Terre Margaritelli, Federico Bibi

	Umbria, Italia. (Miralduolo) 52 hectares.
	Terre Margaritelli. (TAY-ray mahr-gahr-ee-TAY-lee)
	Federico Bibi. (fay-day-REE-koh bee-BEE)
	Stefano Rossini & Maurilio Chioccia. (STAY-fah-no roh-SEE-nee) (mau-REEL-yo KYOH-cha)
	Hand-harvested. No irrigation. Non-certified organic.
	5,000 cases.
	Terre Margaritelli has been part of the Small Vineyards family since 2009.

Umbria has long suffered from being seen as “Toscana-light”–they grow Sangiovese, of course, but historically, not as well. Umbria is beautiful, but has no coastline, and lacks the marked drama of the hills of Chianti, the presitge of Montalcino, or the untamable rusticity of the Maremma. Enter Terre Margaritelli, a place so wonderous and aesthetically pleasing, with a winery so interesting and advanced, it refuses to suffer by comparison.

An organically responsible estate, Terre Margaritelli divides their estate into 30 hectares for production and 22 hectares for experimentation, they grow the classic varietals of Umbria, but have crus of Campanian varietals, Puglian, and French. It is not haphazard, but the result of a careful study of their unique soils, which–as almost befitting as estate in the very center of Italia–has varietals from all over the country.

The Margaritelli estate was founded in 1946, when Fernando Margaritelli, a wealthy magnate in the hardwood floor business, came home, at the age of 60, and announced he was giving away his entire estate to friends, family, and charity, wanting only to keep his classic car and a small plot of land to grow vines and produce wine. This eccentric, generous vision is still the guiding principle of the estate, which does everything just a bit different. A revelation in the (relative) desert of Umbria.

Please visit Terre Margaritelli's website for more information.