An evening with Giovanni Mazzei introducing The Castello di Fonterutoli Estate

An evening with Giovanni Mazzei introducing The Castello di Fonterutoli Estate

Sharing his knowledge and expertise from his family’s centuries long experience in winemaking in the regions of Italy.

THURSDAY 7TH JULY 2022

The eldest son of Filippo Mazzei, his interest in wine started early. From the age of 14, he was already getting involved with winemaking in his family’s wineries. While studying he acted as Brand Manager for Marchesi Mazzei in USA. After a brief experience in Hong Kong, he dedicated himself full-time to his family business. The latest project of Giovanni Mazzei is Villa Marcello, who launched his first vintage Prosecco from his mother Alessandra’s family estate in the Veneto.

The estate covers 57 hectares in the commune of Treviso, of which 26.5 are planted under vine. The vineyards are situated at 25 metres above sea level where silty clay soils produce structured, elegant wines. As with the other Mazzei estates, Villa Marcello is managed with minimal intervention and the utmost environmental responsibility.

The Castello di Fonterutoli estate has been owned by the Marchesi Mazzei since 1435 and the family is closely linked to the history of Tuscan winemaking. At the heart of the estate there is the family, shared commitment to innovation and improvement whilst always preserving tradition, family values and the natural environment. Located 5km south of Castellina in the heart of the Chianti Classico, Fonterutoli remains a tranquil country village, surrounded by 117 hectares of stunning vineyards rising to 500m altitude.

The character of the wines of the Castello di Fonterutoli has been perfected over the years thanks to continual innovation, in harmony with the winery’s culture, history and heritage of technical expertise. Belguardo is their Maremma estate, 34 hectares of vineyards on the hills between Grosseto and Montiano and next to the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Strongly influenced by the vicinity to the sea, the estate allows for the cultivation of quite different grapes: local vines such as Sangiovese, Alicante, and Vermentino, alongside international ones such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah.  The other estate in the Mazzei portfolio is located just outside the town of Noto in the south-eastern part of Sicily. Situated at approximately 130m above sea level, the gently sloping vineyards have a west, south-west exposure.  A combination of long warm summers and cooling sea breezes enable the production of elegant wines with great finesse and varietal character.