Storia
Acquisition and a new project — 2019
Il Tesoro entered the history of the Italo-Swiss Burkard family in 2019, when Adriana and Urs Burkard acquired Il Tesoro together with Terrabianca. They incorporated the Maremma property into Arillo in Terrabianca, conceived as one wine-growing enterprise with three geographically distinct estates: Terrabianca in Radda in Chianti, Il Tesoro in Massa Marittima and Colle Brezza in Pienza.
The Burkards’ objective was to establish an agricultural and wine business rooted in Tuscan wine culture while developing a contemporary model of environmental, economic and social sustainability. Il Tesoro became the Maremma component of their “Tuscan Theorem” and its more experimental, forward-looking estate, centred on natural winegrowing, the interpretation of mineral-rich soils and the recovery of agricultural products alongside wine.
Organic conversion — 2020
Organic conversion at Il Tesoro began in 2020. The programme was developed with agronomist Ruggero Mazzilli and combined observation of the estate ecosystem with measures intended to rebuild soil fertility and biodiversity. Its founding principles were the exclusive use of materials of natural origin and the reduction of human intervention in the land.
New vineyards — 2022 and 2023
A further 5.8 ha of vineyards were planted in 2022 and 2023. The new blocks contain Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Sangiovese, trained to Guyot on clay soils rich in iron and magnesium. New white-grape plantings, including Chardonnay, Viognier and Vermentino, also broadened an established varietal base of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
First certified-organic vintage — 2023
The 2023 harvest was the company’s first certified-organic vintage. A rainy spring created substantial plant-health pressure, but carefully managed phytosanitary work limited the damage. A mild summer without extreme heat spikes supported steady ripening and allowed the harvest to proceed in the customary sequence for each variety. The fruit achieved a strong balance between technological and phenolic maturity.
A new winery in Valpiana — 2024
On 1 June 2024, Il Tesoro inaugurated its winery at Via dei Colatori 14 in Valpiana. The project recovered the historic building of the Valpiana agricultural cooperative and converted it into a modern, efficient production facility. The opening included local authorities, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a lunch based on local produce. Adriana and Urs Burkard described the completion of the winery as a milestone made possible by the estate’s employees.
The renovated winery now anchors production and visitor experiences in the Maremma. Its programme includes vineyard and cellar visits and tastings devoted both to Il Tesoro’s Maremma wines and to the wider Arillo in Terrabianca portfolio.
Terroir
Il Tesoro lies at Valpiana, a few kilometres from the medieval stronghold of Massa Marittima, midway between the Tuscan hinterland and the sea. It occupies a hilly part of the Upper Maremma within the Tuscan Mining UNESCO Geopark of the Colline Metallifere. The surrounding landscape combines the sea, wetlands, woods, mineral and fossil sites, olive groves and small historic settlements.
The property covers approximately 115 ha and rises to about 140 m above sea level. Its agricultural pattern is deliberately heterogeneous, with rows of vines alternating with centuries-old olive trees. Vineyard elevations vary within the estate, and the predominant exposure is south.
The soils combine clay and abundant stone and contain notable concentrations of iron and magnesium. These mineral-rich soils are common to the individually described vineyard blocks, while the olive groves likewise occupy stony, clay-rich ground.
The Mediterranean influence is pronounced. Proximity to the sea supplies regular maritime breezes and constant ventilation, while substantial day-to-night temperature changes slow ripening. Together, these conditions support healthy, aromatic grapes and preserve freshness as the fruit matures. Vineyard views extend toward the sea, only a few kilometres away.
Vinificazione
Organic conversion and soil life
Organic conversion began in 2020, and 2023 became the first certified-organic vintage. Current production is identified as organic, with Bioagricert documentation included among the company’s certifications. Vineyard management is based on materials of natural origin and reduced intervention, with the objectives of restoring biodiversity, biological activity and soil fertility while retaining existing vineyards and the distinctions between individual terroirs.
Permanent or managed grass cover is used to reduce erosion, retain water and minerals, improve microbiological activity and strengthen local biodiversity. Green manure and compost further support living soils. Native plants are maintained, and ecological corridors are created or restored to encourage pollinators and other beneficial organisms. Bees have also been introduced to support pollination and ecosystem health.
Precision and climate adaptation
Small weather stations positioned among the rows provide real-time measurements of air and soil temperature, humidity and leaf wetness. These observations allow faster, more precisely targeted work and help reduce unnecessary inputs.
Climate-adaptation measures include canopy management to limit sunburn and water stress and the selection of grape varieties and rootstocks better suited to changing conditions. Harvest timing is determined through close monitoring of phenolic maturity, acidity and aromatic development.
Water and erosion management
Vineyard work seeks to retain autumn and spring rainfall in the soil and extend its availability into summer. Rainwater collection basins reduce reliance on outside water sources, while drip irrigation is used where required for efficient delivery. Grass cover contributes to both water retention and erosion control.
Harvest
Grapes are harvested by hand to reduce stress on the plants and protect bunch integrity. Limiting machinery also reduces CO₂ emissions and soil compaction. In 2023, a wet spring demanded close phytosanitary management; a mild summer without severe heat spikes then allowed the varieties to be picked in their customary sequence with balanced technological and phenolic ripeness.
The Valpiana winery
Il Tesoro’s winery occupies the restored historic building of the Valpiana agricultural cooperative at Via dei Colatori 14, Massa Marittima. Reopened on 1 June 2024, it was redesigned as a modern and efficient facility serving both production and visitor programmes.
The cellar follows a low-intervention approach intended to retain the identity of the fruit while reducing environmental impact. Stainless-steel vinification is central to the fresh, contemporary style of the BEVO range. Water use is managed through conservation, treatment and recycling systems, while renovation work has emphasised energy efficiency, renewable sources, solar panels, low-emission solutions and environmentally compatible building materials.
Weather-station data and other precision-viticulture tools inform decisions before the fruit reaches the cellar. Harvesting is timed to balance phenolic ripeness, acidity and aromatic integrity, and the grapes are picked by hand to preserve intact bunches.
Filosofia
Il Tesoro is conceived as the experimental, forward-looking Maremma component of Arillo in Terrabianca. Its work joins natural winegrowing with the recovery and renewed interpretation of soils and agricultural products. The estate’s place within the “Tuscan Theorem” is not intended to erase its identity: Maremma, Chianti Classico and Val d’Orcia are treated as three separate territories whose environmental and human distinctions must be preserved.
The wider project describes its relationship with wine through three connected ideas. The “Geometry of Places” concerns the integration of land, landscape, cultural sites and human well-being. The “Music of Nature” treats each terroir and vintage as a score to be observed and interpreted. The “Architecture of Wine” brings ethical, aesthetic, technological and functional innovation into production.
Adriana and Urs Burkard’s stated ambition is to make territorial wine while creating economic and social value in harmony with the environment and community. Their model joins respect for inherited agricultural knowledge with organic farming, precision tools and modern infrastructure. Minimal intervention, equilibrium and slow ripening are intended to let each natural and productive cycle remain legible in the finished wine.
Sustainability is understood through environmental, economic and social responsibilities rather than organic farming alone. The programme measures environmental impact, protects natural capital, develops biodiversity, reduces inputs and waste, and invests in training, inclusivity and cooperation. Its long-term principle is expressed in the family motto: “Give Respect, Receive Excellence.”