winery

Marchesi Mazzei

Tuscany, Italy

Philosophy

Gravity-fed winery designed by Agnese Mazzei employs individual parcel vinification across 114 plots, with extended maceration and aged 18–24 months in French and American oak. Wines express terroir complexity through separate fermentation and wood treatment of each microclimate's fruit.

Reputation

Established in 1435, Marchesi Mazzei stands as Italy's second-oldest winery and the fountain of Chianti Classico itself—Ser Lapo Mazzei penned the first recorded reference to the wine denomination in 1398. The Fonterutoli estate has passed through twenty-five generations within the family, anchoring six centuries of uninterrupted viticulture in the limestone and sandstone terroir of Castellina.

AllocationPhilip wine specifically named after ancestor Philip Mazzei (1730–1816), Italian-born American patriot and friend of Thomas Jefferson. Philip bottling is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Fonterutoli and Belguardo parcels, aged 18 months in French/American oak. Producer practices 'customized organic' methods but no formal organic certification documented in sources. Demeine Estates exclusive US importer since September 2022. Generation count varies slightly in sources (24–25 generations); currently led by brothers Francesco and Filippo, with Filippo's son Giovanni (25th gen) as Export Director. Production volume estimated conservatively at 500,000 bottles across three estates (Fonterutoli, Belguardo, Zisola) totaling 210 hectares. Sustainability program emphasizes carbon offset and no-waste methodology but organic certification not verified.

No benchmark products catalogued for this producer yet.