What is made here
Wine colours
Colours the rules allow. Pick a colour to filter the rules and grapes below.
Where it is
Cortona in Italy
- Latitude
- 43.2°–43.4° N
- Vineyard altitude
- 272 m to 317 m
- Production zone
- 34,272 ha
Lies within
Valdichiana toscana
Worked out from the boundaries (smallest container first). They follow whole communes, so a neighbour sharing a commune can show up here too.
Boundary drawn from whole communes, so it is a little larger than the legal zone. Boundary: Eurac Research PDO inventory (CC0). Country outlines: Natural Earth. Dots on the zone map are the vineyard points used for climate.
Showing every colour The colour filter changes the rules and grapes. Climate, vintages and soils describe the vineyards, so they stay the same.
01 · What the law says
The rules
Limits on grapes, yields, ripeness and ageing that every wine labelled Cortona must meet.
Blend rules
Cortona Vin Santo
- ≥ 70% Trebbiano toscano / Grechetto / Malvasia bianca · Main grape
- ≤ 30% Sangiovese (vinified as white) · Allowed
At least 36 months' ageing; release from 16 December of the third year after the harvest.
Blend rules
Cortona Vin Santo Riserva
- ≥ 70% Trebbiano toscano / Grechetto / Malvasia bianca · Main grape
- ≤ 30% Sangiovese (vinified as white) · Allowed
At least 60 months' ageing; release from 16 December of the fifth year after the harvest.
Blend rules
Cortona Chardonnay
- ≥ 85% Chardonnay · Main grape
- ≤ 15% other non-aromatic grapes of the same colour suitable for Tuscany · Others allowed
; release from 1 January of the first year after the harvest.
Blend rules
Cortona Rosso
- 50–60% Syrah · Main grape
- 10–20% Merlot · Allowed
- ≤ 30% other non-aromatic red grapes suitable for Tuscany · Others allowed
; release from 31 March of the first year after the harvest.
Blend rules
Cortona Merlot
- ≥ 85% Merlot · Main grape
- ≤ 15% other non-aromatic grapes of the same colour suitable for Tuscany · Others allowed
; release from 31 March of the first year after the harvest.
Blend rules
Cortona Grechetto
- ≥ 85% Grechetto · Main grape
- ≤ 15% other non-aromatic grapes of the same colour suitable for Tuscany · Others allowed
; release from 1 January of the first year after the harvest.
Blend rules
Cortona Sauvignon
- ≥ 85% Sauvignon Blanc · Main grape
- ≤ 15% other non-aromatic grapes of the same colour suitable for Tuscany · Others allowed
; release from 1 January of the first year after the harvest.
Blend rules
Cortona Cabernet Sauvignon
- ≥ 85% Cabernet Sauvignon · Main grape
- ≤ 15% other non-aromatic grapes of the same colour suitable for Tuscany · Others allowed
; release from 31 March of the first year after the harvest.
Blend rules
Cortona Merlot Riserva
- ≥ 85% Merlot · Main grape
- ≤ 15% other non-aromatic grapes of the same colour suitable for Tuscany · Others allowed
At least 24 months' ageing; release from 1 November of the second year after the harvest.
Blend rules
Cortona Sangiovese
- ≥ 85% Sangiovese · Main grape
- ≤ 15% other non-aromatic grapes of the same colour suitable for Tuscany · Others allowed
; release from 31 March of the first year after the harvest.
Blend rules
Cortona Sangiovese Riserva
- ≥ 85% Sangiovese · Main grape
- ≤ 15% other non-aromatic grapes of the same colour suitable for Tuscany · Others allowed
At least 24 months' ageing; release from 1 November of the second year after the harvest.
Blend rules
Cortona Cabernet Sauvignon Riserva
- ≥ 85% Cabernet Sauvignon · Main grape
- ≤ 15% other non-aromatic grapes of the same colour suitable for Tuscany · Others allowed
At least 24 months' ageing; release from 1 November of the second year after the harvest.
Blend rules
Cortona Syrah
- ≥ 85% Syrah · Main grape
- ≤ 15% other non-aromatic grapes of the same colour suitable for Tuscany · Others allowed
; release from 31 March of the first year after the harvest.
Blend rules
Cortona Syrah Riseva
- ≥ 85% Syrah · Main grape
- ≤ 15% other non-aromatic grapes of the same colour suitable for Tuscany · Others allowed
At least 24 months' ageing; release from 1 November of the second year after the harvest.
Other varieties allowed
Besides the main grapes, the rules allow these varieties in some wines. Grape names link where a profile exists.
