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Meet the winemaker – John Matta


This month, we caught up with John Matta, owner of Tuscany’s beautiful Castello Vicchiomaggio
Do you remember when & how you first began working with Averys?
Yes, it was about 8 years ago, and the contact came through my good friend Joseph Minerva of Vinimpo Ltd.
For those customers who are not familiar with your wines, can you sum up Castello Vicchiomaggio in a few lines:
We have, over the years, identified all the small variations in soil types that we have on our estate here at Greve in Chianti, the French call this creating “selections parcellaires”. From each of these small areas we produce our various wines. They are all obviously similar but not identical with the overriding characteristic of elegance.
Vicchiomaggio is considered among Tuscany’s finest estates – what do you think it is that makes your wines distinctive?
Our estate enjoys excellent exposition, south facing and open to the east and west. This gives us maximum hours of sunlight and very good ventilation. Our altitude is also ideal with elevation ranging from 185 mt to 275 mt above sea level. Our soil composition is quite unique with most vineyard areas having 30-35% clay. All these factors would however be meaningless without constant and attentive work in the vineyard.
You’ve done some great tastings with us in Bristol – are you attending any UK events this year? Can customers come and visit you in Tuscany?
I do not have any specific tastings planned in the UK at the moment, however this could change. Our estate is open throughout the year, we have a very active visitor centre where most of our wines are available for tasting and purchase, we organise cellar and vineyard tours most days of the week, we have a restaurant open every day with dining in the garden during the summer and finally,  we have twenty very nice guest rooms  open from March to November and a swimming pool  with views over the vineyards!!!
Finally, how does it feel to have been made Italian winemaker of the Year a record 4 times?!
I was naturally delighted to receive this award from the International Wine and Spirit Competition which is also Europe’s longest running wine event, having been set up  in the early 1970s.



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