TUSCANY’S MAREMMA AREA CONTINUES TO GROW AS CENTER FOR AUTEUR WINERIES. ARCHITECT PIERO SARTOGO, AUTHOR OF THE LATEST ADDITION TO FRESCOBALDI’S SANTA MARIA ESTATE IN SCANSANO

Another addition has recently been made to what has become the capital of designer wineries. After Petra in Suvereto, created by Mario Botta, Rocca di Frassinello designed by Renzo Piano in Gavoranno, and the wine cellars by Gae Aulenti at the Campo di Sasso Estate in Bibbona, the latest designer winery is underway for the Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi at the Santa Maria Estate in Scansano (the heart of the Morellino region in Grosseto) by another famous architect, Piero Sartogo.
The structure will span over an area of 3,500 square meters and has a modern concept: it’s next to the sea, built partially underground, open on three sides and on the roof, where the grapes will “fall” from to begin the winemaking process.
Tiziana Frescobaldi explains the philosophy behind the new winery in Maremma: “it has a minimalist design whose lines obey a criterion of beauty, functionality and eco-compatibility. We have chosen the Maremma because it is a very beautiful land and increasingly important in regards to its enological profile”.
The winery will respond to the needs of the about one hundred hectares of the Santa Maria Estate, but, within the next few years, it will supply production for 150 hectares of vineyards based on the expansion program of the enterprise. The new winery will process 8,000 quintals of grapes per year, ultimately reaching 10,000 quintals at maximum operations. Morellino di Scansano will be produced, along with various other types, among which a Supertuscan may also appear.
A new gem that will further enrich the Tuscan coast, a land already abound with important wines and great wineries. Architect Piero Sartogo explained to WineNews that, “the concept of the winery has changed and only recently have architects been considered to create these structures that in a time not too long ago, like in the 80’s, were instead left in the hands of surveyors and considered industrial buildings. And then, the concept of wineries developed and the first to have interpreted this change are the Americans in Napa Valley in the mid 1990’s. The change even arrived in Italy and found excellent terrain in Tuscany. From Bolgheri it moved down to Maremma, which was a new land until a short time ago, still sparsely developed, and this is what allowed it to create new and important structures directly related to the beauty of the territory”.
Leonardo Roselli