Morellino is basically Sangiovese grown in the village of Scansano, in the heart of the famous Maremma region of Tuscany. To bear the Morellino DOCG label the wine must be at least 85% Sangiovese with the 15% balance made up of other red grape varieties. The name derives from the local dialect where Morello (as in cherries), means a dark red colour, and a shade darker than normal Tuscan Sangiovese,
In the mid 1980s, at the tender age of 20, Elisabetta Geppetti inherited Fattoria Le Pupille from her father-in-law, who wasn’t that interested in winemaking. Today, 30 years later, she is considered to be the person who put Morellino di Scansano on the map of the world’s wine appellations. She also created the Super Tuscan 'Saffredi', a label that recently celebrated 30 years of top scores and reviews. Only Sassicaia can match this.
Located inland from, but in view of, the coast, the vineyards at Fattoria le Pupille lie at roughly 300 meters above sea level, where they benefit from a natural day-night (diurnal) temperature shifts. The estate covers more than 400 hectares, with 75 hectares planted to vine. Although the winery is not certified, farming practices are entirely organic. Elisabetta still farms the winery’s original 25 “historic” hectares where her world-renowned Saffredi is grown. Elisabetta’s daughter Clara has joined the winery team.
