Fertuna

The beginnings

Tenuta Fertuna began in 1997 in the Tuscan Maremma. Its name combines two ideas: the fertility of the land and the good fortune of the people who cultivate it. The estate was developed amid wild vegetation as an amphitheatre of vineyards, with the first vineyard planting work beginning in the same year. Land analyses were used to match each parcel with its selected grape variety. The original estate covered 145 hectares, including approximately 50 hectares of vineyards.

Infrastructure and hospitality

A wastewater-treatment system coupled with a phytoremediation installation was introduced in 2002. It was designed to recover the water used by the two businesses operating at the Gavorrano site and treats wastewater generated by grape processing, storage and bottling.

Villa Fertuna predates the wine estate. Built at the beginning of the 20th century, it originally served as a farmhouse for agricultural workers. A redevelopment project commenced in 2009. The restoration preserved the old cast columns made in nearby Piombino at the beginning of the century and converted the building into a hospitality centre with six suites and three apartments.

A project to expand the winery began in 2016 and was completed in 2018, creating a new warehouse and improving the building's thermal-insulation class.

Corporate reorganisation

The agricultural company's vineyards were leased in February 2019. In December 2019 the formerly unified business was separated into Tenuta Fertuna S.R.L., responsible for the commercial side, and Fertuna Società Agricola Semplice, responsible for winery management. Tenuta Fertuna's offices remained at the same site as the winery. Fertuna carried out transformation, processing and bottling exclusively on behalf of Tenuta Fertuna, while approximately 50 hectares were managed under organic-farming rules.

Certification and environmental development

An external organic-system inspection on 20 October 2021 closed without any recorded non-conformities. An Equalitas pre-audit had taken place on 14 October 2021, after which corrective actions were planned and implemented.

The first formal system review against Equalitas requirements took place on 15 July 2022. Tenuta Fertuna obtained Equalitas SOPD certification later that year, following an external certification audit on 24 August. The winery roof was also renovated and insulated in 2022.

The first scheduled Equalitas surveillance audit was conducted by Valoritalia in September 2023. A new photovoltaic installation entered operation during 2023, while more precise water metering helped reduce the measured water-use indicator from 10.6 litres per litre of bottled wine in 2022 to 7.1 litres in 2023.

In 2024 Tenuta Fertuna calculated its organisational water footprint from 2023 data in accordance with ISO 14046:2016. The 2024 production year comprised 160,742 kg of processed grapes, 1,554.4 hl of bottled wine and 196,470 filled bottles.

In 2025 the agricultural entity became Fertuna Società Agricola S.r.l.

Approximately 50 hectares are managed according to organic-farming regulations, with certification under Regulation (EC) No 834/2007. The most recently described external organic inspection, conducted on 20 October 2021, closed without recorded non-conformities.

Vineyard establishment began in 1997. Detailed analysis guided the allocation of varieties to individual parcels. Vines are trained as high spur-pruned cordons at 1.40–1.60 m, planted at an average density of 4,200–4,400 vines per hectare. Yields are kept near 8,000 kg/ha.

Manual grape selection is conducted at least twice during the growing cycle, including a green-stage selection and another at ripeness. Grapes for certain selections are harvested and selected by hand.

The vineyards have drip irrigation supplied by an artificial lake covering approximately 15,000 m². The lake receives water from local sources and recovered rainwater.

Winemaking by-products are returned to productive use. Pomace and stalks, representing approximately 10% of the processed crop, are redistributed over leased agricultural land as soil amendments; approximately 10,400 kg of pomace was redistributed in 2024. Lees, normally 2–3% of processed must by volume, are sent to a distillery. Together these practices allow all such secondary products to be reused.

The winery stands at the base of the original vineyards. Its design combines operational functionality, technological equipment and measures intended to reduce environmental impact.

Individual parcels are fermented separately in temperature-controlled stainless-steel vats. A centralised system manages pump-overs. The barrel cellar contains new, second-use and third-use Allier-oak barriques and tonneaux. The leading red selections mature in these vessels, are blended and then rest for several months in bottle. Selected Merlot parcels also complete malolactic fermentation in French oak.

The production operation handles still and sparkling white, red and rosé wines. Wine is filled into glass bottles and Bag-in-Box formats; the latter production line was used in 2023. All transformation, processing and bottling are performed by personnel of the agricultural company exclusively for Tenuta Fertuna. The operation does not sell bulk wine. In 2023, riddling, disgorgement and dressing of part of the sparkling-wine production were entrusted to Enoservizi before the finished bottles returned to the estate.

Cleaning relies extensively on steam, reducing detergent and chemical use. No detergents or caustic soda were purchased in 2023 or 2024. Process water is treated by a purifier coupled with a phytoremediation basin, whose gravel, aquatic plants, other plants and microorganisms reproduce wetland purification processes. The system produces treated water compliant with discharge requirements without generating removable sludge.

Production in 2024 comprised 160,742 kg of processed grapes, 1,044 hl of bulk wine processed, 72 hl of bulk wine purchased, 1,554.4 hl of bottled wine and 196,470 filled bottles.

Tenuta Fertuna presents its approach as a balance between tradition and modern technology, with the expression and protection of the Maremma at its centre. Vineyard parcels are understood through their soil composition and suitability for individual grapes, while avoiding vine stress is treated as a prerequisite for quality and fidelity to each wine type.

Its declared priorities are to enhance the Maremma, minimise the environmental effects of its activities and optimise resources through dialogue, shared responsibility and continual measurement of results. This includes preference for sustainability-certified suppliers, lower raw-material and energy consumption, reuse of production by-products, treatment of process water, and a company-wide culture of quality, food safety and continuous improvement.

Equalitas provides the framework for the environmental, social and economic dimensions of this policy. Its social principles encompass employee safety and well-being, dialogue with the local community and staff training. Its economic principles extend responsible practice to employees and suppliers. Ethics, integrity, compliance with written and unwritten rules, workplace safety and responsibility toward people and the environment are identified as core values.

The wine range is conceived as a reflection of the estate's taste, daily experience, approach to food pairing and commitment to continuing its traditions. Consumer satisfaction is framed as the reward for this work.