Castagna del Monte Amiata

Castagna del Monte Amiata is a PGI-protected chestnut grown on the slopes of Monte Amiata across nine named municipalities in the Provinces of Grosseto and Siena. The designation covers three varieties — Marrone, Bastarda Rossa and Cecio — harvested fresh and subject to specified preservation and sizing requirements.

About this designation

Registered as a PGI under file number PGI-IT-0084, with EU protection granted on 3 December 1999, Castagna del Monte Amiata covers chestnuts of the varieties Marrone, Bastarda Rossa and Cecio grown in the 'Castanetum' phytoclimatic zone of Monte Amiata at altitudes of between 350 and 1 000 metres above sea-level. The production area comprises the municipalities of Arcidosso, Casteldelpiano, Santa Fiora, Seggiano, Cinigiano and Roccalbegna in the Province of Grosseto, and Castiglione d'Orcia, Abbadia S. Salvatore and Piancastagnaio in the Province of Siena. Eligible groves must grow on soils mostly deriving from volcanic and arenaceous rocks, predominantly or to a considerable extent composed of silica. The specification sets a minimum size of 80 fruits per net kilogram for fresh chestnuts, with a 10 % tolerance permitted in years of particularly adverse weather conditions. Planting density must be between 60 and 150 trees per hectare; output may not exceed 12 kg per tree and 1 800 kg per hectare. The use of artificial fertilisers or plant protection products is prohibited during the productive stage. Preservation must be by cold water curing for no more than seven days without additives, by hot water sterilisation followed by cold water plunging without additives, or by deep freezing. All grading, sizing, processing and preservation operations must be carried out within the defined production area. The inspection body is IMC Istituto Mediterraneo di Certificazione, Senigallia. Each package must carry an irremovable label bearing the name 'Castagna del Monte Amiata', the words 'Indicazione geografica protetta' (IGP), and the name of the variety.

Source: The register document this entry was written from · retrieved August 26, 2026

Distinctive facts

• Registered as a PGI on 3 December 1999 under file number PGI-IT-0084; eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013298.
• Only three varieties are permitted: Marrone, Bastarda Rossa and Cecio; the specification permits no others.
• Output is capped at 12 kg per tree and 1 800 kg per hectare; artificial fertilisers and plant protection products are prohibited during the productive stage.
• Fresh chestnuts must meet a minimum size of 80 fruits per net kilogram, with a 10 % tolerance allowed in years of particularly adverse weather conditions.

Tasting notes

Tuscan chestnut from Amiata mountain (Siena-Grosseto), large chestnut with thin shell, sweet flesh with subtle vanilla note. Three varieties (Marrone, Bastarda Rossa, Cecio).

HoReCa use

Roasted as caldarroste, used in Amiata chestnut soup, dried for chestnut flour and traditional polenta dolce, and incorporated in autumn pasta dishes.

Packaging

• crate-10kg
• crate-15kg
• vacuum-pack-cooked-500g
• frozen-peeled-1kg

Seasonality