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MMD bolsters Italian portfolio with Mazzei
Maisons Marques et Domaines (MMD) has extended its Italian portfolio with the addition of Marchesi Mazzei Estates’ Castello di Fonterutoli, Belguardo, and Villa Marcello.
The Mazzei family
Based in Tuscany and the Veneto, the trio’s addition to the MMD portfolio follows Marchesi Mazzei’s Sicilian estate Zisola in 2013.
“The Mazzei family is one of the most acclaimed names in Italian wine with a rich history and heritage and also a vision for the future”, said MMD managing director, Richard Billett.
“We are delighted to be extending our association with the family. In particular, the addition of one of the most sought-after Chianti estates, at a time when premium Italian wines are enjoying positive momentum, strengthens our proposition and underlines MMD’s ongoing commitment to the Italian category”.
Castello di Fonterutoli is located near Castellina in Chianti in the heart of the Chianti Classico, and has been owned by the Mazzei family since 1435. The estate comprises 117 hectares of vineyard, largely planted with Sangiovese and some Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The latter is blended with Sangiovese to make its single vineyard ‘Siepi’, only made in the best vintages.
Tenuta Belguardo was purchased in the 1990s with Marchesi Mazzei soon implementing an intense re-planting programme, carefully selecting grape varieties and clones. The estate is situated in the Maremma within the official Morellino di Scansano viticultural zone and only 10km from the coast which plays an important role in the microclimate of the vineyards.
Villa Marcello is the latest project of Giovanni Mazzei, who is launching his first vintage Prosecco from his mother’s family estate in the Veneto.
Giovanni Mazzei added: “Joining MMD means joining a distributor that we feel represents the level of excellence and commitment we consider important. MMD and Mazzei will form a perfect match with a succinct vision. We are both family-owned companies, sharing similar values and we look forward to a long and prosperous working relationship.”
A selection of the wines will be on show at the “Definitive Italian” tasting in London on Thursday, 25 June.