Ampelio Bucci oversees this estate in the Castelli di Jesi commune of Le Marche, drawing on the vast experience of 300 years of family history growing grapes in the region. They farm organically a total of 400 hectares, with 26 hectares given over to vines, 21 hectares of which are planted to verdicchio and the remainder to montepulciano and sangiovese.
With several varied aspects and elevations over six different plots for the verdicchio, on mainly limestone and clay soils that hang on to moisture in the hotter summer months, the estate has good material for blending. The vines are old and the yields are low - almost half the DOC permitted yield - and they produce wines of intensity and complexity.
The winemaker here is renowned oenologist Giorgio Grai who works in the family’s naturally cool underground cellars, and both stainless steel and 50 to 75 hectolitre Slavonian oak barrels are used, with each vineyard plot vinified separately and blended before bottling.