Bibi Graetz — The free expression of Tuscany’s great terroirs

Based on the hills of Fiesole, north of Florence, Bibi Graetz has emerged over the past two decades as a leading voice in contemporary Italian wine. Trained as a painter, he turned to wine in the late 1990s, choosing it as a new medium to reveal the purity of Tuscany’s old vines and to challenge conventional oenological codes. With his intuitive, terroir-driven approach, Bibi Graetz has established himself as one of Tuscany’s most distinctive and creative winemakers.

Origins & philosophy

Born in Florence to a Swiss sculptor and a Norwegian mother, Bibi Graetz grew up in a cosmopolitan and artistic environment. In 2000, he founded his winery at Castello di Vincigliata, a medieval castle overlooking the city.

• Indigenous grapes first — Sangiovese, Colorino, Canaiolo: no Cabernet or Merlot.
• Low-intervention viticulture — no irrigation, minimal technology.
• Emotion over technique — prioritizing purity, freshness, and energy in every wine.

Vineyards & grape varieties

Grapes are sourced from high-altitude parcels (300 to 600 m) surrounding Fiesole, Vincigliata, Montefili, as well as from the island of Giglio off the Tyrrhenian coast, exclusively dedicated to the Ansonica white grape.

• Old vines — often between 50 and 80 years old.
• Diverse soils — schist, sandstone, granite.
• Signature grapes — Sangiovese, Colorino, Canaiolo, Trebbiano, Ansonica.
• Sensitive farming — no herbicides, detailed parcel management.

Vinification & ageing

• Long fermentations with indigenous yeasts.
• Gentle extractions, sometimes in open vats.
• Subtle ageing in neutral oak or concrete to preserve fruit energy.

Each wine is crafted to reflect the vitality of the soil and the natural tension of the grape, rather than to pursue richness or power at all costs.

Signature cuvées

• Testamatta (red) — 100% Sangiovese from high-altitude vines: energy, purity, structured finesse.
• Colore — blend of very old vines (often century-old): the essence of the estate’s vision.
• Testamatta Bianco — 100% Ansonica from Giglio: salinity, verticality, citrus notes.
• Soffocone di Vincigliata — Sangiovese: Tuscan charm, generosity, delicate texture.
• Casamatta — red, white, rosé range: immediate fruit, joyful and approachable.

Style & recognition

True to his artistic spirit, Bibi Graetz crafts wines with a free, vibrant, and taut style, marked by freshness, finesse, and intuitive elegance. Beyond the codes of the “Super Tuscan” movement, he champions high-altitude Sangiovese rooted in traditional farming.

His wines are now praised by the international press (Wine Advocate, James Suckling, etc.) and rank among the most inspiring cuvées in Tuscany.