Orma

AN ESTATE IN THE HEART OF TUSCANY

Owned by the Moretti family, the Orma estate is run by Antonio Moretti Cuseri. Wanting to leave his "footprint" - the literal translation of the name of this estate - in Tuscany, he bought it in 2004 after years of searching for the best terroir. The winery is located in the coastal area of the small village of Bolgheri. It is located in the northern part of the province of Livorno and is renowned for the excellence of its wine production. The vineyard is located between the parcels of the best Italian wines such as Sassicaia, Ornellaia and Masseto.

Occupying an area of approximately 7.5 hectares, the Orma estate includes more than 5.5 hectares of vines. Facing south-west, the vines are grown on deep soil consisting of pebbles and clay with little sand. Thanks to the proximity of the sea, the climatic excesses of these remote areas are mitigated, ensuring cool summers and mild winters.

Tenuta Sette Ponti

The Orma estate is affiliated with Tenuta Sette Ponti, founded by architect Alberto Moretti Cuseri, Antonio's father. Nestled in the heart of Tuscany, halfway between Florence and Arezzo, the estate owes its name to the number of bridges over the Arno River between the two Tuscan capitals. The first 50 hectares of the estate were purchased from Princesses Margherita and Maria Cristina of Savoy in Aosta in 1950. Cultivating a passion for vineyards and wine, Antonio Moretti Cuseri has since consolidated Tenuta Sette Ponti's strong viticultural vocation.

BORDEAUX GRAPE VARIETIES IN ITALIAN TERROIR

One of the main specificities of the Orma estate is the grape varieties used in the vineyard. Indeed, the latter is made up of typically Bordeaux grape varieties. The Orma cuvée, produced at this estate, is a blend of these grape varieties: 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc. In pursuit of the highest quality, Antonio Moretti Cuseri has made his mark with a nectar of unique character. This wine embodies the style for which Bolgheri is known: that of the Super Tuscans.

The Bolgheri wine-growing area provides ideal conditions for the development of these grape varieties. The vines thrive in this low, sunny and windy area near the Tyrrhenian Sea. The vines develop in a Mediterranean microclimate. The cool sea breeze mitigates the scorching summer heat, ensuring that the various components of the grapes (aromas, sugars and polyphenols) ripen slowly, while at the same time giving them acidity. In winter, the vines are protected from the cold by the mountains. The soils are continuously fed by two rivers. The wines of Domaine Orma are thus created in a perfect alchemy between the quality of the soil, the climate, but also the traditions and the exceptional know-how of the winegrowers.

TOSCANA IGT: AN APPELLATION THAT PARTICIPATES IN THE RENOWN OF ITALIAN WINES

Classified as one of the most famous appellations in the Tuscany region of Italy, the Toscana IGT symbolises the revival of Italian wines. In the 1970s, a handful of Tuscan producers decided to break free from the rules of Italian appellations. Indeed, they had considered the DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) and DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) system too rigid. So they built a unique style of Italian wine by making it to their own specifications. This resulted in the introduction of international grape varieties, notably from Bordeaux, into the Tuscan vineyards. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Franc had been blended with local varieties such as Sangiovese. As a result, they were forced to market their products under the label "Vino da Tavola" or "table wine".

A few years later, certain wines stood out for their quality, contributing to the emergence of a new category of wines called Super Tuscans. These are now among the most highly regarded and expensive Italian red wines. Sassicaia is the most famous of this category. It has even been given its own classification: Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC. However, most of the wines that have been accepted into the official DOC and DOCG classification system continue to be marketed under the Toscana IGT label. This is also the case for those whose grape varieties or blends do not allow them to claim these designations.

Namely, that Toscana IGT completely covers the geographical area of Tuscany. A wine produced under this indication can be made in any village in the ten provinces of this region of Italy.

Tuscany, land of a long wine tradition

Considered the most famous wine region in Italy, Tuscany has been home to men and women with a passion for wine and vines since ancient times. The cultivation of vines dates back to 600 B.C., to the time of the Etruscans, in the Tuscan lands. The Romans and the Greeks made wine growing a way of life and it was then widely developed throughout the region. Thanks to the exceptional know-how of the winegrowers of this Italian region, the reputation of its wines has spread far beyond the borders of the Botte. From the 14th century onwards, famous families such as the Antinoris or the Medici contributed to making the exceptional wines of Tuscany known throughout Europe.

Today, Italian wines from this wine region are renowned for their elegance and power. Located in the heart of Italy and bordered by the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west, Tuscany is largely covered by hills, and its vines enjoy a Mediterranean climate on the coast. In the centre, the plants grow in a continental climate thanks to the Apennine chain. With the presence of pebbles, sand and sandstone, the soils are diverse. Tuscan wines owe their character and quality to the rich and varied soils where the region's flagship grape, Sangiovese, flourishes to perfection.

The diversity of this wine region is today represented by the number of appellations of Tuscan wines. Tuscany offers 24 DOC wines, six of which are classified as DOCG: Chianti, Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, Carmignano, Vernaccia di San Gimignano and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.