August 24, 2026 (Riparbella, Italy) — Nestled among the gentle hills of Riparbella on the Tuscan Coast, Caiarossa is best understood as a mosaic rather than a single, uniform vineyard. Here, the estate is defined not by continuity but by diversity and detail: 59 individual vineyard parcels, each with its own combination of soils, elevation and exposure, planted to ten grape varieties—Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay, Viognier, Vermentino and Petit Manseng.
This fragmented geography is not a limitation but a deliberate choice: a way of reading the land with precision and transforming its complexity into a coherent identity.
Located just a few kilometres from the Tyrrhenian Sea, Caiarossa benefits from the combination of Mediterranean light, cooling coastal breezes and exceptional biodiversity. The estate comprises 40 hectares of vineyards interwoven with olive groves, woodland and aromatic Mediterranean vegetation. The result is a dynamic, layered environment in which natural elements interact continuously, making every parcel an individual unit of observation and interpretation.
The vineyard layout reflects careful study rather than uniform planning. The 59 parcels, ranging from 120 to 350 metres above sea level, differ in soils, exposure and microclimate, each matched with specific grape varieties and rootstocks.
The estate is organised around three distinct vineyard areas. Podere Serra all’Olio, surrounding the winery at elevations between 150 and 220 metres, is characterised by soils rich in clay, gravel, limestone and iron. Le Lame/Val di Cecina features sandy, calcareous soils influenced by breezes flowing inland from the coast. Nocolino, located on the slopes of Poggio di Nocola at elevations reaching 350 metres, overlooks the Tyrrhenian Sea and is distinguished by volcanic-origin soils containing marl, schist and stone.
Together, soil composition and elevation become fundamental tools for interpreting each vineyard, shaping both the identity and the complexity of the estate.
This diversity allows Caiarossa to work with a remarkable range of expressions. Yet diversity is never pursued as an end in itself. Instead, each grape variety is planted where it can achieve its greatest balance, with the aim of creating clarity rather than accumulation. The vineyard therefore functions as a mosaic in which every piece retains its individuality while contributing to a shared vision.
This precision continues throughout the growing season and into harvest. Each of the 59 parcels is monitored individually, with particular attention paid to timing and ripeness. Grapes are harvested entirely by hand, parcel by parcel, only when they have reached their optimal point of maturity.
Such meticulous attention to detail is supported by biodynamic farming, a guiding principle at Caiarossa since the estate’s earliest years. By working in harmony with natural cycles and enhancing soil vitality, the estate seeks to strengthen the resilience and authentic expression of every vineyard parcel, rather than imposing an external sense of uniformity.
The same parcel-driven philosophy continues in the winery. Every lot is vinified separately, preserving the distinctive identity developed in the vineyard. Fermentation, ageing and tasting are carried out with the objective of understanding the individual character of each component before blending takes place. The final wines therefore emerge not from a predetermined formula, but from an ongoing dialogue between parcels, grape varieties and the unique conditions of each vintage.
At Caiarossa, the concept of terroir is explored in its finest detail. Rather than representing a fixed style, it becomes the result of a precise reading of place—one that embraces natural variability and transforms it into structure. The wines reflect this philosophy: layered, balanced and shaped by the interaction of multiple elements, never identical, always evolving, yet consistently rooted in their origin on the Tuscan Coast.
More than a single vineyard or a single expression, Caiarossa can be understood as an evolving composition. Its 59 parcels form the estate’s vocabulary, while its ten grape varieties provide the grammar. Precision is the method that brings these elements together—not to erase their differences, but to give them direction. The result is a unified identity that remains open to nuance while firmly anchored in the complexity of its place of origin.
ABOUT CAIAROSSA
The energy of nature gathers strength and shelter near the medieval village of Riparbella, on the Tuscan Coast. Lush vegetation, fruit trees, olive groves, vegetables and aromatic plants together paint the colours, aromas and wonder of a unique landscape: the very place where Caiarossa was born. By day, a magical light created by the sun’s reflection on the distant sea; by night, a vast star‑studded sky. The sense of enchantment is profound, embracing the winery itself, red like the earth’s core, set on the south‑west slope of the hill. It was in 2004 that Eric Albada Jelgersma decided to acquire an estate in this special corner of Italy, bringing with him the experience he had developed over the years in Bordeaux with Château Giscours, the renowned winery in the Margaux appellation. Eric Albada fell in love with this small yet beautiful estate, nestled in the Mediterranean scrub on the western side of a hill overlooking the sea. Today, his children Dennis, Derk and Valérie continue in their father’s footsteps, pursuing ever greater precision in the production of the wines, in a deep connection with the rhythms of nature, which is why the estate has followed the principles of biodynamic agriculture since its inception, with the aim of enhancing the vitality and resilience of the soil. The wines of Caiarossa are unique: refined blends that emerge from a balance between experimentation and harmony. A sense of equilibrium that offers a virtuous interpretation of the territory, through a French lens.