35 varieties · Cortona Chardonnay, Cortona Cabernet Sauvignon, Cortona Cabernet Sauvignon Riserva
Albana, Albarola, Ansonica, Biancone, Canaiolo Bianco, Clairette, Durella, Fiano, Grechetto, Greco, Incrocio Bruni 54, Livornese Bianca, Malvasia Bianca Lunga, Malvasia Bianca di Candia, Malvasia Istriana, Manzoni Bianco, Marsanne, Muller Thurgau, Muscat Blanc A Petits Grains, Nocchianello Bianco, Orpicchio, Petit Manseng, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Roussanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Trebbiano Toscano, Verdea, Verdello, Verdicchio Bianco, Vermentino, Vernaccia di S. Giminiano, Viognier, Welschriesling
53 varieties · Cortona Rosso
Alicante, Alicante Bouschet, Ancellotta, Barbera, Barsaglina, Bonamico, Bracciola Nera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Calabrese, Caloria, Canaiolo Nero, Canina Nera, Carignan, Carmenere, Cesanese D Affile, Ciliegiolo, Colombana Nera, Colorino, Foglia Tonda, Gamay, Gralima, Grand Noir, Gratena, Groppello Gentile, Groppello di S. Stefano, Lambrusco Maestri, Malbec, Malvasia, Malvasia Nera di Brindisi, Malvasia Nera di Lecce, Mammolo, Mazzese, Merlese, Mondeuse, Montepulciano, Moscato D Amburgo, Mourvèdre, Nocchianello Nero, Pinot Noir, Pollera Nera, Prugnolo Gentile, Pugnitello, Rebo, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Roussin, Sagrantino, Sanforte, Sangiovese, Schiava Gentile, Tempranillo, Teroldego, Vermentino Nero
54 varieties · Cortona Merlot, Cortona Merlot Riserva
Alicante, Alicante Bouschet, Ancellotta, Barbera, Barsaglina, Bonamico, Bracciola Nera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Calabrese, Caloria, Canaiolo Nero, Canina Nera, Carignan, Carmenere, Cesanese D Affile, Ciliegiolo, Colombana Nera, Colorino, Foglia Tonda, Gamay, Gralima, Grand Noir, Gratena, Groppello Gentile, Groppello di S. Stefano, Lambrusco Maestri, Malbec, Malvasia, Malvasia Nera di Brindisi, Malvasia Nera di Lecce, Mammolo, Mazzese, Merlese, Mondeuse, Montepulciano, Moscato D Amburgo, Mourvèdre, Nocchianello Nero, Pinot Noir, Pollera Nera, Prugnolo Gentile, Pugnitello, Rebo, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Roussin, Sagrantino, Sanforte, Sangiovese, Schiava Gentile, Syrah, Tempranillo, Teroldego, Vermentino Nero
34 varieties · Cortona Grechetto
Albana, Albarola, Ansonica, Biancone, Canaiolo Bianco, Clairette, Durella, Fiano, Greco, Incrocio Bruni 54, Livornese Bianca, Malvasia Bianca Lunga, Malvasia Bianca di Candia, Malvasia Istriana, Manzoni Bianco, Marsanne, Muller Thurgau, Muscat Blanc A Petits Grains, Nocchianello Bianco, Orpicchio, Petit Manseng, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Roussanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Trebbiano Toscano, Verdea, Verdello, Verdicchio Bianco, Vermentino, Vernaccia di S. Giminiano, Viognier, Welschriesling
34 varieties · Cortona Sauvignon
Albana, Albarola, Ansonica, Biancone, Canaiolo Bianco, Clairette, Durella, Fiano, Grechetto, Greco, Incrocio Bruni 54, Livornese Bianca, Malvasia Bianca Lunga, Malvasia Bianca di Candia, Malvasia Istriana, Manzoni Bianco, Marsanne, Muller Thurgau, Muscat Blanc A Petits Grains, Nocchianello Bianco, Orpicchio, Petit Manseng, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Roussanne, Semillon, Trebbiano Toscano, Verdea, Verdello, Verdicchio Bianco, Vermentino, Vernaccia di S. Giminiano, Viognier, Welschriesling
54 varieties · Cortona Sangiovese, Cortona Sangiovese Riserva
Alicante, Alicante Bouschet, Ancellotta, Barbera, Barsaglina, Bonamico, Bracciola Nera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Calabrese, Caloria, Canaiolo Nero, Canina Nera, Carignan, Carmenere, Cesanese D Affile, Ciliegiolo, Colombana Nera, Colorino, Foglia Tonda, Gamay, Gralima, Grand Noir, Gratena, Groppello Gentile, Groppello di S. Stefano, Lambrusco Maestri, Malbec, Malvasia, Malvasia Nera di Brindisi, Malvasia Nera di Lecce, Mammolo, Mazzese, Merlese, Merlot, Mondeuse, Montepulciano, Moscato D Amburgo, Mourvèdre, Nocchianello Nero, Pinot Noir, Pollera Nera, Prugnolo Gentile, Pugnitello, Rebo, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Roussin, Sagrantino, Sanforte, Schiava Gentile, Syrah, Tempranillo, Teroldego, Vermentino Nero
54 varieties · Cortona Syrah, Cortona Syrah Riseva
Alicante, Alicante Bouschet, Ancellotta, Barbera, Barsaglina, Bonamico, Bracciola Nera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Calabrese, Caloria, Canaiolo Nero, Canina Nera, Carignan, Carmenere, Cesanese D Affile, Ciliegiolo, Colombana Nera, Colorino, Foglia Tonda, Gamay, Gralima, Grand Noir, Gratena, Groppello Gentile, Groppello di S. Stefano, Lambrusco Maestri, Malbec, Malvasia, Malvasia Nera di Brindisi, Malvasia Nera di Lecce, Mammolo, Mazzese, Merlese, Merlot, Mondeuse, Montepulciano, Moscato D Amburgo, Mourvèdre, Nocchianello Nero, Pinot Noir, Pollera Nera, Prugnolo Gentile, Pugnitello, Rebo, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Roussin, Sagrantino, Sanforte, Sangiovese, Schiava Gentile, Tempranillo, Teroldego, Vermentino Nero
In the vineyard and cellar: rules for every wine
3,300
Vines per hectare, minimum
Training
Systems allowed
alberello; guyot; cordone speronato; capovolto
No forcing
Forcing the vines is prohibited
Permitted
Irrigation
Cellar
Where the wine must be made
Within the production zone
Allowed
Enrichment (chaptalisation)
02 · Climate fingerprint
The climate
The growing season averages 18.6 °C, warm on Gregory Jones's scale, with 1,835 growing degree days (Winkler III).
