Terre del Marchesato peasant roots

The beginning

I was born in Bolgheri in 1965 and a few years later, Sassicaia of Tenuta San Guido was put on the market for the first time. This wine shortly became the new legend of the Italian wine making changing for ever the fate of all the Bolgheri and northern Maremma area. Within less than a decade, the small medieval village of Bolgheri, until then only famous for the poet Giosuè Carducci and the beautiful avenue of cypresses trees, has become one of the worldwide capitols of viticulture.

In the past and till the ‘70s, Bolgheri area had been largely dominated by a rural economy which had little to do with wine production. Vegetables, fruit or grains were grown in most of the fields, leaving little importance to the wine production which was only made for the family consumption.

From 1954, unfolds Terre del Marchesato history, in a time when “wines from Bolgheri” would have sounded as a weird pairing. At that time, a few farmers originally from Marche region settled down here in Bolgheri and bought some uncultivated land. Among them, my grandfather Emilio Fuselli was a farmer from many generations, determined, skilled, competent, he decided to invest his life savings in a plot of land belonging to the Marquise Incisa della Rocchetta to get his vegetables production started.

The dream

I do not remember when I first hungered and yearned to be a wine producer, possibly when Bolgheri wine business took off and vineyards around our farm quickly increased in the number. I used to wander amazed around the countryside, stopping to look at them, nibbling clusters, sneaking a few berries: so much I loved the taste of that grape!

As all rural families in the area, we also had our own vineyard, planted by my grandfather but it was only dedicated to the family consumption as our job was different. The Fuselli family from Terre del Marchesato, despite they had become very well-known and earned great farmers reputation, still had little to do with wine production.

I was little more than a boy when I met Giovanna. Then as today we were much in love and decided to get marry still very young, having our own family. I was only 23 years old, however a very well experienced and known farmer and for this reason I was asked to work for Piero Antinori Cellar to supervise the new vineyards implant which would have later become Guado al Tasso.

Willing to become financially independent and pursue my dreams and ambitions, I told my father I would join the new opportunity and leave the family business.
I threw all myself in this new adventure, feeling strong of my rich “farmer skills background” thus earning Antinori’s trust and quickly having being appointed their head of production.

The Project

I remained in that winery for ten years. Ten amazing, intense, challenging years, being in touch with the best worldwide known wine makers and with Antinori Family which has been producing wine for many centuries and generations.

They were years of gratification and great apprenticeship that enriched and fulfilled my knowledge. At the same time, while my background was being increased I felt the need to start and develop my own project and every day that went by, I had growing awareness that I could make my wishes come true and I started planning the new adventure with Giovanna.

The turning point

1998 was the turning point, I bought out Terre del Marchesato shares and started turning the farm in to a winery. We needed a lot of money and jumped through hoops; We kept on producing vegetables for a few years to find the needed finance, the quality we were well known for made it a profitable production; beside, we renewed grandfather’s old vineyard and planted new Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Vermentino vines.

While the vineyards were growing, we started our cellar construction: small but very innovative and practical. Finally, after many years of hard work, we made the first harvest and create the first wine from Terre del Marchesato, Emilio Primo Rosso as typical Bolgheri blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah named after my grandfather Emilio.

After many years of experimentation and when vineyards were properly aged, I gave shape to my idea for single variety wines production, widening from year to year Terre del Marchesato range till the current offer. To one of them, Aldone, great Merlot made with the grape from the ancient family vineyard, we gave the “nick name” of my father as a tribute to the man I owed a lot

The rest is recent history. 2019 witnessed newest creation from Terre del Marchesato. An amazing single-variety of Petit Verdot wine, a challenge I felt all mine. The wine brings my name at the behest of my wife and sons to fulfil a sort of “Fuselli wine Trilogy”.