It was foggy. Really foggy.
Our vineyard sits 500 meters above sea level, and that morning the mist was so thick we could barely see two or three meters ahead. I gripped the wheel and drove slowly. Carefully.
That drive felt familiar.
Seven years ago, I was in a different kind of fog.
I took over Fattoria Cerraia in 2019. To be honest, I had no clear roadmap. The vineyards needed change. The farming needed a new direction. We had almost no presence in the market.
But I believed in one thing: if you go slow enough, the road eventually reveals itself.
So I started converting our vineyards to organic. No synthetic chemicals. No chemical fertilizers. The grass grew taller than the vines, and my neighbors looked at me like I was crazy.
But soil is alive. It needs time to breathe.
In 2022, we got our organic certification. That was just the beginning.
That same year, I dove into biodynamics. Farming by the rhythm of the moon and planets. Using herbal preparations that sound almost mystical. I learned as I went. And slowly, I saw the soil become softer, more elastic, more alive.
In 2024, we received Demeter certification – the highest recognition for biodynamic farming.
The fog was starting to lift.
For seven years, we just worked.
After Demeter, people asked: “When will you start promoting your wines?”
“Not yet,” I always said.
I wasn’t afraid of being seen. I just felt our “children” weren’t ready. Verdiana (our white). Aplu (our red). And Aura – our orange wine, born in 2025 as a small experiment. Skin-fermented, a little bold, a little rebellious.
We put all our energy into the vineyards and the cellar. Improving the soil. Refining our winemaking. Waiting for each wine to find its best self.
We never officially launched ourselves to the world.
Not because we didn’t want to. Because we weren’t ready.
That morning, the fog slowly lifted.
Back to March 11.
We drove on. Visibility grew from two or three meters to five, then ten. The silhouettes of hills and cypress trees began to appear.
By the time we reached Florence, the sky had cleared. Sunlight poured through the windows.
And I thought: this is exactly what the last seven years have felt like.
Uncertain at first. Slow. Careful.
But bit by bit, the path became clear.
Our first time on the European stage – right in our backyard.
BuyWine 2026 was our very first professional wine fair in Europe.
It’s almost funny. We’re a Tuscan winery. Florence is just an hour away. But this was the first time we officially stood in front of buyers from all over the world.
We brought our three “children”:
- 🌙 Verdiana – our white wine. Pure, mineral, like moonlight on limestone.
- ☀️ Aplu – our red. Structured, earthy, the taste of Tuscan sun.
- 🍊 Aura – our orange wine. Born in 2025. Skin-fermented, with grip and personality.
The fair was held at Stazione Leopolda in Florence – a beautiful former railway station with high vaulted ceilings and exposed brick. Industrial and warm at the same time.
Our booth was small. But more people stopped by than I ever expected.
And Aura? She stole the show. Buyers from the US, Japan, Canada, Thailand gathered around. Someone called her “the most characterful orange wine I’ve tasted.” Others asked about quantities, allocations.
I stood there, a little overwhelmed. Seven years of waiting. And in that moment, it all felt worth it.
The grand finale: dinner at Palazzo Borghese
That evening, the organizers hosted a welcome dinner at Palazzo Borghese – Via Ghibellina 110, right in Florence’s historic center.
Nearly 600 years old. Designed in the 15th century by Michelozzo (the same architect behind Palazzo Medici). Later owned by the Borghese family – the one that married into Napoleon’s sister, Paolina Bonaparte.
The palace is not normally open to the public. Only for private events. The Hall of Mirrors and the 35-meter-long gallery are breathtaking.
And here’s something that made me truly proud: our Aplu was selected for the evening’s tasting lineup. Alongside some of Tuscany’s most celebrated names.
At dinner, I talked with buyers from across the world. About our wines. Our soil. Our biodynamic journey.
One of them asked: “Why did it take you so long to come out?”
I smiled. “Because you don’t drive fast in the fog.”
One hour. Seven years.
From Castellina in Chianti to Florence – yes, it’s just a one-hour drive.
But that foggy morning reminded me of everything: the uncertainty of 2019, the doubts about organic farming, the learning curve of biodynamics, the patience required for Demeter.
We took seven years to walk that one-hour road.
BuyWine was our first step into the world. And the world showed up.
To everyone who stopped by our booth, asked a question, or simply smiled while tasting our wines – thank you. You made those seven years worth every single moment.
Come visit us next time.
Next time, come directly to Castellina in Chianti.
From Florence, it’s just an hour’s drive.
Pick a sunny day if you like. But if it’s foggy? No worries. Drive slow. You’ll get there.
I’ll show you the soil we’ve been caring for. The vines that grew up in the mist. And the wines that finally found their way to the world.
Aya
Spring 2026 – Castellina in Chianti
