Testamatta, IGT Toscana Bibi Graetz 2016, 150 cl.

Vinification / aging

Vinification takes place by a spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts in open used barriques. After that comes the wine for aging 24 to 30 months (depending on the vintage) in French oak barrels. Another 6 months follow in the bottle at the winery before it goes on sale.

History

Bibi Graetz

He is what the name of his winery expresses: Testamatta (mad or crazy). Bibi Graetz is a creative person with a strong character who tackles challenges with great passion. On the Tuscan estate almost only indigenous grape varieties are grown in the traditional way. Testamatta is also the flagship of the house: a Sangiovese in its most beautiful form with a long finish. The Norwegian-born parents had acquired a country estae with vineyards in the hills of Fiesole. But for a long time nobody really cared about the acreage. Only Bibi Graetz, who initially wanted to start an artistic career like his parents, decided one day to plant vines on the sand-mixed Tuscan marly loams. He founded in the late 1990s without further ado Testamatta. Bibi Graetz was initially overwhelmed with the winemaking. Only after a four-year apprenticeship with experienced winemakers did he have the impression that he had enough knowledge to be able to start with his new task and to exchange the painting utensils for the tools of a winemaker. Already at the VinExpo 2003 in Bordeaux Graetz was awarded as the best red wine discovery. In the meantime, the landowner with his fine wines, all of which carry an original Bibi-Graetz motif, has gained an excellent reputation among experts.

Terroir

The 5 vineyards, characterized by very old

age (up to 80 yrs) are located in different areas of Tuscany: Lamole &

Montefili in the heart of Chianti Classico at 600 and 400 meters altitude,

Vincigliata near by Firenze at 280 meters altitude, Londa in north of Firenze,

towards the Rufina valley and Siena in the south of Tuscany at 250 meters

altitude.