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Wine on Elba

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Wine on Elba

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Visit the elusive island of Elba on your yacht charter for some top-quality wines. The Italians are renowned for their love of wine, and for their expertise in producing some of the very best bouquets in the world. But few realize that the charming but often overlooked island of Elba is where some of the best wines are produced.

Elba is Italy’s third largest island after Sicily and Sardinia, lying 12 miles from the Tuscan town of Piombino and is part of the YPI Italy yacht charter itinerary. Part of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago, it is a truly magnificent place to visit on a YPI luxury yacht charter, not least of all because of its highly-acclaimed wines.

The first vines on the island, which was home to Napoleon for almost one year, were undoubtedly planted by Greek navigators who settled on the island, now a favorite amongst discerning luxury yacht charter guests.

It was the infamous Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder who praised Elba as the ‘island of good wine’, and the rest, as they say, is history.

There are now around 350 hectares of vineyards on the island, of which 125 have DOC status, which means that they are classified in Italy. Yacht charter guests touring the vineyards will discover that most are looked after by a Co-operative of wineries who work together to preserve the "Itinerario Elba delle Strade del Vino", otherwise known as The Elba Wine Route.

Here is a list of Elba’s main wines, together with suggestion of the types of food they should accompany:

  • ELBA BIANCO: this wine is made from at least 50% Trebbiano Toscano grapes. A pale yellow colored wine, it should be drunk with hors d'oeuvres and first courses of fish.
     
  • ELBA ANSONICA: is made from mostly white Ansonica grapes and is a golden straw color. It has a dry to sweet flavor and should accompany scampi, prawns, and shellfish.
     
  • ELBA ROSSO: is made from a blend of Sangiovese grapes with other red and white grapes. It is full bodied and recommended to be drunk with barbecued meat and fish soups.
     
  • ELBA ROSSO RISERVA: is made from the same grapes used to produce Elba Rosso but is aged for a minimum of 24 months. It should be accompany red meat, game, and mature cheeses.
     
  • ELBA ROSATO: is also made made from the same grapes used to produce Elba Rosso, but is a rose color. It is recommended to go with fish hors d'oeuvres, soups and pasta dishes with red sauces, vegetable omelettes and soufflés.
     
  • ELBA ALEATICO: is made from Aleatico grapes, which are dried in the open air. It is a sweet wine, and goes very well with fruit tarts, "schiaccia Briaca" – a typical Elban sweetmeat, and soft fruit desserts.
     
  • ELBA MOSCATO: is produced from Muscat grapes, which are also dried in the open air. It is very yellow in hew, and sweet to taste. This wine is ideal with baked confectionery and biscuits.

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