The average year 1991–2020, vineyards at about 290 m
Monthly mean, °CRain, mmGrowing season
- Growing-season temperature
- 18.6 °C
- Warm · 17–19 °C (Jones)
- Growing degree days
- 1,835
- Region III: 1,667–1,943 degree days
- Growing-season rain
- 467 mm
- Of 850 mm a year
- Harvest rain
- 189 mm
- September–October
Copernicus ERA5-Land monthly averages at 5 vineyard points (Vineyard point 1, 298 m; Vineyard point 2, 284 m; Vineyard point 3, 301 m; Vineyard point 4, 272 m; Vineyard point 5, 297 m), moved to each point's height from the model's terrain. Indices that need daily data are not captured yet. How the climate figures are made.
Closest climates in the database
Picked by the data, not by hand: the profiles nearest on season warmth (counted twice), degree days, rain, ripening-month nights and day–night range. Neighbours within 30 km are left out, as they share the same weather.
1. LanguedocVery similarCompared with Cortona: same season warmth, similar rain.
2. SpoletoVery similarCompared with Cortona: same season warmth, similar rain.
3. Grance SenesiVery similarCompared with Cortona: same season warmth, similar rain.
Growing-season temperature
Growing degree days
Growing-season rain
03 · Year by year
35 vintages
Each column is one growing season: heat above or below the 1991–2020 average, and rain at harvest. Pick a year for the details.
Warmer than averageCooler than averageHarvest rain (Sep–Oct)Average harvest rain, 189 mm
2025
- Growing-season temp.
- Growing degree days
- Harvest rain
- Growing-season rain
- September nights
- Hot days and frosts
Seasons are labelled by harvest year (April–October). Year-to-year changes from ERA5-Land; tested against station records in Alto Adige (r = 0.94 for season temperature at Bolzano). Rain varies more locally, so treat single-season rain with some caution. Vintage ratings, harvest dates and frost or hail events have places in the data model but are not loaded yet.
04 · Where the numbers come from
Sources
- A geospatial inventory of regulatory information for wine protected designations of origin in Europe · Candiago et al., Scientific Data 9, 394 (2022); Eurac Research · CC0
- Quality wines in Italy and France: a dataset of PDO specifications · figshare 25393261 · CC BY 4.0
- ERA5-Land monthly averaged data (reanalysis-era5-land-monthly-means) · Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), Climate Data Store · CC BY 4.0 (Copernicus licence)
- OpenStreetMap vineyard areas (landuse=vineyard), from Geofabrik country extracts · OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL 1.0
- Copernicus DEM GLO-90 (AWS open data tiles) · European Space Agency / Copernicus · Copernicus DEM licence
- Disciplinare di produzione: Cortona · Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste (MASAF) · Official act
- Appellation nesting worked out from boundaries (pipeline/build_nesting.py) · Vinous, from the Eurac PDO boundaries · CC0 (source data)
- Climate profiles calculated by Vinous: method
Still to check (3)
- Generated from EU reference data: check against the current product specification.
- From the specification: Release dates come from a table whose header gives the year (year after harvest for the base wines, second year for riserva, third/fifth for Vin Santo/riserva, eighth for Occhio di Pernice). Vin Santo grapes are dried to 28% sugar (35% for Occhio di Pernice) and aged in casks of at most 100 litres (75 litres for Occhio di Pernice). Vinification and bottling within the comune of Cortona, or up to 2 km outside it. Other traditional non-expanded training forms are also allowed.
- National tier (DOC/DOCG) not captured yet; rules extracted from the specification text.