Petra

I Vini del Mare Belvento - this name stands for the still young project of the Moretti family, as it says which wines they harvest and press here in the Maremma, close to the sea: the wines of the sea of beautiful winds.

I Vini del Mare Belvento - this name stands for the still young project of the Moretti family, as it describes the wines they harvest and press here in the Maremma, close to the sea: the wines of the Sea of Fair Winds. "According to legend, this is the sea into which Aphrodite scattered the pearls of her necklace and from which Tuscany was born. The beauty of the region makes us believe this legend! But scientifically speaking, the Belvento, the beautiful wind, is an important factor in the development of grape quality, as it is precisely this wind that ensures good ventilation of the vineyard, the cooling breeze that keeps the freshness in the grapes and makes these wines so pleasantly invigorating." Flavours and aromas are always created here from the interplay of land and sea. This is why the labels of Belvento wines depict the animal species that live on the coast, in the waters and in the nearby nature reserve.

The name Hebo goes back to an ancient Etruscan settlement near Suvereto and reminds us that this area was already wine country thousands of years ago. Francesca Moretti conceived this wine as a versatile everyday companion that bears Petra's signature without being too expensive. The blend combines Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc – the varieties that Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi, Princess of Piombino, introduced to this area at the beginning of the 19th century. After selective hand-picking, the grapes ferment in stainless steel at controlled temperatures. Maturation is mixed: part in large Slavonian oak barrels of 30 to 50 hectolitres, part in two- to three-year-old French barriques. After around 12 months, the cuvée is blended and matures for a further few months in the bottle.

Petra – the name means "stone" and symbolises the solidity with which Vittorio and Francesca Moretti are realising their Tuscan project in the Maremma. The winery was only opened in 2003 and was designed by Swiss star architect Mario Botta as a circular masterpiece. While perlage reigns supreme in Franciacorta (near Bellavista), it is the great red wines of the Val di Cornia that attract international attention here. Alto is Petra's monovarietal answer to the question of what Sangiovese is capable of achieving in this iron-rich, Mediterranean terroir. Experimental research meets Tuscany's oldest grape variety. The grapes are hand-picked and vinified according to the principle of gravity – mechanical stress is consistently avoided. The wine is matured in oak barrels, followed by further ageing in the bottle.

Potenti, a concentrated and pure Cabernet Sauvignon, is rich in finesse with a hint of rusticity, as is typical of the wines from this wild and untamed corner of Tuscany. Refined bouquet, rich and dense on the palate, the mineral note closely interwoven with the wood nuances. Potenti will develop into a great wine in a few years. SUPERIORE.DE

Brilliant ruby colour with a violet hue. The nose initially has notes of rosemary and cardamom, followed by ripe, dark cherries and dark redcurrants. Polished and balanced, the winery's flagship wine initially displays precise fruit, then opens up with fine, grippy tannins and a very long final. This wine is exceptional: elegant, seductive and long-lasting. SUPERIORE.DE