Sea Breezes, Mediterranean Scrub, and Coastal Wines: The Story of Torre Civette

In the heart of the Tuscan Maremma, in the municipality of Scarlino, between the beach and the protected Bandite area, Torre Civette has spent the past eleven years quietly transforming a stretch of coastal countryside into one of the region's most distinctive wine estates. Eleven hectares of vineyards have been restored and cultivated, a ruined farmhouse has been brought back to life, and a sixteenth-century watchtower has been carefully renovated to once again dominate the coastline, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Island of Elba.

 

Long before the first vines were planted, the site already carried centuries of history. The watchtower at the center of the estate dates back approximately five hundred years, built on a promontory above the sea to guard the Gulf of Follonica. Its walls have witnessed Mediterranean incursions, Etruscan maritime routes, and even local legends suggesting that Giuseppe Garibaldi may have briefly passed through the area during his escape from nearby Cala Martina. Once a structure devoted to vigilance, the tower now serves as the symbolic heart of an estate dedicated to hospitality, agriculture, and the preservation of place.

 

The property lies within the Bandite di Scarlino, one of Tuscany's most unspoiled coastal nature reserves. Surrounded by rolling hills and opening toward the sea, the estate benefits from an environment where Mediterranean scrub, pine forests, strawberry trees, and holm oaks remain largely untouched. The connection between cultivation and nature is central to the estate's philosophy, allowing wildlife—including the owls that inspired the estate's name—to thrive alongside the vineyards and olive groves.

At the helm of the winemaking project is Riccardo Cotarella, the internationally renowned oenologist who has guided the estate since its first vintage in 2020, shaping the identity and style of its wines from the very beginning. He works closely with a dedicated team led by Arianna Balducci, company administrator, and Marco Tolfa, resident oenologist, whose daily work ensures the vision of Torre Civette is translated from the vineyard into the bottle. During our visit, we were also joined by Irina Gorshkova, representing the estate’s ownership, who shared the vision behind Torre Civette’s development. Together, they represent the balance between experience, precision, and a deep connection to the land that defines the estate.

From left to right: Irina Gorshkova, Arianna Balducci and Riccardo Cotarella

The Territory

From a distance, the rows of vines and olive trees almost look drawn onto the hillside — straight, deliberate lines set against an otherwise wild backdrop. That contrast is intentional: the estate's growers have worked to fit cultivation into the land as it already was, rather than reshaping the land to fit the vines, keeping the surrounding Mediterranean scrub and groves largely intact. It's an approach that limits the estate's footprint while letting the soil and climate do more of the talking in the wine.

Planted in 2017, the vines sit just a stone's throw away from the sea, tucked into a natural bowl of land shielded by Mediterranean scrub and kept constantly moving by sea air. Across roughly 11 hectares between 20 to 50 meters above sea level, the soil tells its own story — a mix of sand, silt, clay, and gravel left behind by centuries of alluvial and marine deposits, well-draining and rich in minerals.

Hot, dry summers give way to mild winters here, true to the Mediterranean climate, but it's the wind that does much of the real work: steady sea breezes keep the bunches dry, even out the heat, and ward off the fungal issues that plague calmer vineyards, while the neighboring scrubland lends the site an extra layer of ecological balance. Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot all thrive under these conditions, each coming through with bright aromatics and an unmistakable coastal character that's hard to mistake for anywhere else. It is this interaction between land, sea, and climate that defines the identity of Torre Civette's wines, allowing them to convey a clear and authentic sense of territory. 

The Wines

On Torre Civette's open-air terrace, overlooking the sea and surrounded by the wild Mediterranean landscape of the Maremma coast, we tasted the estate's wines in the place where their story begins. Guided by Riccardo Cotarella, who has shaped the winery's wines since its first vintage, the tasting brought together Civetta in Rosa 2025, Civetta Brava 2022, and a mini-vertical of three Torre Civette vintages. It was an opportunity to explore the identity of the estate through its wines and to understand how the sea, the landscape, and the unique character of this coastal terroir come through in the glass.

Civetta in Rosa Toscana IGT 2025
Made from 100% Syrah grapes picked a few days before full ripeness, Civetta in Rosa has a delicate pale salmon color and a fresh, lively personality. It offers aromas of strawberries, red currants, and grapefruit, with a touch of floral notes. On the palate, it is lively and energetic, with a refreshing character and a distinct saline imprint that reflects its coastal origins and unmistakable marine influence. A perfect summer wine — fresh, elegant, and made for enjoying outdoors on a warm day.

Civetta Brava Toscana IGT 2022
A blend of 65% Syrah and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, Civetta Brava spends two years aging before release, including 12 months in new French oak barriques and another year in the bottle. Bright ruby red in color, it is an elegant and approachable wine with floral aromas, mature red fruit, and hints of Mediterranean herbs. On the palate, it is smooth and well-balanced, with gentle tannins and a freshness that makes it enjoyable to drink. A wine with personality and depth, yet with the kind of ease that invites you to keep coming back for another sip.

Torre Civette Toscana IGT 2022, 2021 and 2020
Produced exclusively from carefully selected 100% Cabernet Franc grapes, with only the best berries chosen, this wine ages for 12 months in new French oak barriques, followed by at least another year of refinement in the bottle before release. Deep and intense ruby red in color, it reflects the unique character of the Maremma coast, with aromas of Mediterranean scrub, ripe black fruit, and delicate hints of dried spices.

The mini vertical tasting of the 2020, 2021, and 2022 vintages showed how beautifully the wine evolves over time. The 2020 revealed a slow and elegant evolution, a testament to the wine’s precision and balance, with supple fruit, mature plum notes, vibrant acidity, and a well-defined tannic structure. The cooler 2021 vintage offered a more restrained expression, more compact in both aroma and palate, shaped by the character of the season. The 2022 stood out for its generous and juicy personality, with rich fruit aromas, violet notes, and the distinctive Mediterranean imprint of Torre Civette. Already enjoyable today, it promises an elegant and rewarding evolution in the years ahead.

Staying at Torre Civette

Beyond the vineyards, Torre Civette also invites guests to experience the estate at a slower pace through its intimate hospitality offering. Ten spacious and comfortable suites are set within a two-storey structure surrounded by the beautiful landscape, with some featuring private gardens where guests can enjoy moments of quiet privacy while immersed in the beauty of the Maremma countryside. The experience is truly connected to the land: the vineyards are just a brief walk (or a very short ride with the golf carts) from the rooms, while the beach is only a pleasant 10-minute walk away, offering the rare possibility of moving effortlessly between vines and the sea.

Rates range from approximately €250 to €600 per night, depending on the season. Mornings begin with breakfast served in the garden, with the hills and vineyards as a backdrop — a peaceful way to start the day and a reflection of Torre Civette’s relaxed approach to hospitality, where wine, nature, and the Mediterranean landscape are part of the same experience.

Torre Civette

Address: Strada Vicinale di Pian d'Alma 28, 58020 Scarlino (GR), Italy
Tel: +39 339 863 3716
Website: https://www.torrecivette.it/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TorreCivette