The shooting star of Tuscan wines was first commercialised in 1970 by Mario Incisa and Giacomo Tachis and the Livorno tourism authorities cannot help themselves describing it as the mythical 'Deus ex Machina' of world wines.

The wine producing zone is the hilly coastal strip between Livorno and Piombino, the 'El Dorado of Italian wines'.

The aim of the route is to link the fame of Sassacaia with many of the other fine products of the territory such as honey, salumi and olive oil and encouraging visits to the hamlets and forgotten corners of the Livornese countryside.

But it's not all Sassacaia, the other DOC wines to sample are Montescudaio, Bolgheri and Val di Cornia. Each has its red, whie, rosé and vin santo.

Montescudaio is produced in the most northerly territory of the wine route and into Pisa. Trebbiano, vermentino and malvasia are the grapes for the white. Needless to say, Sangiovese for the reds.

In contrast, Bolgheri is produced from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.

The most southerly growing zone is resevred for the Val di Cornia.

All of the previously mentioned grapes feature, but add pinot bianco, pinto grigio and canaiolo.

Interestingly, ancient local grape varieties such as ciliegiolo, ansonica and biancone di Portaferraio also feature.

Val di Cornia doc is the only wine of the three to produce a 'riserva' and aged for at least 3 years.