LLS, a Member of The Winebow Group, is Appointed Exclusive U.S. Importer of ColleMassari Wine Estates
ColleMassari Wine Estates, a family-owned collection of four iconic properties from Tuscany, joins a portfolio that represents more than 60 wineries throughout Italy.
RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- LLS (Leonardo LoCascio Selections), a member of The Winebow Group and America's leading importer of premium Italian wines, is pleased to announce that it is the exclusive U.S. importer of ColleMassari Wine Estates, a family-owned collection of four iconic properties from Tuscany. ColleMassari joins a portfolio that represents more than 60 wineries throughout Italy.
"We are thrilled to welcome ColleMassari Wine Estates into the LLS family," said Ted Campbell, Senior Vice President and General Manager of LLS. "Claudio Tipa and his sister Maria Iris Bertarelli have brought together an extraordinary group of Tuscan properties, each reflecting a distinct place of origin with a focus on quality and character—a philosophy that perfectly aligns with that of LLS. We are honored to bring this family into our own, and with the addition of these estates, we further realize our goal of providing an essential collection of Tuscan wines."
In 1998, Claudio and Maria set out to fulfill a dream of establishing a wine estate with the acquisition of Castello ColleMassari and its surrounding vineyards located in the Maremma, between Montalcino and the Tuscan coast. With a vision of assembling the finest and most representative selection of Tuscan estates, they expanded their holdings over several years to include three additional properties – Grattamacco in Bolgheri, Poggio di Sotto in Montalcino, and Tenuta San Giorgio in Montalcino – thus establishing the ColleMassari Wine Estates group.
"The reputation of LLS in the industry has been unsurpassed for almost 40 years," said Tipa, Owner and General Manager. "With their expert knowledge of Italian wine, long history of promoting the diversity of Italy's wine regions, and commitment to wine education, partnering with LLS was a natural fit for ColleMassari. We look forward to working with this remarkable team to help achieve our goals to elevate the Tuscan region and honor the purity of the wines that its appellations have to offer."
The estates in the ColleMassari group include the following:
CASTELLO COLLEMASSARI
Founded in 1998 with the acquisition of the century-old ColleMassari castle, this property is the largest producer in the appellation and spearheaded the development of the Montecucco DOCG. Located in the Maremma DOC zone, ColleMassari's 285 acres of vines are influenced by the region's broad range of soils: fractured sandstone, volcanic, tuffaceous and ferrous clays, and alluvial pebbles add to the character of the wines. The four wines from Castello Collemassari include: Melacce Montecucco Vermentino DOC, Rigoleto Montecucco Rosso DOC, Collemassari Montecucco Rosso Riserva DOC, and Poggio Lombrone Montecucco Sangiovese Riserva DOCG.
GRATTAMACCO
Grattamacco was founded in 1977 and acquired by ColleMassari in 2002. A pioneer of the Bolgheri DOC, the estate sits on a hill facing the sea between Castagneto Carducci and Bolgheri at 100 meters above sea level. This privileged position provides the vines with optimal exposure to sunshine and cooling breezes, ensuring a perfect ripening environment. While Sangiovese still plays an important role at Grattamacco, accounting for 15% of plantings, it is joined on the estate by Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot—all of which are remarkably well-suited to the bright sun and gravelly soils of the Tuscan coast. The four wines from Grattamacco include: Bolgheri Vermentino DOC, Bolgheri Rosso DOC, Grattamacco Bolgheri Superiore DOC, and L'Alberello Bolgheri Superiore DOC.
POGGIO DI SOTTO
Founded in 1989 and acquired by the ColleMassari group in 2011, Poggio di Sotto has achieved icon status for the unmatched purity, intensity, and finesse of its Sangiovese wines. The estate is located just outside the hamlet of Castelnuovo dell'Abate in the southeastern part of the Montalcino DOCG area. Grown in sandy clay and gravelly vineyards located to the southeast of Montalcino, yields are kept at around 1 ton per acre, with long, open top fermentation and aging in barrique. The three wines include: Rosso di Montalcino DOC, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, and Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, which is only produced in the finest vintages.
TENUTA SAN GIORGIO
Tenuta San Giorgio was brought into the ColleMassari group in 2016 and is located in Montalcino adjacent to the Poggio di Sotto property. Sixty-two acres of vines and sixty-four acres of olive trees are planted on the property's 360 acres of gravel, clay, and sandy soils. Meticulous attention in the vineyard and cellar is followed by 2-4 years of élevage in oak barrels, producing wines with both freshness and power. The two wines include Ciampoleto Rosso di Montalcino DOC and Ugolforte Brunello di Montalcino DOCG.
About LLS
LLS is a division of Winebow Imports, a leading importer of fine wines and spirits from the around the world. LLS has represented Italian wines of impeccable quality, character, and value for over 35 years. Each wine in the collection tells a unique story about the family and region that produced it. A taste through the portfolio is a journey across Italy's rich spectrum of geography, history, culture, and cuisine. Whether a crisp Pinot Bianco from the Dolomites or a rich Aglianico from Campania, the wines of LLS will transport you to Italy's outstanding regions. For more information, please visit http://www.llswine.com.
SOURCE LLS
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