Bibi Graetz founded his winery in 2000 on the grounds of his family’s home, Castello di Vincigliata. Located in the hills of Fiesole just north of Florence, the Castello is surrounded by 7.4 acres of vines that were planted by Bibi’s parents in 1971. A graduate of the Academia dell'Arte in Florence, this artist-turned-winemaker began producing classic Tuscan varietals in the 1990s when the family’s vineyard contracts began to expire. In collaboration with consulting winemaker Alberto Antonini, Bibi produced his first vintage in 2000 and the wines quickly gained critical acclaim. In 2006, Wine Specator named Testamatta as its top Tuscan wine, describing it as, "One of Tuscany's true cult wines.”
Bibi is equally well known for his affinity for old vines and indigenous grape varietals (E.g. Sangiovese, Ansonica, Colorino and Colore) as he is for his colorful and often provocative wine names and labels. Sourcing fruit grown from old vines in Fiesole and the island of Giglio, off the Tuscan coast, Bibi’s winemaking philosophy is based on sincerity of expression. The wines are handcrafted, honest statements of terroir, tradition and varietal. Beginning in 2004, Bibi took over full winemaking responsibilities. He keeps grapes yields to a minimum, ferments his Sangiovese in small open-top wood vats, does pigeage by hand and matures his finished wine in French oak barrels.
