Macchion dei Lupi Winery

An Exceptional Journey to Great Wines

Sometimes I find great wines and sometimes great wines find me. The latter was the case in my discovery of Macchion dei Lupi. This hidden Tuscan gem from the hills of Maremma, was brought to my attention by the owner of one of the premier Italian restaurants in San Diego. With his encouragement, I tried a bottle of Macchion dei Lupi Esperienze. The bold earthy flavor hooked me from the first taste and I knew I had to share it with you.

The story behind this full-bodied, organic and biodynamic red wine is almost as intriguing as the wine itself. The path taken by the founder of the winery, Carlo Parenti, from start-up to rising wine star, was not a smooth journey. Originally from northern Italy, with no wine making experience, Carlo decided to give up a banking career in 2003, and turn his passion for good wine into a degree in wine management. With a new degree and only a couple years of experience, he invested his life savings in a small plot of land in the Tuscan hills. Unemployed and low on cash, the first years were particularly rough. For months he lived in a warehouse without a bathroom or kitchen. He was bitten by a viper and nearly died. Then part of his vineyard was stricken by a drought, nearly dooming the entire venture. Eventually Carlo and his family prevailed. He decided to commemorate his early ordeals with the name of his first wine Esperienze (Experiences). Not afraid of doing things the hard way, all of the Macchion dei Lupi wines are made from organically grown grapes using biodynamic farming methods. I know you will enjoy this bold artisan-made wine as much as I do. Salute!