a high level of fruit health.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in Italy

Sources

• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-IT-A1237
• Official trade body site — Consorzio di Tutela dei Vini dell'Elba