Terra Moretti Group: Contadi Castaldi in Franciacorta is not for sale

At a time when the wine market is facing significant challenges, perhaps journalism is becoming more difficult too, often driven by the search for sensationalism and rumors about ownership changes and company sales that, in reality, either do not exist or never materialize. Today, therefore, Terra Moretti Group (headed by its founder Vittorio Moretti), owner of several wineries including Bellavista and Contadi Castaldi, two of the most renowned Franciacorta brands (as well as Petra in Suvereto, Tuscany; Sella & Mosca in Sardinia; and Teruzzi in San Gimignano), has denied reports that Contadi Castaldi is up for sale. This follows claims made in an article published by the Italian financial daily Il Sole 24 Ore (October 3rd, by Giorgio Dell’Orefice), according to which Argea Group (backed by the private equity fund Clessidra) was preparing to acquire a stake in Contadi Castaldi. Argea already owns wineries including Cuvage and Ricossa in Piedmont, Poderi dal Nespoli in Romagna, Zaccagnini in Abruzzo, and Botter in Veneto, among others.
Up to today, L’Andana, the luxury resort in Tuscany Maremma region owned by the Moretti family, also remains under the family ownership. In recent days, “Il Sole 24 Ore” (in an article of October 1st by Paola Dezza, later referenced again by Giorgio Dell’Orefice on October 3rd) had reported that the property was close to a change of ownership, “from the Moretti family to the De Santis family” (owners of the luxury resort Passalacqua in Moltrasio on Lake Como, ed). However, according to sources close to the Moretti family, while L’Andana is still owned by the family, it appears to be an asset which could potentially be sold in case there would be a significant offer.