Among other things, Sassicaia transformed the Maremma, and Bolgheri in particular, into a pilgrimage spot for wine lovers and winemakers.

FORBES: The Other Tuscany

"Back in Piemonte, nature is not totally our friend, " notes northern Italian wine icon Angelo Gaja, who began planting for his Ca'Marcanda near Bolgheri in 1996.

FORBES: The Other Tuscany

Although the precise boundaries of the Maremma are open to interpretation, people consider themselves Maremmano from north of Bolgheri, all the way south to Capalbio and the jet-set beach towns of the Monte Argentario, and inland to the hills on the western side of Montalcino.

FORBES: The Other Tuscany