Earth, wind, sun and sea: in Riparbella, the soul of the Tuscan Coast is reflected in the freshness and elegance of Caiarossa wines
September 17, 2026 (Riparbella, Italy) — Earth, wind, sun and sea. These four elements are how Caiarossa expresses its Mediterranean soul and deep connection to Riparbella on the Tuscan coast. Just six kilometers from the Tyrrhenian Sea, the estate is nestled in Mediterranean scrub and surrounded by woodland, olive trees, and aromatic plants, in a landscape where the sea’s influence accompanies the vine’s growing cycle and helps shape the style of the wines.
Sea breezes flow inland from the coast to the vineyards, providing natural ventilation that is particularly noticeable in the plots facing the Tyrrhenian Sea and on the higher slopes of Nocolino. Together with the estate’s varied elevations, the wind tempers the intensity of the sun. It contributes to temperature differences between day and night, encouraging the grapes to ripen slowly and gradually. In this balance between warmth and coolness, the fruit reaches full ripeness while retaining acidity and tension. The result is wines of depth and intensity that are also vibrant and elegant: a character that captures the brilliance of the coast while preserving the freshness imparted by the sea and the hills.
The Mediterranean landscape also shapes Caiarossa’s identity through its scents. Around the vines, wild vegetation, aromatic herbs, flowers, woodland and olive trees form a rich, vibrant ecosystem. Notes of rosemary, sage, myrtle, lavender and wild fennel mingle in the air with the resin of the trees and the saltiness carried by the wind, forming the estate’s sensory heritage.
Beneath this lush vegetation lies an intricate mosaic of soils. The 40 hectares under vine are divided into 59 plots with differing soil compositions, elevations and aspects, spread across Podere Serra all’Olio, Le Lame and Nocolino. Each plot is tended, harvested and vinified separately, respecting its own rhythm and preserving its identity before the blends are created. This plot-by-plot approach becomes a way of listening to and interpreting the land: it allows the estate’s many expressions to be recognized and brought together in wines where complexity and balance coexist.
Caiarossa IGT Toscana Rosso, the estate’s flagship wine, comes from the historic vineyard of Podere Serra all’Olio and offers the fullest expression of this diversity. Its blend of Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese, Petit Verdot and Grenache combines depth, precision and harmony, distinguished by a freshness that complements its intensity and complexity.
Aria di Caiarossa IGT Toscana Rosso tells the story of Nocolino, the estate’s highest vineyard, set on breezy slopes facing the sea. Here, cooler temperatures, constant air circulation, and volcanic soils help create a velvety wine of depth, characterized by vitality, elegance, and tension.
“Riparbella is the perfect expression of the Tuscan Coast and the Mediterranean scrub, which gives our wines their character and vitality. Caiarossa is striking in its authenticity, vibrancy and emotional appeal, and in its respect for its terroir and the environment,” says the Albada Jelgersma family, owners of the estate.
Earth, wind, sun and sea therefore represent more than the landscape surrounding Caiarossa: they are different expressions of a shared identity. A bright, vibrant Mediterranean soul that flows from the Tuscan Coast into the vineyards and finds its most authentic expression in the glass.
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.
