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Castello Terriccio Winery Guide

Cellar Tours Insight — Since 2003, Cellar Tours has planned private wine journeys through the world’s leading wine regions, pairing tailor-made itineraries with VIP winery visits, fine dining, and expert regional guidance.

Winery Overview

A vast self-sufficient estate that supported 600 people during its heyday in the 19th century, the exclusive Castello Terriccio Winery extends over 1700 hectares in the northern Tuscan coastal Maremma 60km from the storied city of Pisa. Yes, this is a prestigious winery with coveted reds and vibrant whites acclaimed in top wine circles. Still, it is also a wondrous natural paradise, with fertile fields of wheat, eerily beautiful olive groves with a total of 12,000 trees, a horse-breeding farm, and forestland that’s home to wild hare, boar, hare, partridge, hawk, pheasants, and deer. One of Tuscany’s largest estates, with breathtaking views of the ocean and the islands Elba, Corsica, Capraia, and Gorgona, Castello Terriccio is a fascinating place to visit on an exclusive food and wine tour.

The estate traces its roots back to the Etruscan era when its strategic seaside location proved to be an ideal place to watch pirates heading toward the coast. The ruins of the Terriccio castle, still visible, date to this era. However, the estate’s real history begins in the 13th century, when the Pope acquired it on behalf of the noble Gaetani family, who controlled it for 500 years, creating a successful farm and building the farmhouses and cellar that still stand today. In the late 1700s, the Gaetani sold the estate to a Polish prince, who sold it to the present owner’s family (Dr. Gian Annibale Rossi di Medelana Serafini Ferri) in 1921.

In 1979, Serafini Ferri suffered a severe horseback riding accident that left him in a wheelchair, and he began to focus on the estate’s potential as a winery; high-quality winemaking started in the late 1980s and early 1990s when varieties like Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc were planted successfully.

The dense, robust reds and tantalizing whites made here have found favor in the international wine community and are praised for being pure reflections of their terroir. They are often described with words like “superlative,” “tremendous,” “splendid,” and “luscious.” Castello Terriccio’s most iconic wine is the renowned super Tuscan Lupicaia, grown in limestone soil in an area once known as the wolves’ favorite hunting ground. This Cabernet Sauvignon blend melds lusciously rich fruit with spicy balsamic notes. Also wonderful is the Castello del Terriccio, a complex wine with a striking ruby tone, herb-like aromas that blend with spicy notes of licorice and cinnamon, and incredible depth. The estate’s white wines are known for being unabashedly expressive, clean creations. Harvest for all wines is done by hand across the estate’s 50 hectares of vineyards. Yields are kept low (no more than 900g per vine) to ensure concentrated fruit and better-structured wines.

Maremma Wine Tour

Maremma Wine Tour

Uncover the enchanting Maremma region. Savor exquisite wines, gourmet delights, and explore off-the-beaten-path Tuscan villages. Book your escape now!

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Author

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Genevieve Mc Carthy

Genevieve, originally from San Diego, California, has spent the last 25 years living in Europe, primarily in Spain, Ireland, and Italy. She has a background in the wine industry, having worked for a top wine importer in Ireland and a prestigious winery in Italy's Franciacorta region. In 2003, Genevieve founded Cellar Tours, a boutique wine tours company based in Madrid, Spain. She holds wine education credentials from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) in London and has a strong network within the European wine industry. Genevieve's specializes in organizing VIP tours to exclusive wineries that are not accessible to the general public. With a passion for food and wine, fluency in multiple languages, and expertise in luxury travel and tourism, Genevieve has built a successful career in creating unique wine experiences.

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