Countryside still largely unspoilt by human intervention, well-kept, authentic and spontaneous. Its proximity to the sea. These are just two of the reasons why Riparbella is rapidly attracting interest and investment. A growing town also driven by the established success story of Bolgheri, a niche area just half an hour down the road where important families like Marchesi Antinori and Marchesi Incisa della Rocchetta, as well as other members of the aristocracy, attract a wealthy clientele. Riparbella may not yet be as well-known as other nearby towns and villages like Casale Marittimo, Castagneto Carducci and Bolgheri that are already well-established, but the countryside has always drawn tourists and buyers of second homes from far and wide, with interest in investing in wine skyrocketing over the last twenty years. Investments by large national and international players are on the rise and those who have invested believe that in less than twenty years it will become more prestigious than Bolgheri, because it is growing so much. Last May, Tenute del Leone Alato - the wine branch of Genagricola, the agricultural asset of the Generali Group that includes Italian companies with their identity and roots firmly planted in renowned wine-growing regions - has concluded its full acquisition of Duemani. Duemani, a winery that owns vineyards in Riparbella and Castellina Marittima, was founded by Elena Celli and Luca D’Attoma, an internationally renowned winemaker, who believed in this unspoilt land where they planted vineyards in the year 2000, opting for biodynamic agriculture from the very beginning to respect the ecosystem. Today, the estate spans thirteen hectares and boasts a production capacity of sixty thousand bottles. Its acquisition represents a significant step in the expansion strategy of the estates owned by Italy’s biggest, and one of Europe’s largest, insurance groups. “There are certainly better-known regions than this in both the north and south of Italy, with prestigious DOCs and Crus, but what the consumer holds in their hand is a product whose story is firmly embedded in the region and linked to how the wine is produced. We felt that the story behind this wine was unique and so important that it was worth investing in Riparbella”, Igor Boccardo, CEO of Leone Alato, tells Ville&Casali. “It is a niche region outside the mainstream, and I see this as a positive because excellence can also be developed away from the important denominations as long as a certain rigour is maintained, which is exactly what Luca D’Attoma has always done with his wine production. So we are talking about a product that has everything to rival its more famous counterparts. The Duemani winery is ideally situated and boasts fifteen hectares of vineyards and a renowned winemaker, not to mention the as yet untapped potential of the region; all ingredients that make for a perfect recipe and a real gem for wine lovers. I believe that Riparbella has enormous potential, but it must stay true to the region as anything less would be counterproductive. A key part of agriculture and viticulture is respecting the soil and the land, so a common sense approach is required”. Until recently, the Ferragamo family also had their two hundred-hectare estate - Prima Pietra - in Riparbella, with vineyards planted 450 metres above sea level, the highest in the whole of Tuscany, in a beautiful location overlooking the surrounding countryside. This was just sold to an international investment fund.