The Maremma Toscana Vermentino Leopoldino 2024 reached the final tasting stages of the *Vini d’Italia 2027* guide, earning the prestigious "Due Bicchieri Rossi" award. This achievement serves as significant confirmation of the wine's quality and the winery's path—one defined by research, meticulous vineyard care, and respect for nature.
This new, important accolade honors the work of Pepi Lignana (Fattoria Il Casalone) and his commitment to showcasing the Maremma territory.
A VERMENTINO BORN IN THE HEART OF THE TUSCAN MAREMMA
Leopoldino originates at Fattoria Il Casalone, along the coastal strip of the Tuscan Maremma, facing the eastern lagoon of Orbetello. It is a territory defined by its proximity to the sea, sea breezes, and significant temperature fluctuations between day and night.
These environmental conditions play a key role in shaping the grapes' character. The vineyards dedicated to Leopoldino are located closest to the sea, where the soils—sandy and rich in small pebbles—are particularly well-suited for cultivating Vermentino and Viognier.
Thus, the vineyard becomes the first step in a journey that leads from the land to the bottle.
85% VERMENTINO and 15% VIOGNIER
Leopoldino 2024 is a blend of 85% Vermentino and 15% Viognier—two varieties that come together in a balance designed to express the personality of the coastal Maremma. The harvest is carried out by hand, typically in late August.
Hand-harvesting allows for careful grape selection and ensures that every stage of the production process is managed with precision and care. In the cellar, the must undergoes gentle pressing in the absence of oxygen, followed by cooling and settling. Fermentation lasts approximately 20 days at 14°C, and the wine is subsequently aged on the fine lees for seven months before undergoing further bottle aging.
ORGANIC PRODUCTION WITH A COMMITMENT TO NATURE
The estate classifies Leopoldino as a D.O.C. Maremma Toscana Vermentino – Organic (BIO).
The decision to pursue organic production aligns with Pepi Lignana’s philosophy, which places the relationship between the vineyard, the terroir, and product quality at the heart of operations.
Fattoria Il Casalone manages approximately 20 hectares of vineyards, characterized by high planting density and low yields per hectare. The estate pays close attention to both traditional varieties—such as Sangiovese and Vermentino—and international grape varieties that have found favorable conditions in the Maremma region.
It is a daily endeavor rooted in observation, experience, and meticulous care: from vineyard management and the harvest to vinification and aging.
RECOGNITION FROM THE *VINI D'ITALIA 2027* GUIDE
For Pepi Lignana, the fact that the 2024 Leopoldino reached the final stages of the tasting process and was awarded the "Due Bicchieri Rossi" (Two Red Glasses) represents a particularly significant achievement.
This rating honors a wine that successfully navigated the various stages of the tasting process to reach the final selection.
The result is all the more valuable as it builds upon a track record of accolades earned over the years. Leopoldino has received positive reviews from major international guides and magazines, among others. In 2024, the 2022 vintage was awarded 91/100 by *Wine Enthusiast*, while in 2026, the 2024 Leopoldino earned a spot in the Top Ten at the Vermentino Grand Prix organized by the *Consorzio Tutela Vini della Maremma Toscana*.
THE MAREMMA IN THE GLASS
Leopoldino aims to tell precisely this story: the essence of the Maremma captured in a radiant, Mediterranean white wine that is deeply rooted in its place of origin.
In the glass, it displays a brilliant straw-yellow hue with green highlights. Aromas of peach, apricot, and Golden Delicious apple emerge on the nose, accompanied by delicate floral nuances and a distinctive iodine-mineral note. On the palate, its freshness harmonizes with a smooth structure and a pleasant savoriness.
These sensations evoke the landscape of the Maremma coast: the sun, the sea breeze, the vineyards, and that unique blend of land and sea that defines the Orbetello territory.
A RECOGNITION THAT LOOKS TO THE FUTURE
For Pepi Lignana, the "Due Bicchieri Rossi" (Two Red Glasses) award in the *Vini d'Italia 2027* guide represents not merely a prize, but a validation of the path taken.
It is a journey defined by meticulously tended vineyards, organic farming, hand-harvesting, respect for the raw material, and a constant pursuit of quality.
Thus, the Leopoldino 2024 brings the identity of the Tuscan Maremma into the glass; through Vermentino and Viognier, it conveys the character of a territory where the proximity of the sea, the climate, and the soil combine each year to shape the identity of Fattoria Il Casalone’s wines.
Two Red Glasses. A significant accolade. And a new vintage that, once again, tells the story of the Maremma in the glass.
