march, 19 2026
The beginning of a new Tuscan wine
Vincenzo and Emanuela are originally from Bergamo, which also happens to be my hometown. Their professional life had nothing to do with wine. They are builders, specialized in restoring countryside homes and traditional rural properties.
During one of their projects, they discovered a beautiful estate on the Tuscan coast, in the area of Casalappi, in the Alta Maremma.
And they fell completely in love with it.
Not just enough to restore the property, but enough to imagine a future there.
Over time the estate became Podere Pietravento, a refined agriturismo where architecture, materials and landscape blend together beautifully.
The first time I visited, I remember being struck by the attention to detail and by the harmony between the buildings and the surrounding countryside.
Reading Time: 5 mins
A few months ago, an enologist I deeply respect reached out to me with an interesting request.
He had just started collaborating with a small new project in Tuscany and asked if I could help them think about how to present their very first wine to the market.
What made the story immediately special to me is that this project did not start as a winery at all.
It started with a brother and a sister.
But as often happens in Tuscany, the land eventually suggests another idea.
Around the estate there were several hectares of vineyards. Instead of simply maintaining them, Vincenzo and Emanuele decided to take a step further and begin a small wine project.
And this is where our conversation started.
One of the first questions we asked ourselves was quite simple:
How do you enter the wine world with only one wine?
Instead of trying to say everything with a single label, we decided to start from something deeper.
Nature.
The land around Pietravento is strongly defined by the four fundamental elements that shape every vineyard and every landscape: earth, water, air and fire.
So we built the identity of the wine around them.
Each bottle carries one of these elements on the label, creating a small variation that becomes part of the story.
But the elements are not just decorative.
They are also a way to understand the soul of the wine itself.
Earth represents the foundation of the blend.
In this case, it is Sangiovese, the grape that embodies the roots of Tuscany, structured and reliable, the backbone on which the wine is built.
Water brings fluidity and harmony.
This role belongs to Montepulciano, a generous grape that softens the structure and connects the different components of the blend with balance.
Air is elegance and lift.
Here it is expressed through Cabernet Sauvignon, whose aromatic complexity and refined structure allow the wine to evolve and expand over time.
And finally Fire.
Energy, spice and depth.
This element is represented by Petit Verdot, which adds intensity and vibrancy, igniting the blend with its powerful character.
The result is a wine called L’Inizio.
Which simply means The Beginning.
Because that is exactly what it represents: the first chapter of a project born from a place, from a vision, and from the desire to transform a beautiful corner of Tuscany into something alive.
The wine itself reflects the Mediterranean character of the Alta Maremma, where it is produced near Campiglia Marittima.
Bright ruby in color, it opens with notes of cherry and pomegranate, followed by subtle Mediterranean herbs and delicate spices. On the palate it is fresh, balanced and savory, with smooth tannins and a very drinkable style.
Having followed the birth of this project almost from the beginning, I felt that it deserved a place in my Toscana Wine Club.
So if you are curious to discover L’Inizio, you can now find it there.
And perhaps, when you open the bottle, you will not only taste a wine.
You will taste the very first step of a story that is just beginning.
Would you like to enjoy Caprili’s exceptional wines
but can’t make to Italy or find it nearby?
No worries!
I’ll be more than happy to ship the finest expressions of
Podere Pietravento, L’Inizio, straight to your door
(nearly) worldwide.
Ready to toast?
