Tenuta di Biserno is a 49 hectares estate, situated in Alta Maremma, coastal, western Tuscany, nestling amongst the hills of Bibbona. It borders the historic village of Bolgheri and enjoys beautiful views towards the Tyrrhenian Sea – a special place indeed.
Just on the border we find the vineyard Bellaria (beautiful air) the northern exposure of which is within Biserno with the southern exposure within Bolgheri. It is this extraordinary site which houses the celebrated vineyard of Lodovico itself, 6 hectares of spectacular terroir, within Biserno, widely regarded as the best in the area.
The soil consists of what is termed Bolgheri conglomerate – a mix of mineral rich alluvial soil, active limestone, and round pebbles which provide drainage. Rather atypical for Bolgheri, there are also pockets of all-important clay. Given the terroir, and the range of soils, Lodovico planted exclusively Bordeaux varietals, principally Cabernet Franc, followed by Merlot, some Cabernet Sauvignon and surprisingly high proportions of Petit Verdot. The soil is very varied. High density, maritime sediments and clay, on well-sheltered, north-west slopes, provide ideal conditions for Merlot whilst free-draining gravelly sites, higher up, are perfect for the Cabernets Franc.
Soil is obviously an important aspect of terroir, so too is the micro-climate and, an aspect of terroir often overlooked the luminosity, that helps by the proximity of the Tirrenian Sea, which plays as a mirror. Biserno enjoys excellent light and benefits from cooling breezes and perfect sun exposure.
The vineyards are planted at 6,500 vines per hectare, cordon-trained, with grass between the rows to restrict the young vines’ natural vigour. Yields are restricted to 1 kg per plant = 1 bottle per plant.