Discover Delicious wines on Elba Island

As well as being renowned for its famous association with Napoleon Bonaparte and its stunning landscape, the island of Elba, off the coast of Tuscany, has also become famous for its high quality Elba wine.  Elba Island, which is one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean, has a  longstanding tradition in wine production, and has been famous for its wine since the Etruscans. It was also popular with the Romans, and during medieval times, even the Pope was partial to a drop. Elba has been described as an ‘insula vini ferax’, or ‘island that produces much wine’, and its most famous resident Napoleon  was a fan of the grape. He noted that the residents of Elba seemed to be particularly strong and healthy, and accredited this to the good wine that they drank.

A number of Elba wines are produced on the island, including the Elba rosé, Elba white, Elba red, sparkling Elba white and the well-known Aleatico dessert wine. All of these wines accompany the local dishes perfectly. The Aleatico wine is particularly interesting however, as it is in possession of a high DOCG rating. DOCG is a sign of quality, and the Aleatico DOCG produced on Elba is of exceptional quality. It’s one of the very few dessert wines which holds such a prestigious title.

This sweet red wine is named after the grape from which it is produced, and is the island’s flagship wine. These special grapes are left on the vine as long as possible, after which they are dried for two weeks on wooden racks, before being crushed and pressed. The wine that is produced has a relatively high alcohol content, but this doesn’t affect its acidity levels. It’s particularly age worthy, and goes very well with chocolate based desserts as it can stand up to the intensity of cocoa. That’s good news for all you chocoholics!

There are a number of wine tours available all over Tuscany, but if you want to focus on mainly on Elba Island, you can create your own tour by following the Elba Wine Route, an itinerary for food and wine lovers which takes you all over the island. This wine route actually begins on mainland Tuscany, in Montecatini  Val di Cecina, and continues onto Elba Island. You can find out more from the tourism office, and can also reserve tasting sessions. Make sure you also  pay a visit to the traditional Acquabona Estate; a winery dating back to the eighteenth century, which uses environmentally friendly techniques.

From your campsite in Tuscany, or if you are camping on Elba itself, you are within easy reach of all the high quality, delicious wines on offer. With a variety of Tuscan wine tours available and wineries to visit all over the region, there’s no excuse not to sample a wine or two. Make sure you don’t drink too much of the stuff though, as you may not be able to find your way back to the campsite!

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