About Formiche
Toscana
Biodynamic
3 hectares
1,200 cases/year
About the winemakers
Winemaker names go here
Formiche is a wine project created by four friends—Simone, Gigi, Dylan, and Simone—who are winemakers and an agronomist, brought together by their shared passion for wine. After years of international experience, they reunited in Tuscany where they began holding monthly weekends filled with wine tasting and bonding, eventually realizing they all shared the same dream: to make wine using the Ansonica grape. This late-ripening white variety, native to Tuscany’s coastal regions, had been largely neglected in favor of more fashionable grapes. After years of searching, they found a small, two-hectare vineyard in Capalbio, which they revitalized through sustainable, hands-on methods. Their approach emphasizes minimal intervention, with a focus on respecting the natural balance of the vineyard, using only necessary treatments, and allowing the wine to evolve naturally in the cellar. The name "Formiche" reflects both the coastal islands and the cooperative spirit of ants, symbolizing their collaborative effort to produce wines that authentically represent the Tuscan terroir and Ansonica grape.
Vineyards and winemaking
In Capalbio, south of the Maremma coast, Ansonica vines more than 30 years old thrive with the help of sea breezes that moderate temperature extremes, ensuring consistent plant health. The vineyard, initially in poor condition, was revived through hard work and dedication. The red, sandy soils, enriched with marine deposits, are maintained with cover crops and green manure, and only minimal treatments of copper, sulfur, and herbal teas are used. Their holistic approach aims to balance the ecosystem, moving away from plant-centric viticulture. At harvest, grapes are hand-picked, plant-by-plant for optimal ripeness, and in the cellar, they follow a natural winemaking process with spontaneous fermentation, whole bunch pressing, no clarifications or fining, and minimal sulfur use.
