ORMA, Italy
Their enthusiasm for Bordeaux blends began at the historic family estate Tenuta Sette Ponti in Castiglion Fibocchi with Oreno, an icon in the world of wine. The family decided to take this love of Cabernet and Merlot to the Tuscan coast, another fascinating and highly suitable winegrowing area with enormous potential. It was an adventure Antonio Moretti Cuseri decided to take on with sons Alberto and Amedeo. Orma is located on the Bolgherese Provincial Road, a Wine Road, just a short distance from the most historic vineyards in the area. The heart of the Bolgheri DOC appellation, with Ornellaia on the right and Sassicaia to the left. It is indeed the area most suited to vine cultivation: north of Via Bolgherese, where rocky, clay-rich soils prevail over the sandier soils found nearer to the sea. The area enjoys a favorable combination of climate, soil, and grape varieties, which make it an “ecological-climatic niche.”
Viticulture
Orma is in the heart of Bolgheri, sandwiched between the Ornellaia and Sassicaia estates on the Strada Bolgherese. Orma and 2nd wine Passi di Orma are richly textured powerful reds from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc; the rosso is fun and succulent; the Vermentino, poised and mineral-edged. Tenuta Sette Ponti, lies further west in Arezzo, and is home to the Moretti Cuseri family who have shaped the estate since its purchase from princesses Margherita and Maria Cristina Savoia-Aosta. The estate takes its name from the Buriano Bridge which the family proudly point out is depicted in Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. Flagship wine Oreno combines Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, 2nd wine Crognolo is Sangiovese focused, typically with 5-10% Merlot. The pair capture the same depth and texture of the Orma wines yet with more elegance. Farming is all organic and fruit hand harvested.
Winemaking
Giuseppe 'Beppe' Caviola carved his niche in winemaking in the 1980s as a consultant winemaker, primarily in Piedmont but also across all of Italy's key regions. Crowned Winemaker of the Year in 2002 (Gamberro Rosso & Slow Food), Caviola's appeal comes from his ability to let the natural qualities of each variety, when solo or in a blend, shine brightly. This earns the wines he consults on both national acclaim and international prestige. Caviola has a close working relationship with the Moretti family and there has been a consistent elevation in style in recent years.
