Orcia, the most beautiful wine in the world
Orcia, a great wine produced in the heart of Tuscany, in the hills where the farmers' work over thousands of years has created a wonderful landscape.
There are eighteen cities of art, many of which are included in the Parco della Val d’Orcia, a Unesco World Heritage site since 2004. Last but not least it is the most photographed agricultural landscape in the world.
A land of artistic craftsmanship and excellent foods such as Doc Orcia wine, extra virgin olive oil, white truffles, cold cuts, saffron, open range farming of the ancient breed of “Cinta Senese” pigs, Chianina cows also known as “ white giants” and loved by the ancient Romans, and sheep for the production of pecorino cheese.
The appellation Orcia was born on 14th February 2000 and includes Orcia varieties obtained from red grapes with at least 60% of Sangiovese, and Orcia “Sangiovese” with at least 90% of these grapes, both in the “Riserva” version too. The appellation Orcia also includes White, Rosé and Vin Santo wines.
These wines are the expression of the commitment and passion of the producers, most of whom do everything themselves, from working in the vineyard to selling the bottled wine. In an era of globalization, Orcia wine is still a family product, produced by those who live in the vineyards, respecting nature and having excellent enology and viticulture skills.
The main varieties are red wines with a remarkable structure, harmony, complexity and maturing potential: great wines with the elegance of a beautiful ancient territory.
Orcia wine is produced on the hills in southern Tuscany, more precisely in 13 municipalities: Buonconvento, Castiglione d’Orcia, Pienza, Radicofani, San Giovanni d’Asso, San Quirico d’Orcia, Trequanda and a part of the Abbadia San Salvatore territory, Chianciano Terme, Montalcino, San Casciano dei Bagni, Sarteano and Torrita di Siena.
The Doc Orcia wine territory was already populated in Etruscan and Roman times when the Cassia route crossed the region and castrum (castles), villas and spas were built. In medieval times the same road became the Via Francigena which joined northern Europe to Rome. The intense passage of merchants, pilgrims and soldiers favoured the construction of small hospices, enriched small villages along the trail and made it necessary to build castles and fortresses in order to protect harvests (Grancie dell’Ospedale di Siena). In fact bandit attacks were frequent. Traces of this past are still visible today.
The hilly nature of the ground facilitated the forming of scattered rural settlements and the growing of a variety of crops in small fields. Each farm reared its own pigs and sheep as well as cultivating cereals, olives, vineyards, fruit trees and vegetables. These elements continued to exist for centuries until the 1960s, when there was a massive exodus from the country. Tourism has been the driving force which has recuperated this land and its heritage of buildings. Today the 13 Val d’Orcia towns are among the most exclusive tourist destinations, thanks also to the presence of excellent thermal centres. The creation of the Doc Orcia coincided with a change in the climate that no longer experienced heavy spring frosts. In the past these events were very frequent and were the main obstacle for successful viticulture. After the constitution of the appellation, about 40 wineries were born or continued their original activity.
The wine producing heritage too has increased considerably with the new specialized vineyards designed right from the beginning to produce high quality grapes.
The wines produces in Orcia area are:
- Orcia DOC
- Orcia Riserva DOC
- Orcia Sangiovese DOC
- Orcia Sangiovese Riserva DOC
- Orcia Rosato DOC
- Orcia Bianco DOC
- Orcia Vin Santo DOC
Consortium Vino Orcia
