Fabio Marchionni wrote his agriculture thesis on Verdicchio di Matelica and then went on to make it better than almost anyone. From a family estate high in the hills of the Marche, his Verdicchio has become a cult bottle and a textbook for the Matelica style.
Backstory
After earning his agriculture degree, Marchionni went to Germany to work at Weingut Zahringer, where he learned organic, low-impact farming. He took over his family's estate and founded Colle Stefano in 1998.
The Region
Colle Stefano lies in the Verdicchio di Matelica DOC in the Marche, central Italy. It sits at about 420 meters in the Esino Valley, a cool inland pocket between the Apennines and the Adriatic that gives the wines their nerve and freshness.
Vineyards and Farming
At Colle Stefano, Marchionni farms organically and emphasizes minimal intervention in both vineyard and cellar. The estate is dedicated above all to Verdicchio.
Winemaking
The hands-off Colle Stefano cellar lets the high-altitude fruit speak, producing a wine that is bright and crisp with floral notes and a signature hint of pine.
The Wines
Colle Stefano is best known for its single Verdicchio di Matelica, a consistent award winner with Gambero Rosso since the 2001 vintage. It remains a benchmark for the appellation: pure, mineral and built to age.
