Tua Rita Winery

When Virgilio Bisti and Rita Tua acquired the farm and land near Suvereto in the Tuscan Maremma in 1984, it was actually to realise their dream of living close to nature. The original 2 hectares of vines served as a hobby. Then came the passion. And then everything changed.

Today, almost 40 years later, Tua Rita is one of the top wine estates in Tuscany and is synonymous with internationally acclaimed Supertuscans, both with single-varietal wines and Bordeaux-inspired cuvées.

Virgilio and Rita have worked meticulously in the vineyard from the very beginning. Connoisseurs described their products as "vins de garage". Their daughter Simena and, above all, her husband Stefano Frascolla have played a major role in the rapid growth of the business, its fame and reputation.

The two have been running the winery since 2010. With son Giovanni Frascolla, the third generation has now joined the family business. Tua Rita's current success is due in no small part to the efforts of top oenologist Luca d'Attoma.

Mainly Merlot, but also Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc are planted at a density of up to 9,000 vines per hectare. The gently sloping vineyards consist mainly of volcanic primary rock, clay and sand. The soils in this area are characterised by a high density of mineral microelements, especially iron and zinc. It is no coincidence that the hills are also called "Colline Metallifere", as iron ore used to be mined here. This is reflected in the wines with "metallic" notes and a hint of saltiness.

The production volume is around 220,000 bottles. No chemical pesticides are used, with multiple harvests and only minimal intervention during vinification. Depending on the vintage, this takes up to 30 days. After fermentation, the wine is transported by gravity into small oak barrels where it matures for at least 18 months.

© Photos: Tua Rita