La Massa Backgrounder

Giampaolo Motta, a Ferrari-lover with a passion for Bordeaux, was working his way up at Castello dei Rampolla in 1992 when the destitute La Massa estate next door went up for sale. Motta, then just 31 years old, scraped together the cash and purchased it with a vision for a Chianti Classico on the level of a fine Bordeaux. 

Motta poured all his money into La Massa, hiring Chianti Classico star, Carlo Ferrini, to revitalize the estate. Within a few years, La Massa made a big impact internationally, winning top scores from Wine Spectator.

But Motta was dissatisfied—he knew more was possible. After conducting soil samples in exacting detail, he jettisoned his Chianti Classico course, replanted to match his soils—including Bordeaux varietals, and embarked on a vision for a Bordeaux-inspired wines. Renowned Bordeaux enologist Stéphane Derenoncourt came on board in 2008. Within a few years, La Massa had come into its own with top scores for each of its three wines—flagship “Giorgio Primo”, “La Massa”, “Carla 6” (100% Sangio).

La Massa’s vineyard stretches over 27 ha in the Conca d’Oro of Panzano, at 360m elevation.  Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Alicante Bouche and Petit Verdot are planted. Like Châteaux Latour, Pétrus and Mouton Rothschild, the interior of La Massa’s winery was designed by Mazières with state-of-the-art gravitational equipment.  La Massa’s, however, is the only one that looks like a Ferrari.