In the hilly amphitheater of Tuscany’s Maremma region, above an ancient coastal lake called Prelius, a certified organic and biodynamic vineyard farmed by the Stianti Mascheroni family flourishes. This vineyard is the first venture outside of Chianti Classico for the Mascheroni family, leaders in Tuscany’s organic viticultural movement. The estate, purchased in 2007, is located in Castiglione della Pescaia in the Grosseto region. Only two miles from the Tyrrhenian Sea, the vineyard elevation ranges from 120-170 feet with a slope just shy of five percent. The 30 acres of vines on the estate were planted between 2001 and 2005 to Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Vermentino, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Row orientation is northwest to southeast. The vines are planted in soil of an orange-reddish color that is sandy, loose and deep. The vines are trained using a modified Guyot system. A drip system provides irrigation from a reservoir on the estate. Federica Mascheroni Stianti manages the estate with vineyard manager Lorenzo Regoli, first resident winemaker at Castello di Volpaia. Riccardo Cotarella is the consulting winemaker.