Together, in 2000, Celli and D’Attoma purchased some rocky, unplanted land in the small comune of Riparbella to the north of Bolgheri, five miles from the sea. From the outset, they had two clear aims: to make wine from their favourite grape varieties – Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Merlot – and to farm organically and biodynamically. While D’Attoma handles the wine production, Celli looks after the marketing and has produced a series of distinctive and stylish Duemani labels.

A visit to Duemani reveals just how strikingly elemental it is as a location; at 250-300m above sea level, with its vineyards at various angles facing the Tyrrhenian Sea, it is bathed in the sparkling luminosity of the Costa Toscana and cooled by breezes coming in from the coast. It is a place where they produce some exceptionally special wines: the flagship, Duemani, a 100% Cabernet Franc, and Sui Sassi (meaning ‘on the rocks’), a 100% Syrah, are two of the best examples of these varietals made in Tuscany and, in fact, the whole of Italy. The wines have very precise flavours and aromas, with an impressive intensity, and yet, freshness, elegance, and finesse prevail. The tannins are always beautifully managed within the context of each vintage.  

Duemani also makes some wines intended for consumption earlier in their lives: Altrovino is a Merlot/Cabernet Franc blend and CiFRA is another 100% Cabernet Franc. Si is a delightful dry rosé made from 100% Syrah. There’s also G. Punto, a single-varietal Grenache aged in amphorae. D’Attoma and Celli are keen to explore different methods for fermenting and maturing their wines, experimenting with clay and cement amphorae as alternatives to oak.

To this day, D’Attoma continues to consult for other wineries. He currently has more than 20 clients stretching the length of Italy, from Alto Adige to Sicily. His advice for achieving success as a winemaker? ‘You need to have the courage to dare, to innovate.’

D’Attoma also believes that all his wines have an easily recognisable imprint: ‘They are very frank, sincere, and they show a profound respect for the territory and the variety.’ The wines of Duemani express this ethos beautifully.