The partner that tells the story of the territory through wine

The taste of what you rode. The Consorzio Tutela Vini della Maremma Toscana is a partner of Tuscany Trail 2026

What is Tuscany Trail, really? It is not a race. It is a way to get to know a piece of Italy the way you would never experience it by car, train, or even on foot. As you pedal, Tuscany settles into you slowly: the wind, the dust of the white roads, the scent of the earth after a storm, the sounds of villages at sunset. And the food. And the wine.

That is exactly why the 2026 edition will once again be alongside the Consorzio Tutela Vini della Maremma Toscana, official partner of Tuscany Trail.

Who they are

The Consorzio was founded in 2014, immediately after the recognition of the DOC Maremma Toscana. Today it brings together 475 member companies, including 343 grape growers, 131 vertically integrated wineries, and one bottler, for an annual production of 7.5 million bottles. Big numbers, but above all numbers that are steadily growing, especially thanks to Vermentino, which has become the emblematic grape variety of the denomination.

What is most interesting is its reach: the DOC Maremma Toscana extends across the entire province of Grosseto, from the slopes of Monte Amiata to the Maremma coast, all the way to Argentario and the Island of Giglio. It is a huge area, made up of very different soils, from clayey soils near the sea, to marly soils in the inland hills, to volcanic soils in the east, and microclimates that change from one valley to the next. This explains why the denomination includes native varieties such as Vermentino, Ciliegiolo, Ansonica, Alicante, and Pugnitello, alongside international varieties like Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet, and Viognier. Each bottle tells the story of a specific piece of Maremma.

Where Tuscany Trail and the Consorzio meet

This is where it gets most interesting. Anyone taking part in Tuscany Trail 2026 crosses, kilometer after kilometer, a significant part of the DOC production area.

You start by riding along the Gulf of Follonica, then climb toward Scarlino through hills overlooking the sea. You pedal along the coast of Castiglione della Pescaia, enter the plain of Grosseto, then head back up toward Paganico and the hills of Porrona. These places are not chosen at random. They are part of the denomination. The vineyards are there, along the roadside, behind a bend, on the ridgeline that opens up in front of you after a climb.

At the end of May, something special happens. The vines are in full bloom. The tiny bunches are already there, but they are still minuscule, covered with white-green blossoms that open for only a few days and are incredibly delicate. One wrong gust of wind or a heavy rain can compromise the vintage. It is the moment when the winemaker holds their breath, and when anyone passing beside a vineyard can see next autumn’s wine literally being born before their eyes.

The circle comes full

During Tuscany Trail, you see landscapes from above, with vineyards tracing the slopes. Then you ride through them, between the rows, close enough to feel them. And finally, at the end of the event, the event pack includes a bottle of wine made right there, in those hills you crossed just days before.

It is not a gimmick. It is the closing of a sensory circle. What you saw becomes what you taste at home, perhaps a week later, telling the story of the journey to someone who was not there. And in that glass, whether it is Vermentino, Ciliegiolo, or Ansonica, there is exactly the sun, the wind, and the earth of those kilometers you rode.

The Consorzio will be present along the route, with tastings and opportunities to meet producers. For participants coming from abroad in particular, it is one of the most authentic ways to understand what is truly inside a glass of Maremma Toscana: not just a wine, but a territory traveled with your own legs.

To learn more: consorziovinimaremma.it