The history of Fattoria di Fubbiano

On a south-facing slope of the gentle sloping hills of Lucca, lies the Fattoria di Fubbiano, a 45 hectares (135 acres) estate comprised of vineyards, olive groves and woods. Here, winters are mild and cornucopia of wild flowers begins blooming as early as January. At Fubbiano we are committed to nurture the exceptional agricultural potential of our property by developing exciting groves and vines and diversifying our products while promoting indigenous varieties of olives and grapes. We strongly believe in maintaining the delicate balance of a biological ecosystem and only use traditional organic products to protect our vines from diseases. Weed-killers or insecticides are never applied. 

We have revived the traditional way of rural life and faithfully restored the estate's original buildings, in order to retain their unique architectural character and to offer our guests the chance to experience a pleasant stay in a special rural setting. The main products of the Fubbiano estate are our award-winning extra virgin olive oil and our DOC Colline Lucchesi wines that we also sell at our farm shop.

The Villa, set among olive groves and vineyards that were already listed in tax records as far back as 1392, is the heart of the estate. Built towards the end of the 17th century, its square design, four-sided roof, private chapel, central staircase and mouldings carved from the local grey stone, are typical of the Lucca area. It is surrounded by a beautiful garden and shady ilex trees, where a gentle staircase leads to the 17th century fountain, sorrounded by maidenhair fern and fragrant with moss and violets. The Fubbiano estate also belongs to the Ville Lucchesi and Lucca in Villa Associations and is entitled to use the official trademark of the Villas of Lucca, granted by the Lucca Chamber of Commerce, which guarantees the quality of the products and an appropriate use of the historical and artistic heritage represented by the Villas of Lucca.

The production

The Fattoria di Fubbiano stretches across 45 hectares among the Lucca hills, between the villages of Tofori and San Gennaro, an area where wine has been produced since the 14th century. 20 hectares are used for wine production with an average annual yield of around 100.000 bottles.

The Fattoria di Fubbiano produces three red wines which belong to the D.O.C. (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) «Colline Lucchesi Rosso»; a Supertuscan Red I.G.T.(Indicazione Geografica Tipica) Toscana , Aleatico IGT Costa Toscana, Vin Santo DOC Colline Lucchesi, grappa and vinegar.

Viticulture is performed following the traditional methods (guyot and spurred cordon), with an extremely low number of buds and a planting density of approx. 5000 vines per hectare, in order to obtain and enhance quality rather than quantity. Although the vineyards may suffer from a light drought in the summer, no extra water is supplied, and the particular care which is dedicated to every single aspect of winegrowing, is also used to improve the quality, from the viticulture techniques to the methods of production, to the manuring systems and the treatments against parasites. For the white wines a pneumatic press, that allows a soft pressing of the grapes, without affecting the woody stalks, is used and the fermentation process is carried out at a controlled temperature, resulting in a more elegant and fragrant wine as a result. The red wines are made using traditional techniques of vinification, (such as punching of the cap, repassing, délestage, oak barrels or barriques passages) which may vary according to the typologies of the wine involved, and the final results are significantly different wines. The oenological choices of the winery have always privileged a strong respect of the local tradition and the production of typical wines with a well-defined personality, always aiming towards a constantly improving quality, in order to provide the consumer with a more interesting wine-tasting and to enhance the eno-gastronomic pleasures.