The love for winemaking is in Lorenzo's blood. His parents, former sheep farmers, made the switch to winemaking after the birth of their children. The small estate in Montepulciano had two hectares of Sangiovese orchards. In 1990 the first vintage was a fact and the domain quickly became one of the most famous in Tuscany. The prestige and competition among the Montepulcianos also grew enormously in a short time with the arrival of large, commercial wineries, which is why the family decided to sell the estate. Lorenzo's father, Fabrizio, had long been fascinated by the Aglianico grape and the charm of the rugged landscape of Basilicata. He bought a piece of land there, where he only grows 100% Aglianico. While Lorenzo and the rest of the family remained in Tuscany, Fabrizio traveled back and forth between his orchards and his family. In 2004 the first vintage under the house of Grifalco was there.
Lorenzo was also captivated by the beauty and charm of Vulture. After studying oenology and viticulture in Turin and years of experience in Fabrizio's vineyards, he decided to start his own business. He rented 6 hectares of 100% Aglianico vineyards in Venture (now purchased) and, like his father, divides his time between the vineyards, his family in Turin and the 12-hour night bus.
Thanks to the special geological and climatic characteristics of the area, he can afford to leave the vines alone for a while and to work completely organically. The Venture is a fairly cool and dry area and is located at an altitude of 500 to 600 meters, which means that the dry wind from the Tyrrhenian Sea blows constantly through the orchards and avoids potential diseases. The cuvées of San Martino all three know how to show the character of the area, vinatage and grape in their own unique way and give a new face to very southern, Italian wines.