January 03, 2024
Fabio Motta
Who are they?
Fabio Motta’s winery is located in the Bolgheri DOC in the province of Livorno, Tuscany. Fabio began working harvests in Tuscany in 2001, soon earning his degree in Agriculture. By 2005, he was recruited by one of Bolgheri’s elite winemakers, Michele Satta, and by 2009, he was marrying Michele’s daughter! His now father-in-law owned a very small but special vineyard, which he entrusted to Fabio and so his own journey as a winemaker began.
What are they making?
Fabio released his first vintage in 2010 at just 30 years old, and almost immediately carved out his place among the latest of the “up and comers” in Tuscany’s already bountiful wine scene. Today, he farms roughly 17 acres of vines, biodynamically. His first vineyard, Le Pievi, is planted with old-vine Bordeaux varietals, Syrah and Sangiovese, Vermentinio, Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc. In the cellar, he is hands off, only using indigenous yeasts and not fining or filtering, allowing the wines to reflect their unique terroir that’s full of ancient fossils and rich in clay.
Bordeaux varietals in Italy? Yep, you read that right. These wines are referred to as “SuperTuscan’s”, a term coined in the early 80’s to describe a red blend of Tuscany using grapes that are not indigenous to Italy, particularly Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah.
Why do we love them?
His scale might be small but this allows Fabio to handle every little step of cultivation and winemaking himself. These wines are phenomenal and excel in elegance, complexity, and finesse. Fabio’s wines reflect the true characteristics of the Bolgheri terroir throughout each vintage. A must-try for the Bordeaux and Napa wine lovers that want to try something new with a little Italian flair!
-Michelle-
