When Alessandro Landini of Fattoria Viticcio in Greve in Chianti decided to try his luck in Bolgheri, he had no idea how quickly he would find success. It has been clear for years that the Bolgheri area on the Mediterranean coast of Tuscany – too hot for Sangiovese but perfectly suited to Bordeaux varietals – could produce wines of outstanding quality, but the rave reviews that I Greppi’s wines received from both the Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate for their first vintage were a very pleasant surprise, not a small feat considering that the majority of the estate’s vineyards are only 4 or 5 years old. Encompassing a total of 20 hectares, 15 were recently replanted with high-density vineyards. The principle grape varietals are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, farmed organically like at Viticcio. Needless to say, the quality of wines being produced is very impressive and promises only to increase as the vines mature.

Alessandro’s fortune was another’s loss, as the vineyard sites of I Greppi were once coveted by the Antinori family to use in their renowned wine Guado al Tasso, and are situated just around the corner from famed Bolgheri estate Sassicaia.