The Cipriana COMMERCIAL FARM has a long history in the Bolgheri area (it is the third such farm to have been established there and the first bottle of San Martino was produced in 1978). It lies on the slopes of the mediaeval town of Castgneto Carducci and is the property of the Fabiani brothers who have been vine growers since 1975.
The concern owns some 8 hectares of vineyard and 3 of olive trees. A part of the vineyards is near the main buildings of the farm and part on the via Bolgherese where the most famous internationally known vine growers can be found. The average age of the vineyards is 10 years with between 5000 and 6000 stems per hectare. The vines are Guyot-trained spurred cordon plants. The olive groves, also partly near the main buildings and partly near Venturina, contain trees that are 'vase' pruned in the traditional Tuscan shape and include century old trees.
The wines produced are: two Rosso Bolgheri, one Bolgheri Superiore, one Vermentino Bolgheri and one Bolgheri Rosato.
These are all (DOC) Controlled Denomination of Origin. The Bolgheri Superiore, which bears the name "San Martino" deriving from the famous Italian poet Carducci, is made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot grapes, while the other reds have a Cabernet Sauvignon base with a variable percentage of Merlot and Syrah.
The company cellar is entirely underground in order to guarantee the best temperature for vinification and ageing in the cement barrels, which are kept at a controlled temperature. The only grapes used are the exclusive property of the company.
La Cipriana in is the Consorzio Bolgheri DOC and calls on the external consultants the oenologist Dott. Alberto Antonini and the agronomist Dott. Francesco Venerini, to advise on the running of the cellar and the land.
The Holiday Farm
The farmhouse "La Cipriana"" offers you a chance to enjoy the wonderful rural area around Bolgheri. It is a choice area not just from an oenological point of view, but also because of its unique countryside which is a rare example of a perfect partnership between totally uncontaminated nature - the chestnut trees on the hills, the Mediterranean scrubland - and human intervention which, by working the land in order to help it to give of its best, has managed to improve the exceptional: a stroll down the Viale dei Cipressi (the Cypress Walk), that inspired the poet Giòsue Carducci, can bear testimony to this, not to mention the sea with its magnificent beach and the pine woods that border it, just 5kms. away.
La Cipriana was developed from stables and, situated next to the mediaeval town of Castagneto Carducci, is surrounded by vineyards and centuries old olive trees. The renovation has been done tastefully using the finest materials and guarantees its guests the greatest privacy and tranquillity. There are twelve fully furnished, comfortable rooms (some sleep up to 4 people) and a well-equipped breakfast room. Thus hospitality, food and wine are in perfect harmony with the countryside and with history.
A spacious, sunny terracotta patio surrounds the swimming pool and separates the rooms from the breakfast room. On three sides of the patio there are graduated stone walls to give perfect privacy when guests are relaxing around the pool, and an evocative arched tunnel leads along one of these to the wine cellar where the oak barrels are kept. Reception and the breakfast room are above the cellar.
The farmhouse offers double rooms, double rooms with a sofa bed on a mezzanine (sleeps 3/4 people) and one suite, all with bathroom en suite. Each of the tastefully decorated, well-finished rooms has a theme and bears the name of a niece or nephew of the Fabiani family. Among the equipment provided is air conditioning, satellite TV, minibar, safe, telephone, internet connection (on request), linen, parking and the use of a bicycle.
There is also a very comfortable two-roomed flat comprising a double room with bathroom. a living room with sofa bed, kitchen corner including dishwasher, hob, oven and microwave; there is heating, air conditioning, tv and a small private patio to complete the independent nature of the flat. Naturally, the swimming pool is for the use of guests, as are bicycles, parking spaces and, on request, linen.
The F.lli Fabiani wines are made exclusively with grapes from their own vineyards. The wines are kept in the large cellar where, side by side with modern vats, are the oak barrels used for ageing. La Cipriana produces three red wines: a Bolgheri Superiore DOC of the name 'San Martino' after a famous poem dedicated to Castagneto by the poet Giosuè Carducci, made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot grapes; Lo Scopaio, a DOC red made with Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah grapes and a Bolgheri DOC red made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes. A white 'Vermentino' Bolgheri DOC is also produced with Vermentino grapes and the 'Peau d'Ange' - Bolgheri rosé which is the typical rosé colour with traces of red berries and a marked acidity.
There are over 800 trees in the farm's olive groves and these are traditionally grown. They are varieties generally favoured in Tuscany (Frantoio, Moraiolo, Pendolino e Leccino), and the manual harvest (brucatura) allows the product to have high organoleptic properties. These are to be found in the Extra Virgin Tuscan I.G.P. oil (Protected Geographical Indication), produced on the farm.