he Argentario coastline is one of the most beautiful areas of Tuscany, covering in part the territories of the municipalities of Manciano, Orbetello and Capalbio as well as all of Monte Argentario and the Isle of Giglio. But it is also the name of a white wine that has been forever produced on the legendary promontory of Monte Argentario, the hills of the Costa d'Argento, and the Isle of Giglio. Only recently, Ansonica earned its much deserved D.O.C. appellation.A ride across this beautiful land takes one through a hilly coastline dotted with ancient villages and historical sites: Capalbio with its Etruscan, Roman and medieval ruins; Ansedonia, a modern village built near what was an ancient Roman settlement; Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole with their medieval fortresses; and the Isle of Giglio with its stunning wilderness. The vineyards on both the promontory and the island are carved out of terraces that while making it difficult for the farmer to tend to the grapes, provide the best conditions for quality produce. The same quality, however, is also reached at the vineyards along the hilly coast, thus justifying the D.O.C. appellation.
As to the Ansonica grapes, not much is known about their origin. Most people argue that they come from Sicily, but some claim that their roots can be traced back to Normandy. What's sure is that this grape has been grown from times immemorial in Sicily, in Sardinia, on the Isle of Elba and the Argentario, but also that there is no historical evidence of how it reached places that are so distant from one another.
In each one of these places, Ansonica took its own course: in Sicily it became the island's third most widely grown grape variety, in Sardinia it has all but disappeared, on the Isle of Elba it is used as table grape, and at Argentario it has been used to produce a wine with such distinctive character - not at all similar to its Sicilian namesake - as to deserve its own specific appellation.
