The history of Fattoria Fibbiano

Fattoria Fibbiano is located near Terricciola in the Era Valley, an area which boasts some significant Etruscan settlements. On the hill of the farm many tombs have been excavated, which date back to the dawn of Tuscan civilization. During the Middle Ages, the region saw a succession of disputes and conflicts between rival families and towns. In the past, Terricciola itself was a hamlet surrounded by high walls and defence towers.

The origins of the farm date back to the 12th century when it was owned by the Gherardi del Testa Barasaglia family, and it followed the family’s fortunes through thick and thin. In 1700, the main building was extended to take the shape of today’s farm. The Fattoria Fibbiano’s farmstead dates back to 1707, but only became a key part of the farm’s history three centuries later in 1997, the year in which Giuseppe Cantoni decided to go back to Italy after a long career abroad in business in order to return to his family roots: the Cantoni family have been farmers for generations, in other words, forever. Giuseppe, with his wife Tiziana and sons Matteo and Nicola, began scouring the Tuscan countryside in search of the right place. When he saw the Fattoria Fibbiano there was no doubt in his mind: from then on, their new life began. A simple life, lived to the full, characterised by silences, passion, close to nature and to the purest of things, far away from the noise of the city. The renovation work began: restoring the old farmstead, which was quite run down, clearing the woodland, reviving the agricultural land, reinstating the old olive groves and vineyards, and re-planting rows of cypress trees. With great effort and commitment, the farmstead became what it is today, a home and a dream come true: a successful agritourism and flourishing wine-making business, which is run according to the local traditions, yet is ready to embrace new challenges.

The production 

Fattoria Fibbiano: two souls, one heart. A farm and agritourism in the heart of the Tuscan countryside. Perched on a small, sun-kissed hill, bordered by two streams, near the village of Terricciola, nestling in the hills between Pisa and Volterra, the farm estate is set in about 75 hectares of vineyards, olive groves and woodland. From the top of the hill where the farm is located you can enjoy unobstructed views of the glorious Tuscan countryside.

Currently the estate consists of a house of approx. 1,200 m2 surrounded by olive groves and divided into two parts: one part for the guests and the other part for the Cantoni family. The agritourism part consists of five apartments and one bedroom, a lounge for hosting events and receptions and a room for wine-tasting where you can still admire the farm’s ancient vats. The old cellar, dating back to the 1800s, has been totally renovated and today houses two apartments and two bedrooms, as well as the offices and farm shop. The new cellar, built in 2010, is more in keeping with the size of the farm and has been designed to take account of modern production requirements while respecting centuries-old wine-making traditions, a building which reflects the harmony of the typical Tuscan agricultural landscape. The Cantoni family regard the environment as an important part of our heritage, to be protected, not as a resource to be exploited. The quality of a product is inextricably linked to the way we care for the land. The land surrounding the farm is only treated using organic fertilisers and human intervention is kept to a minimum.