Il Terraio, Paterna, IGT Tuscany, Italy

Organic Italian white wine is made by Paterna is a very tiny “cooperative sociale”, comprising 3 farmers only who share their land and work in the farm. They produce olive oil, strawberries, and many seasonal vegetables and fruit, as well as wine.

Il Terraio is a great expression of Tuscan land and has both beautiful story and flavours. The latter are aromatic yet restrained, refreshing citrus fruit together with stone fruit, apples and rich floral bouquet.

The main story of this wine is that it is made by people who undergo rehabilitation from mental illness - they come to work in the farm, enjoy calm, relaxing environment, work the vineyards in solitude and reflect. It helps them to recover from the past life traumas and put their heart and soul into caring about vines, handpicking the grapes and then helping the winemakers. Good quality organic white wine, a very touching story and fantastic versatility with your food! Not to be missed. Why not read about our pledge here.

Food Match: Fresh cheese, vegetable omelettes, bacon/sausages, pasta with vegetables.

Wine Facts:

Read more about no sulphites added wine labelling here (short read). Find out more about differences between organic, vegan and natural wines here (long read).  

Paterna is a small farm, founded in 1978, which employs 5-6 people in the seasonal works, in the agritourism, in social farming and projects to preserve biodiversity (with local associations, University and Public agencies). The farm is situated on the hills between Arezzo, Siena and Florence.

The farm has 8 ha of vineyards, 1000 olive trees and 0,5 ha of vegetable garden. The farm has been organic since 1985 and controlled by ICEA (Institute for ethical and environmental certification).

Total production of Il Terraio: 1200 bottles per year.

Location: (village and region): The farm is in Tuscany, near Arezzo. It is situated on the hills in “Setteponti” area at the foot of Monte Pratomagno.

Climate: typical climate of internal Tuscany: cold Winter, frequent rainfall in the Spring. Cool temperature during germination and hot temperatures during the period of veraison. Great differences in temperature between day and night. Intense brightness and constant ventilation (from West).

Soil: The farm is located in the countryside, away from heavily inhabited areas. A rural territory, cultivated already by Etruscan and Romans. The vineyards are on the hills (300 meters) with the mountain behind them. The exposition is south – south/east. The soil is loose, deep, sandy, with good structure of stones (sandstone).

Viticulture: For 25 years, in a part of the vineyards, permanent grassing has been introduced; in another part, annual green manure (mixed: legumes, cereals, crucifers). Guyot or cordon spur pruning. Defense: copper, sulfur, resistance inducers and herbal preparations. Manual harvest.

Organic methods: Local seeds for green manure; organic certification of the propagating material for new vineyard; low doses of copper; manual working (pruning, selection of bunches, harvest…); photovoltaic system. From 2016 they have started testing biodynamic practices. Organic agriculture certificated by Icea.

Vinification: Manually harversted, 80% of this wine is produced by the vinification “in bianco” (without skins) of the most part of the grapes: the juice is drained off and then we make a soft pressing. The wine makes a deposit for one night and then we put the clean must in a stainless tank, where it stays for 20-25 days under controlled temperature (17-18 °C). At the end of fermentation, the wine is decanted in another tank and stays on the fine lees. The remaining 20% has been skin macerated, without controlled temperature with batonnage.  After the fermentation, both parcels are blended. In 2016 harvest the skin macerated part did undergo natural malolactic fermentation. Indigenous yeast. Maturation is in stainless tank. Natural malolactic only for the part of grape that stays  on the skins. Sterile at the bottling.