Tenuta Maryamado, Tuscan Farm 3.0

Let’s start with the name, which certainly does not sound Tuscan, but hides the ancient Lucignano Villa of the Guicciardini family, known in the 1500s as Villa of Bonorlo. After purchasing the property, French-Arab businessman Emad Khashoggi, who is engaged in the luxury real estate business, decided to give the estate a name born from the crasis of his wife Maryam’s and his own names.

Located in San Casciano, on a ridge that faces, like the prow of a ship, two amphitheaters to the east and west, the Tenuta Maryamado covers about 200 hectares in total. In addition to the 16th-century villa designed by architect and sculptor Gherardo Silvani, it includes several farmhouses (under restoration), 30 hectares of vineyard of which 18 have been replanted, 3,800 century-old olive trees, fruit trees, farmland for growing grains and vegetables along with gardens classic and modern medicinal plants. To top it off, extensive wooded areas.

The approach has been oriented to the organic from the beginning, to reconstitute a true agricultural organism: from wine to oil, from bees to the vegetable garden, the land is cultivated and the re-introduction of local fauna is taken care of, increasing biodiversity. The intent of the property is to Recreating a 360-degree farm, “a place where the best professionals, including agronomists, oenologists, oleologists, experts in biodiversity, architects, landscape architects, engineers and artisans, can interact virtuously sharing an innovative vision, using here the best agricultural and restoration“, explains the company’s CEO Marco Recchia.

The wine project

The professional figure of reference for everything related to wine is the well-known oenologist Luca D’Attoma, called to bring his experience to the service of a vision that focuses everything on the quality of the wines, with full respect for the nature of the places. Research and innovation, modernity and knowledge to produce wines of Great character and identity.

“Se are in an area of great vocation, with an exceptional microclimate, with all the energy of a new project but with our feet firmly planted in an ancient land, in the area Florentine Hills, where the history of wine has demonstrated a special vocation of the territory for the production of unique wines“, D’Attoma confirmed to us.

The wines have the designation Toscana Igt and carry forward a modern idea of production, starting with the brand new rosé from Syrah grapes, spicy and citrusy, produced in this first vintage in only 3,000 bottles. The vineyard from which it comes is very young, west-facing, cooler, suitable for rosé. Because, as D’Attoma reminds us, “attention to detail is crucial.”.

The rest of the production includes three red wines, from Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes. In addition to the quality, I was struck by the labels, with the embossed, metallic silhouette of the villa. It is evident that nothing is left to chance.

To conclude, the excellent production of extra virgin olive oil, the company’s first product in a chronological sense. “As part of our commitment to preserving the local agricultural tradition, we have created an Olearium dedicated to more than 25 historical Tuscan olive varieties, thus ensuring the protection and continuity of the genetic heritage of these varieties for future generations.”. But that’s not all: they also produce durum wheat pasta, honey and typical agricultural products.

Below are the fact sheets of the three wines tasted, all from the 2021 vintage.

TO READ THE WINE DESCRIPTIONS, WITH SCORE AND AVERAGE SHELF PRICE, CLICK ON THE TABS BELOW.