Region

Located in the pristine Maremma, the new frontier for Tuscan winemaking, Tenuta I Muracci delivers flavorful wines with tremendous value and innovative Italian style. On the lands of Fortediga, or "strong dam" in Italian, you can still see the ruins of an old stone barricade. These walls are referred to as "Muracci". They are the ruins of an ancient fish pond, requested in 1462 by the Republic of Siena, designed in 1468 by local architect Guidoccio d'Andrea, and built in 1481. Eleven years later, a vast flood destroyed the fish pond, causing enormous damage to the surrounding lands. Fascinated by this tale of the "Muracci", world-renowned winemaker Alberto Antonini teamed up with some partners and bought 123 acres, founding Fortediga to pursue a dream. The Tuscan Maremma represents an intriguing area for the development of quality viticulture. The vineyards of Fortediga, located not far from the sea amid the Maremma hills, are characterized by soils very rich in fossils derived geologically from limestone, schist and quartz. The excellent exposition of the vineyards of Fortediga is primarily south and southwest. This allows for optimal sunlight and warming of the grapes during the ripening season. This also insures consistency in the quality of the wines from year to year. Fortediga’s vineyards are planted in roughly equal parts to Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, while a small lot is dedicated to Petit Verdot.