Castello del Terriccio
Castello del Terriccio is one of the largest agricultural estates in Tuscany (Province of Pisa) with its own microclimate. The approximately 1700 hectares extend from the northern end of the Maremma to the Tyrrhenian Sea. The vineyards enjoy a south-southwest exposure with the warming and luminous effect of the sea. The Mediterranean maquis and the eucalyptus trees growing all around it not only protect the grapes from the wind, but also imbue them with the scents and aromas that give the wines of the Terriccio their distinctive flavour.
Leaving the charming Tuscan town of Castellina Marittima via the narrow and picturesque serpentine road passing large pine trees and wonderful scenery, after a few kilometres you reach the gates of the splendid Castello del Terriccio estate. After the entrance, a private road leads up to the vineyard. On the way there, the gently rolling hills of the Maremma pass you by: forests, fields with Limousine cattle and horses, vineyards and of course olive groves. Situated at the top of a hill is the centre of the Castello, with a historic village centre, manor house, granary, wine cellar, olive press, and, of course, the obligatory church. The view of the seemingly infinite landscape and the dark blue Tyrrhenian Sea with the islands of Elba, Capraia, and Corsica is of a breathtaking, rare beauty. Castello del Terriccio is located north of Bolgheri in the Province of Pisa within the Maremma. With its impressive 1700 hectares, including 65 hectares of vineyards, it is one of the largest private estates in Tuscany.
White wines from Castello del Terriccio
Red wines from Castello del Terriccio
from Castello del Terriccio
The owner of this beautiful estate was the recently deceased former equestrian and charismatic patron Gian Annibale Rossi di Medelana Serafini Ferri, an enthusiastic horse breeder who pursued his passion for horses at his stud farm. Il Terriccio quite literally flourished under Gian Annibale. Vittorio Piozzo di Rosignano Rossi di Medelana, born in Turin and Gian Annibale’s only nephew, with whom he shared the passion for this corner of Tuscany, took the reins as his successor in late 2019. Today, Vittorio is at the helm and is responsible for this prestigious agricultural estate. He considers it a “great privilege to have inherited not only a company that produces wines of great value, known throughout the world, but also a winery that represents a unique microcosm in which an unspoilt and almost wild nature provides the setting for a rural settlement that has its own historical and cultural value”.
Its modern history began in the post-war period when the Ferri family bought the historic estate. Until the late 1970s the estate mostly produced cereals, although it also had 25 hectares of vineyards. The main focus of interest was on Bordeaux blends.
By the 1995 vintage the estate in the northern hills of Maremma had firmly established itself as a producer of first-rate wines. The soils of Castello del Terriccio are very similar to those of nearby Bolgheri: the sandy soils of the coast meet the rocks of the hills. The reddish soils are barren, with a high copper, iron, and magnesium content. The maritime Mediterranean microclimate ensures that the autumn storms generally don’t unleash their full force until they reach central Tuscany, sparing the vines in Terriccio. The Mediterranean maquis and the eucalyptus trees growing all around protect the grapes from the wind, but also imbue them with the scents and aromas that characterise the wines of this vineyard. In the state-of-the-art winery, the grapes from the 65 hectares of vineyards are still largely processed by hand.
Since 1993 the renowned oenologist Carlo Ferrini has played a key role in the success of the Castello del Terriccio estate as a consultant, which is why wines such as Lupicaia no longer have to take a back seat to Sassicaia and the like. Working together with the agronomist Emanuele Vergari and the resident oenologist Valerio Corsini, they make a formidable team. Ferrini’s high quality standards drive his constant ambition to create the best (Bordeaux) blends in Italy. And he succeeds in his mission year after year because the wines with his signature stand out thanks to their strong personality and deep connection to the earth, regularly receiving prestigious international awards such as the Tre Bicchieri of Gambero Rosso and Parker Points.
Producer
Rosa Bosco
Rosa Bosco, already somewhat of a legend in the oenological world of Friuli, founded her label “RB” in 1998. Her wines are vinified and aged in the de Puppi family’s traditional azienda according to the credo "quality without compromise”.
Massena / Jaysen Collins
Dan Standish and Jaysen Collins were college friends, and in the late 1990s they decided to put their talents together to produce wine. Recently, Jaysen Collins has taken charge of the "Massena" project on his own.The grapes are purchased from growers in Greenock, Kalimna and Koonunga Hill in the northwest Barossa Valley.
