Fattoria Le Pupille

Tuscany, and especially the Maremma, had always fascinated Elisabetta Gepetti of Fattoria Le Pupille. This coastal landscape on the Tyrrhenian Sea was for centuries an inhospitable swampland, but today, after drainage measures, tourism and agriculture dominate here, with viticulture in particular on the rise.

The woman in the vineyard and cellar

The Fattoria Le Pupille was founded at the end of the 18th century and changed owners several times, but it was in 1985 that Elisabetta Gepetti recognized her calling, took over the family winery Le Pupille and in a sense founded it anew. She left university behind and devoted herself to vineyard and cellar. The Cabernet Sauvignon, newly planted in some rows of Sangiovese, began to bear fruit, and the support of the renowned oenologist Giacomo Tachis was much more than mere technical consultancy. The result is a project that has made the estate a true pioneer of the Maremma. In 1982, the first “official” label of the estate appeared, a Morellino Riserva from the 1978 vintage. In 1987, Saffredi, the wine that made the excellence of the Maremma known far beyond its borders, was produced for the first time.

The vineyards of Saffredi and Poggio Argentato

With the purchase of the Poggio Valente estate, the winery gained an even more important profile in 1996. The map of the vineyards reflects the various stages in the development of Le Pupille, and the distances separating one vineyard from another are also important. It may happen that you have to walk up and down the hills, cross forests and medieval villages, and drive several kilometres through wheat and sunflower fields before reaching the vineyards of Saffredi or Poggio Argentato.

Vecchie Pupille in the village of Pereta

The most important core of the estate is located near the village of Pereta, 25 hectares in total, today called Vecchie Pupille, including the five hectares of vineyards dedicated to the flagship of the winery – Saffredi. Pereta lies halfway between Scansano and Magliano in Tuscany, two names that even for laypeople signify the historic heart of viticulture in the Maremma. Near the village of Pereta, alongside the Saffredi vineyard, is also that of Poggio Valente, which follows the gentle hill at 280 metres above sea level. Near Scansano, a 4-hectare plot is planted with white grapes, while on the outskirts of Magliano a large 20-hectare vineyard is designated for the production of Morellino.

Fattoria Le Pupille is composed like a mosaic

Fattoria Le Pupille today resembles a mosaic. Over the years, the original core has been enriched with new vineyards, which have now grown to 80 hectares of vines, spread like mosaic pieces over the most suitable viticultural areas of the region. Another 20 hectares are used for olive trees, and then grain and cork oaks alternate with pastures, making a total of 420 hectares of land.

Since 2012, oenologist Luca D’Attoma has been responsible for the vineyards and the cellar. He is also called the Armani among oenologists for his class and his pursuit of perfection. 

When wishes come true

Elisabetta Geppetti has successfully fulfilled a heartfelt wish: to produce great wines. For this she is called the Signora del Morellino and an ambassador of the Maremma. In 1992 she became the first female chair of the newly founded Consortium Morellino di Scansano, a position she again holds today. Of her five children, the eldest daughter Clara is already working in the winery alongside her mother. In 2006, Elisabetta Geppetti was named Winemaker of the Year by “WeinGourmet” and “Der Feinschmecker”.

The grape varieties

Fattoria Le Pupille cultivates, among others, the following grape varieties: 

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Cabernet Franc
• Sangiovese
• Petit Verdot
• Merlot
• Gewürztraminer
• Sauvignon Blanc 
• Semillon