Italian icon wines strike ‘landmark partnership’ with Fells in UK
Two of Italy’s most recognisable fine wine names – Grattamacco and Poggio di Sotto – have appointed Fells as their UK distributor. The brands, both owned by ColleMassari Estates, will be available via the distributor from 1 July.
Grattamacco and Poggio di Sotto will be represented in the UK by Fells from next month, joining a growing portfolio of wines spanning the full breadth of the globe as well as various price points.
“This is a landmark partnership for Fells’ Italian offering,” said Euan Mackay, MD for Fells. “To be trusted with two of the most revered and respected Italian fine wine brands is a measure of the trust we’ve earned in one of wine’s most important countries.”
Crown jewel
Mackay, who joined Fells from Symington Family Estates in June 2023, added: “Grattamacco and Poggio di Sotto sit perfectly amongst our existing Italian producers and add further lustre to what we already hold as a crown jewel in our portfolio.”
The two new additions to Fells’ portfolio also bring different advantages when it comes to their terroir and the grapes grown there. Poggio di Sotto is a benchmark name in Brunello di Montalcino, while Grattamacco produced one of the first Super Tuscans as well as wines underneath the original Bolgheri DOC.
Poggio di Sotto’s prized location overlooks the Orcia river in the shadow of Mount Amiata, an extinct volcano, which is often snowcapped, bringing cold winds to ease hot summer temperatures in Montalcino. The estate is split into three vineyards with diverse soils boasting rocky marl, marine-fossil-filled galestro; and iron-rich clay, home to old Sangiovese vines aged 20-25 years.
On the other hand, Grattamacco, which marked its 40th vintage this year, owns 34 hectares of vineyard in Bolgheri planted to Sangiovese and Vermentino alongside international grapes including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The area in which the Grattamacco estate is based has one of the most significant concentrations of white clays and flysch along the Bolgheri coast, the result of the evaporation of an ancient saltwater lake, with the clays forming a visible white layer on the surface of the soil.
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Unique combination
ColleMassari Estates, the parent company of both properties, said it wants to ensure that its wines are represented “in the venues and by the people most closely aligned with our identity and ambitions.”
Speaking about the Fells appointment, Giuseppe Di Gioia, CEO of ColleMassari Estates, said the hire followed “an extensive review of the UK market”.
“Fells’ unique combination of heritage, market expertise and a highly selective portfolio strategy makes it the ideal partner for our two iconic estates,” explained Di Gioia.
He added: “What impressed us most was their ability to combine more than 160 years of history with a team that continues to evolve, innovate and adapt to an ever-changing wine market. We share a common vision: a commitment to quality and the development of strong long-term positioning.”
Agility and value
Speaking to db when he first joined Fells Euan Mackay identified Italy as one of the gaps in the importer’s portfolio, and a region he wished to bolster. Winning the business of Poggio di Sotto and Grattamacco is a further step on the road to doing just this.
“We are here to build brands, rather than just sell them,” he told db, adding that Fells’ future success will depend on “agility” as well as the ability “to add value” both on the customer and supplier side.
Mackay has also developed the company’s luxury gifting arm, saying it is no longer just a “nice to have”. Indeed, Fells’ gifting now makes up 10% of the total business, offering “another revenue source” and helping to “cement important relationships with key retailers like Waitrose, John Lewis, Marks & Spencer etc.”
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