What is made here
Wine colours
Colours the rules allow. Pick a colour to filter the rules and grapes below.
Where it is
Elba in Italy
- Latitude
- 42.3°–42.9° N
- Vineyard altitude
- 4 m to 213 m
- Production zone
- 24,403 ha
Covers the same area as
Elba Aleatico Passito
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 Elba must meet.
Blend rules
Elba Bianco
- 10–70% Trebbiano Toscano · Main grape
- 10–70% Ansonica / Vermentino · Main grape
- ≤ 30% other white grapes suitable for Tuscany · Others allowed
Blend rules
Elba Bianco Spumante
- 10–70% Trebbiano Toscano · Main grape
- 10–70% Ansonica / Vermentino · Main grape
- ≤ 30% other white grapes suitable for Tuscany · Others allowed
Blend rules
Elba Ansonica
- ≥ 85% Ansonica · Main grape
- ≤ 15% other white grapes suitable for Tuscany · Others allowed
Blend rules
Elba Vermentino
- ≥ 85% Vermentino · Main grape
- ≤ 15% other white grapes suitable for Tuscany · Others allowed
Blend rules
Elba Trebbiano (o Elba Procanico)
- ≥ 85% Trebbiano Toscano · Main grape
- ≤ 15% other white grapes suitable for Tuscany · Others allowed
Blend rules
Elba Rosso
- ≥ 60% Sangiovese · Main grape
- ≤ 40% other red grapes suitable for Tuscany · Others allowed
Blend rules
Elba Rosso Riserva
- ≥ 60% Sangiovese · Main grape
- ≤ 40% other red grapes suitable for Tuscany · Others allowed
At least 24 months' ageing.
Blend rules
Elba Sangiovese (o Elba Sangioveto)
- ≥ 85% Sangiovese · Main grape
- ≤ 15% other red grapes suitable for Tuscany · Others allowed
Blend rules
Elba Rosato
- ≥ 60% Sangiovese · Main grape
- ≤ 40% other red grapes suitable for Tuscany · Others allowed
- ≤ 20% white grapes · Others allowed
Blend rules
Elba Ansonica Passito
- ≥ 85% Ansonica · Main grape
- ≤ 15% other white grapes suitable for Tuscany · Others allowed
Blend rules
Elba Bianco Passito
- ≥ 70% Ansonica / Moscato / Trebbiano toscano / Vermentino · Main grape
- ≤ 30% other white grapes suitable for Tuscany · Others allowed
Blend rules
Elba Vin Santo
- 10–70% Trebbiano Toscano · Main grape
- 10–70% Ansonica / Vermentino · Main grape
- ≤ 30% other white grapes suitable for Tuscany · Others allowed
; release from 1 November of the third year after the harvest.
Blend rules
Elba Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice
- ≥ 60% Sangiovese · Main grape
- ≤ 40% other red grapes suitable for Tuscany · Others allowed
- ≤ 20% white grapes · Others allowed
; release from 1 November of the third 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.
32 varieties · Elba Bianco, Elba Bianco Spumante, Elba Vin Santo
Albana, Albarola, 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, Verdea, Verdello, Verdicchio Bianco, Vernaccia di S. Giminiano, Viognier, Welschriesling
34 varieties · Elba Ansonica, Elba Ansonica Passito
Albana, Albarola, 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
34 varieties · Elba Vermentino
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, Vernaccia di S. Giminiano, Viognier, Welschriesling
34 varieties · Elba Trebbiano (o Elba Procanico)
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, Verdea, Verdello, Verdicchio Bianco, Vermentino, Vernaccia di S. Giminiano, Viognier, Welschriesling
54 varieties · 4 wines
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
89 varieties · Elba Rosato
Albana, Albarola, Alicante, Alicante Bouschet, Ancellotta, Ansonica, Barbera, Barsaglina, Biancone, Bonamico, Bracciola Nera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Calabrese, Caloria, Canaiolo Bianco, Canaiolo Nero, Canina Nera, Carignan, Carmenere, Cesanese D Affile, Ciliegiolo, Clairette, Colombana Nera, Colorino, Durella, Fiano, Foglia Tonda, Gamay, Gralima, Grand Noir, Gratena, Grechetto, Greco, Groppello Gentile, Groppello di S. Stefano, Incrocio Bruni 54, Lambrusco Maestri, Livornese Bianca, Malbec, Malvasia, Malvasia Bianca Lunga, Malvasia Bianca di Candia, Malvasia Istriana, Malvasia Nera di Brindisi, Malvasia Nera di Lecce, Mammolo, Manzoni Bianco, Marsanne, Mazzese, Merlese, Merlot, Mondeuse, Montepulciano, Moscato D Amburgo, Mourvèdre, Muller Thurgau, Muscat Blanc A Petits Grains, Nocchianello Bianco, Nocchianello Nero, Orpicchio, Petit Manseng, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Pollera Nera, Prugnolo Gentile, Pugnitello, Rebo, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Riesling, Roussanne, Roussin, Sagrantino, Sanforte, Sauvignon Blanc, Schiava Gentile, Semillon, Syrah, Tempranillo, Teroldego, Trebbiano Toscano, Verdea, Verdello, Verdicchio Bianco, Vermentino, Vermentino Nero, Vernaccia di S. Giminiano, Viognier, Welschriesling
31 varieties · Elba Bianco Passito
Albana, Albarola, 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, Nocchianello Bianco, Orpicchio, Petit Manseng, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Roussanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Verdea, Verdello, Verdicchio Bianco, Vernaccia di S. Giminiano, Viognier, Welschriesling
In the vineyard and cellar: rules for every wine
4,000
Vines per hectare, minimum
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 19.9 °C, hot on Gregory Jones's scale, with 2,119 growing degree days (Winkler IV).
The average year 1991–2020, vineyards at about 106 m
Monthly mean, °CRain, mmGrowing season
- Growing-season temperature
- 19.9 °C
- Hot · 19–21 °C (Jones)
- Growing degree days
- 2,119
- Region IV: 1,944–2,221 degree days
- Growing-season rain
- 300 mm
- Of 675 mm a year
- Harvest rain
- 163 mm
- September–October
Copernicus ERA5-Land monthly averages at 5 vineyard points (Vineyard point 1, 73 m; Vineyard point 2, 95 m; Vineyard point 3, 158 m; Vineyard point 4, 192 m; Vineyard point 5, 12 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.
Lower confidence:Monthly reanalysis in moderately complex terrain; not yet checked against a weather station.
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. Aglianico del Vulture SuperioreVery similarCompared with Elba: same season warmth, similar rain.
2. Aglianico del VultureVery similarCompared with Elba: same season warmth, similar rain.
3. Contea di SclafaniVery similarCompared with Elba: 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, 163 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: Elba · 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: Passito grapes are dried for at least ten days to at least 30% sugar; Moscato and Ansonica Passito range from amabile to dolce, so sweetness is null. Vin Santo grapes are dried to at least 26.5% sugar, pressed between 1 November and 31 March, and aged in wood of at most 5 hl; Vin Santo must keep at least 3% potential alcohol unfermented. Bottling must take place in the zone.
- National tier (DOC/DOCG) not captured yet; rules extracted from the specification text.