The 1st vintage of Bianco di Ampeleia was 2016. A neighbour's vineyard had old vines of a local biotype of Trebbiano Toscano; Ampeleia used its cuttings and starting planting in 2013, between Ampeleia di Mezzo and Ampeleia di Sopra (300-600m with varied soil composition). The vineyards were planted to 90% Trebbiano, 5% Ansonaco (aka Ansonica aka Inzolia), and 5% Malvasia. In true field-blend fashion, the three varieties are interspersed through the vineyard. The grapes were co-harvested at yields of 50hl/ha in mid-September and co-fermented in concrete vats, with 7-10 days contact with the skins. It aged on its lees for 6 months in concrete. The wine is pure, showing citrus fruit, wild flowers, acacia and finish with delicate tannins.
AZIENDA AMPELEIA, Roccateterighi, Maremma - Certified organic and biodynamic by Q Certificazioni and Demeter
Ampeleia (from the Greek word for ‘vine’) is owned by Elisabetta Foradori and Giovani Podini. The winemaker and agronomist, Marco Tait has been with the estate since its inception in 2002. It was founded with Elisabetta’s overarching vision of allowing the true nature of an area, its diversity, its grapes, land and culture to be expressed. The wildness of the southern Maremma, bounded by the Colle Metallifere and the sea were virgin territory, far removed from the glamour of Bolgheri and Montalcino. The estate is large and biodiverse with a total of 40 ha of vineyard interspersed with chestnut and cork oak forests as well as Mediterranean scrub. There are three parts, across differing altitudes, with differing soils and microclimates: Ampeleia di Sopra; di Mezzo and di Sotto.