"We don’t want a wind farm in the middle of the vineyards" – the alarm raised by the Morellino di Scansano Consortium

"Absurd." The president of the Morellino di Scansano DOCG Protection Consortium, Bernardo Guicciardini Calamai, does not mince words when talking about the wind farm project that would be built between the municipalities of Scansano and Magliano, in the province of Grosseto. This stance is shared not only by the Consortium but also by a chorus of voices, including the mayor of Grosseto and Scansano, Antonfrancesco Vivarelli Colonna, and Maria Bice Ginesi. It is not the first time that wine protection bodies in the Maremma’s vineyard areas have raised their voices against similar projects: a similar situation occurred in Val di Cornia last summer and, in 2023, in Montecucco.

"I want to clarify that we are a 'green' denomination and fully support renewable energy, but a move like this is simply absurd," says Calamai. "A project that involves the installation of 11 wind turbines, each reaching up to 200 metres in height, along with a 45-kilometre-long electrical infrastructure, would have a devastating impact on the landscape, economy, and environment."

What are the risks of this project for the denomination?

Our area is unspoiled and thrives on viticulture and wine tourism. This project would cause enormous environmental damage. The construction would bring massive trucks, leading to the transformation and widening of roads. Additionally, there would be an actual reshaping of the landscape in this part of the Maremma, which we consider a heritage site.

Wine tourism would also suffer due to the increased noise pollution caused by the wind turbines. These installations are notoriously noisy, which would negatively impact all the businesses operating accommodation facilities. But the problem is not just the turbines themselves—it’s also the economic damage that would result.

Are you referring to potential damage to vineyard land?

Absolutely. Both old and new vineyards would be affected. The creation of infrastructure, including a 45-kilometre-long electrical system, would cut through the heart of the denomination, from Orbetello to Grosseto. Moreover, this would drastically reduce the land value of the affected wineries, rendering it almost worthless due to the presence of the wind turbines. On top of that, expropriations are planned with extremely low compensation.

How much compensation is being proposed?

We are talking about around €3,000 per hectare—practically a fraction of the actual value. I repeat, this is completely absurd. Landowners would lose everything. And it becomes even more illogical when considering that there is a much more suitable area nearby.

Where exactly?

There is already a wind farm in Poggi Alti, an area that is naturally windy and hilly, so it is unclear why this new project is being proposed in a place with very little wind. For instance, one of these wind turbines is planned to be installed on our own winery’s land, in a valley bottom. That said, we have fought other battles before—not against renewable energy itself, but against these indiscriminate planning decisions.

What previous project are you referring to?

In 2023, we were involved in a battle against the development of four geothermal wells at a depth of 3.5 km, and we successfully stopped the project. But now, we are facing a new threat.

What are your immediate next steps?

At present, we are on high alert, as everyone is affected. Associations, municipalities, and the regional government have all expressed negative opinions, and the Consortium—which protects a denomination covering 1,500 hectares of vineyards and an annual production of 10 million bottles—has filed an appeal, outlining all the concerns I have just explained. We expect the ministry to carry out an objective assessment.