About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
The fruit comes from Querciabella’s coastal vineyards at Alberese, Grosseto, behind the Uccellina Hills in Maremma. The plots lie at 20–50 m a.s.l.; their rows were planted in 2000 on a north–south orientation. Sea breezes moderate temperatures, while the surrounding hills and varied topography contribute to a balanced local microclimate.
The 2021 fact sheet describes acidic, mineral-rich soils formed from silt and alluvial sand, with gravelly areas and surface pebbles. The broader estate description characterizes the soils as sandy loam enriched with clay, combining drainage with moisture and nutrient retention. The vineyards are farmed organically and managed plot by plot. Turpino is certified organic and vegan.
Grapes
Blend proportions vary by vintage. Latest published vintage (2021): 40% Cabernet Franc, 40% Syrah and 20% Merlot. Each variety is harvested and fermented separately.
Vinification
The three varieties undergo separate fermentation in wooden vats, with a proportion of whole bunches. After maturation, the final blend is assembled in cement vats.
Ageing
The wine matures for 16 months in French oak barriques, with new oak accounting for up to 20%. After bottling, it rests for at least a further two years before release.
Technical data
The average wine yield is 30 hL/ha and annual production is approximately 8,900 bottles. The 2021 vintage has 14.5% alcohol, pH 3.55, total acidity of 5.46 g/L and residual sugar below 1.0 g/L.
Available formats are 750 mL, packed in six- or twelve-bottle cardboard cases, plus 1.5 L Magnum and 3 L Double Magnum, each supplied in an individual wooden case.
Tasting profile
Turpino 2021 combines depth and complexity with the generous character of its vintage and the freshness associated with the Maremma coast. Plum, cherry and blackberry give the wine a vivid, fruit-led opening. Mediterranean herbs, iron, earth, tobacco, spice and balsamic nuances add savoury complexity. Its texture is silky, framed with finesse, and the finish is crisp, fresh and persistent.
Serving and pairing
Serve at 15–18 °C. Pepper, tobacco and subtle smoky notes suit grilled flavours, including smoky portobello mushrooms with barbecue sauce, charred steak and roasted vegetables. Eggplant, squash and turnip complement the wine’s earthy dimension, while beetroot echoes the sanguine quality associated with Syrah. Rosemary, lavender and sage offer further aromatic links.
Suggested dishes include BBQ pulled jackfruit tacos, beet-braised black caviar lentils, moussaka, duck breast with balsamic reduction, grilled lamb chops with rosemary and garlic, stuffed bell peppers, black-bean and beet burgers with sweet-potato fries, and winter panzanella salad.
The wine can be enjoyed young, develops additional complexity five to six years after harvest and can continue evolving for at least another 15 years.
Vintage notes
The 2021 growing season began with an unusually mild winter and warm, dry weather in February and March, prompting early budburst. An April temperature drop caused frost damage and reduced yields. Spring subsequently returned to normal, with sufficient rain in May. Hot, dry summer conditions delayed development, but there were no heat spikes comparable to the preceding year. Timely rain in late August and mid-September allowed the grapes to remain on the vines until the desired maturity was reached. Harvest ran from 10 to 22 September.
Label / history
Turpino began with an experimental 2007 vintage that was never released. It combined Maremma fruit with grapes normally reserved for Querciabella’s leading cuvées and led to the wine’s commercial debut with the 2010 vintage. Fruit from Chianti was removed from the blend in 2017, after which Turpino became entirely Maremma-grown.
Like Palafreno and Mongrana, the name Turpino refers to Ludovico Ariosto’s 16th-century Italian epic poem Orlando Furioso. The label background reproduces a detail from the 12th–13th-century Cosmatesque floors of Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome, photographed by Alessandra Rocchetti. Its proprietary Simona typeface was designed for Querciabella by Jane Patterson and John Downer.