If the history of Castello di Poppiano has deep roots in the past, the one of Massi di Mandorlaia is, at least for us, the Guicciardini, much more recent. It reflects the attraction that Maremma (the southern coastal Tuscany) has always exerted on my wife Titti and myself with its dramatic landscape and the outstanding potential for producing great wines.

Morellino di Scansano is an ancient wine denomination, though only recently have wine lovers begun to recognize its reputation. The area is hilly and its landscape unique: wild, severe and at the same time serene. It is characterized by a sequence of bushes and fields, which are interlinked by a loose "tissue" of hedges (locally called "sieponali"), dry-stone walls, ditches and bushy creek escarpments. Scattered dwellings, cork oaks and oak trees complete the picture.

Massi di Mandorlaia covers 110 ha (270 acres) surrounding a dwelling of the XVIII century. It is situated right in the middle of the Morellino area, in a zone which has always been known for being exceptionally well-suited for wines. When I acquired that property I was well aware it would be difficult to develop due to the copious amount of rocks and boulders, but it was equally evident that the environmental conditions - hot and arid climate, wide day/night temperature excursion that favour a balanced ripening, permanent sea breeze that limits diseases - were sure preconditions for quality wines. Massi di Mandorlaia aims at becoming a bench mark for the Morellino di Scansano area.