Colli Martani is produced in a vast area to the north-east and south-west of the hills that, starting from Massa Martana, go all the way north to Bettona, in Umbria. That part of this area that is situated on the right bank of the Tiber was included in Etruria, the ancient land of the Etruscans. But the left bank was influenced by the Etruscans too, especially in Roman times when the ancient city of Tutere (now Todi) was connected through a new road to the ancient Roman highway of Via Flaminia, which ran along the Colli Martani hills. The Romans called the junction of the two roads "Vicus Martis." This is the site of the most ancient Christian churches, Santa Maria in Pantano.
The lyricism of the Romans in their celebration of the fecund Etruscan soil is well known to everyone. Titus Livius sang the praises of Etruria's "opulent fields." Martial extolled its wines, comparing them to the wines of Tarragona. Even at the time of Alexander the Great, the wines of Etruria were exported to Greece, where they were held in great esteem. In describing these hills, Pliny the Younger says there are vineyards everywhere, "linked to one another in such a way as to uniformly cover a long and wide area." Pliny the Elder lists the varieties of local vines in his "Naturalis Historia" and claims that the local vine variety, now called Grechetto, had wide diffusion all over Etruria.
Through the centuries, wine lovers have always held the wines produced in this area in great esteem, thus encouraging the winegrowers to take great care of their vineyards and wines. The D.O.C. appellation was established in 1989.
This page was written by Stefano Milioni. Background image and most photos in this section courtesy of Giuliano Bugialli, all right reserved (see Copyright and Credits).
Colli Martani is produced in a vast area to the north-east and south-west of the hills that, starting from Massa Martana, go all the way north to Bettona, in Umbria. That part of this area that is situated on the right bank of the Tiber was included in Etruria, the ancient land of the Etruscans. But the left bank was influenced by the Etruscans too, especially in Roman times when the ancient city of Tutere (now Todi) was connected through a new road to the ancient Roman highway of Via Flaminia, which ran along the Colli Martani hills. The Romans called the junction of the two roads "Vicus Martis." This is the site of the most ancient Christian churches, Santa Maria in Pantano.