Castagneto Carducci, February 2025 – Grattamacco presents the 2023 vintage of Grattamacco Bianco Bolgheri DOC Vermentino, one of the first white wines to emerge from Bolgheri. A testament to the winery’s forward-thinking vision, it reflects a decision made in the 1980s to embrace the potential of Vermentino – well ahead of a trend that has gained widespread recognition among producers in the region.
The Birth of the Grattamacco Bianco Project
When the Grattamacco winery was founded in 1977, the estate’s vineyards already hosted white grape varieties like Trebbiano and Malvasia. The intuition of a natural inclination for white wine production in some of the estate’s soils led Grattamacco to undertake an ambitious project, marked by the planting of the first Vermentino vineyard in the hills of Bolgheri in 1986. This massal selection of old indigenous vines gave birth to one of the area’s earliest expressions of pure Vermentino
Year after year, Grattamacco Bianco Bolgheri DOC Vermentino has narrated the harmony between this grape variety, typical of the Tyrrhenian coast, and Grattamacco’s white clay soils. It is a wine where strength, minerality, and longevity come together, capturing the essence of Bolgheri
“From the very beginning, Grattamacco believed in Vermentino’s potential to tell the story of our land in a truly distinctive way. Grattamacco Bianco is the result of that vision – shaped by experimentation, receptiveness and a deep respect for nature” explains Luca Marrone, winemaker at Grattamacco.
Perched on a natural terrace 100 meters above sea level, the vineyard dedicated to Grattamacco Bianco overlooks the sea, benefiting from a Mediterranean climate softened by frequent sea breezes. Its soils – a mix of white clay and calcareous marl flysch – give the wine a remarkable character. The vines are farmed organically and trained using the Guyot and cordon spur systems, ensuring optimal growth and balance.
The grape harvest is done by hand, with a rigorous selection of the clusters to ensure the highest quality. After de-stemming and soft pressing, the must undergoes fermentation at a controlled temperature – one third in barriques and tonneaux, the rest in stainless steel tanks. The wine then ages for six months on fine lees with regular bâtonnage, adding depth, a creamy texture, and a pronounced sapidity.
Notes on the 2023 Vintage
“After a very humid spring, during which our grapes emerged unscathed thanks to the experience of our viticulturists, the very hot summer was mitigated by early August rains. The Vermentino harvest took place in the second half of September. It was a classic vintage that allowed for slow, balanced maturation, enhancing the freshness and minerality of the grapes, giving the wines remarkable drinkability and aromatic depth,” explains winemaker Luca Marrone.
Grattamacco Bianco Bolgheri DOC Vermentino 2023 offers a layered and complex aromatic profile: citrus notes, Mediterranean herbs, and white flowers intertwine with mineral and saline hints typical of the estate’s white clays. On the palate, its freshness, structure, and great persistence stand out, highlighting the wine’s aging potential.
