Tenuta Roccaccia is an organic estate in Pitigliano in Grosseto Province in coastal south-west Tuscany. It produces Bianco di Pitigliano DOC, Maremma Toscana DOC, and Sovana DOC wines.

Background: Siblings Danilo (7 Oct 1968) and Rossano (21 Feb 1963) Goracci’s father bought the estate in 1965. There were sheep, cows and two hectares of vines. The stable is now the cellar. From 1975 the family began adding more vines. In 1998 they left the Pitigliano cooperative, withdrawing 30ha of vines. From 1997 the brothers began working with Alberto Antonini (Matura group) until 2004. From 2009 Vittorio Fiore and Barbara Tamburini began consulting.

Organic certification: 2005 First vintage with full organic ertification.

Estate vineyards: 30 hectares of vines. Night cooling has encouraged the brothers to plant Trebbiano, Malvasia and Grechetto. High overhanging cordon for whites, low one for reds. 3,500 vines per hectare.

Terroir: 313 metres altitude. 50km from sea. Danilo Goracci told me at the Roccaccia winery on Friday afternoon 28th September 2012 that the soils are un-compacted, friable black pumice and are easy to work if it rains. They used mainly 420A when replanting the vines because it is a non-vigorous rootstock.

Cover crops: Clover, bell beans, indigenous grasses and wild clovers.

Other crops: 3,000 olive trees (mainly Leccino e Frantoio) which are organic. The brothers said they also farmed a bit of land for cereals but this was “too little to be able to make any money.”

Winemaking: Stainless steel. Barrel hall with terracotta floor tiles.

White wines

Bianco di Pitigliano DOC: Trebbiano Toscano, Chardonnay. From 4ha. 320-350 metres. South facing. Sandy volcanic soil. 5,000 vines/ha. Cordone speronato. Stainless steel only.

Bianco di Pitigliano DOC Superiore: 2003 Made by the local co-op. A dirty, fat, marmelade style (Argiano, 19th March 2005). | 2011 60% Trebbiano, 40% Chardonnay. Stainless steel only.

Bianco di Pitigliano Superiore DOC, Oroluna: Trebbiano Toscano, Vermentino, Chardonnay and SB. From 3ha. 320-350 metres. South facing. Tufo. 5,500 vines/ha. Cordone speronato. Stainless steel only. | 2011 15,000 bottles. 100% stainless steel. Nice rich modern style with stuffing, creamy, peachy, pineapple, and apricot flavours (Visit: afternoon 28th September 2012). | 2012 Full, peachy, exotic (Vulcania, Pitigliano 16 Jun 2013).

Maremma DOC Vermentino, Solechiaro. From 3ha. 320-350 metres. South facing. Tufo. 5,500 vines/ha. Cordone speronato. Stainless steel only. Has changed from being an IGT Toscano Bianco to Maremma DOC.

Red wines

IGT Toscana Rosso Poggio Cavalluccio: 100% Ciliegiolo. From 1ha. Vines planted in the 1970s. 320-350 metres. South south-west. Sandy volcanic soil. 3,300 vines/ha. Cordone speronato. | 2000 2,500 bottles. Part barrel-aged.

IGT Toscana Rosso Fontenova: 50-70% Sangiovese, 30-50% Ciliegiolo. From 4ha. 320-350 metres. South south-west. Sandy volcanic soil. 5,000 vines/ha. Cordone speronato. Part barrel-aged.

Sovana Rosso DOC: 50-70% Sangiovese, 30-50% Ciliegiolo. From 5ha. 320-350 metres. South south-east. Sandy volcanic soil. 5,000 vines/ha. Cordone speronato. Part barrel-aged. | 2003 Made by the Pitigliano co-op. Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo and Alicante Bouschet. Decent clear style fruit, a bit light but elegant although quite a bit of fizz, but not bad if a tad green (Argiano, 9th March 2005). | 2011 Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo and Alicante Bouschet. 30,000 bottles. Fermented in stainless steel and part aged in old barrels. Some lots underwent MLF in newer barrels. A bit green but rich and soft with decent length and balance. No rough edges. Well made if high yields (Visit: 28th September 2012). | 2012 Rich and peppery at Vulcania, Pitigliano 16 Jun 2013.

Contact

Tenuta Roccaccia

Loc. Poggio Cavalluccio

I-58017 Pitigliano (GR = Grosseto), Italy

Tel+39 0564.617020 or 347.9113938 | Website www.tenutaroccaccia.it