With the 2024 vintage, Grattamacco Bianco celebrates an important milestone: forty years of history for one of the wines that helped expand Bolgheri’s expressive identity. A journey rooted in a pioneering vision, at a time when the role of white wines in the denomination was still taking shape. Born as an experimental project in the 1970s, the wine is now one of the longest‑standing and most consistent interpretations of Bolgheri Vermentino, today recognized as one of the key expressions of the territory.
From the origins to Vermentino: a pioneering choice in Bolgheri
The story of Grattamacco Bianco begins before the introduction of Vermentino. The vineyards were initially planted with varieties such as Trebbiano and Malvasia, giving life to a white wine that Luigi Veronelli described as a “serene wine of innocent discovery.”
The decisive turning point came in 1986, when Grattamacco became one of the first estates to plant Vermentino on the hills of Bolgheri, anticipating a trend that would later shape the development of the area’s white wines.
From this choice emerged one of the first examples of pure Vermentino in Bolgheri, establishing over the years a stylistic line built on the balance between varietal identity and territorial interpretation.
Historic vineyards and a marine‑influenced terroir
Grattamacco Bianco today comes from some of the oldest Vermentino vineyards in the denomination, with parcels reaching up to 40 years of age.
The vineyards lie at around 100 meters above sea level, on a natural terrace overlooking the coast, where soils and climate play a decisive role. White clays and calcareous‑marly flysch, together with the constant influence of sea breezes, help define a profile marked by: pronounced salinity; aromatic notes reminiscent of Mediterranean scrub; balance between freshness and structure.
The wine thus becomes a direct expression of an environment where sea and hillside are in constant dialogue.
The character of the Bolgheri hills and Grattamacco Bianco 2024
The pedoclimatic conditions of the Grattamacco hills are central to defining the style. The Mediterranean microclimate, moderated by ventilation and diurnal temperature shifts, encourages slow, steady ripening.
This process preserves freshness and aromatic complexity, while the nature of the soils—remnants of ancient marine sedimentation—imprints the wine with a marked mineral and saline character.
The 2024 vintage stands out for particularly balanced climatic conditions, as explained by Luca Marrone, technical director of ColleMassari Estates:
“Spring rains supported vegetative growth, while the warm summer was managed without stress thanks to accumulated water reserves. Late‑season rainfall accompanied ripening, fostering a slow and harmonious evolution.”
The harvest, carried out between 5 and 28 September, produced grapes with a good balance between freshness and maturity, resulting in a wine defined by fluidity, aromatic precision and a pronounced saline component.
Vinification of Grattamacco Bianco 2024 follows a calibrated approach: part of the must ferments in barriques and tonneaux, while the rest ferments in stainless steel.
Aging takes place over about six months on fine lees, with frequent bâtonnage, contributing to structure and complexity without compromising varietal freshness.
Grattamacco Bianco: a benchmark for Bolgheri Vermentino
Forty years after the first interpretation of Bolgheri Bianco DOC, Grattamacco Bianco stands today as one of the most recognizable expressions of Vermentino in this territory.
The wine embodies a clear vision: interpreting the grape variety through the specificities of place, enhancing the dialogue between soil, climate and tradition.
In a context where Bolgheri is historically associated with great red wines, Grattamacco continues to affirm the role of white wine as a fundamental element of the area’s identity.
