Tua Rita, one of Italy’s first successful producers of vins de garage, was founded by Rita Tua and her husband Virgilio in 1984. They started with just 2 hectares of vineyard which they tended with scrupulous care. As a result, their vineyard had grown to 9 hectares in barely a decade and today, Tua Rita farms some thirty hectares planted to vine.

Tua Rita’s vineyards are located in the Cornia valley near Suvereto in the High Tuscan Maremma, in an area known as Metalliferous Hills. The soil composition of pebbles and stones as well as clay, silt and sand, with a generous helping of mineral trace elements, leaves a distinctive mark on Tua Rita’s wines, imparting unique iron-like nuances to the aromatics and lending the palate a delicious hint of saltiness.

This leading Tuscan estate is known for their famous 100% Merlot, Redigaffi, which has gained cult status, receiving praise and accolades from wine enthusiasts and even a perfect 100 score from wine critic Robert Parker. Their range of wines also includes their signature wine, Giusto di Notri, which is a classic Bordeaux blend; Per Sempre, a single-variety Syrah; Perlato del Bosco, a varietal Sangiovese beginning with the 2011 vintage; Rosso dei Notri, an entry-level wine; Lodano, an experimental white wine; and Perlato del Bosco Bianco.

Tua Rita’s single-variety Merlot takes its name from a stream that runs near the estate. Redigaffi is a benchmark wine that has achieved cult status around the world. The 2000 vintage was the first wine from Italy to be awarded 100/100 by Robert Parker. Redigaffi features regularly in the catalogues of the world’s leading auctioneers, such as Christie’s and Sotheby’s, and is one of the few Italian wines included in the Liv-ex index.

The wine ages 18-20 months in new French oak barrels and then several months in bottle.