60 hectares, heroic viticulture and avant -garde technology to multiply the production and strengthen the quality of the Iberian wines under the Finca Fella brand
The Vinicolo Fantini group takes a new, important step in its international expansion strategy. In recent days it has in fact perfected the acquisition of the Cantina ex Venta La Vega In Spain, an acquisition that opens up to extraordinary growth prospects. The operation will allow Fantini to plan a development until yesterday unthinkable, with the possibility of decipprating its current Iberian production within ten years, further improving the already high quality level of its wines.
This news marks a significant turning point for the group, which from its foundation in 1994 in Ortona, Abruzzo, has become a point of reference between the exporting vinical companies of Southern Italy. At the basis of the success of Fantini there is an innovative business model: do not have vineyards firsthand, but tighten agreements with local winemakers, true custodians of the territory, supported by young winemakers selected. Thus was born a real “federation” of cellars, distributed mainly in the Italian South, where the care of the vines is entrusted to those who have known the secrets of cultivation for generations.
The acquisition of ex Vento La Vega does not change this philosophy, but integrates it and strengthens it, enhancing the successes already achieved by the group in Spain. In fact, since 2021, Fantini has been present in Castile, Alpera, through Finca Fella: a mosaic of 1300-1400 hectares located between 900 and 1,250 meters above sea level, with very ancient vineyards that have made it possible to produce surprising quality and commercial successful wines.
“Finca Fella is growing so quickly that we have felt the need to be able to increase the production volumes and to be able to continue to raise the already high quality levels at the same time – explains Valentino Sciotti, founder and CEO of Fantini – We always remain faithful to the concept of Winery boutique, which is never linked to the quantities but to the ability to work with the utmost attention to detail. Growing up more and more, we risked no longer able to do it ».
The acquisition therefore represents a strategic response to this need for controlled growth. The ex Venta cellar La Vega will integrate in Finca Fella, adopting also the now consolidated brand. It is a modern and highly technological structure, with 60 hectares of soil and large development potential. Currently Finca Fella produces just over a million bottles per year, but now the volumes could multiply up to 10 million bottles, with the possibility that “in 10 years our Spanish associated could therefore become the largest company of the group”, says Sciotti. In addition to expanding the production capacities, the acquisition brings the wine growers already linked to the cellar in the dowry, which are located within a seal of 800 hectares, of which 231 in vineyard.
«We have always said that we want to grow by growing at the same time the territories in which we go to operate, through agreements with the people who already work them. We always want to be an opportunity for all the areas where we arrive and for the farmers who have been operating there for generations, “Sciotti still underlines.
The ex Venta La Vega winery, as well as the Finca Fella vineyards, stands in one of the most suitable but still little known wine areas of Spain: Castilla-La Mancha, and in particular in the Alpera-Almansa area, near Albacete, on the border with the Valencian commonidad. A region far from the big names of Spanish enology such as Rioja, Catalonia, Duer or Andalusia, but perfectly in line with the philosophy of Fantini, which has always enhanced niche productions and territories often overlooked in Abruzzo, Puglia, Campania, Basilicata, Sicily and Sardinia.
Almansa is an authentic grape paradise. The estate, at the foot of the legendary mountains of El Mugrón, hosts the largest single planting of Garnacha Tintorera in Europe. At 1,200 meters above sea level, the unique microclimate and the scarcity of water favor heroic agriculture and excellent quality. «Real heroic viticulture – highlights Tommaso Ciampoli, founding partner and administrator of the company – the vines must survive in almost the absence of water. So they remain low, practically at the ground level, the harvest becomes something extraordinary. The density is very small, three meters by three; you made them for really minimal hectare; The quality, however, amazing ».
“We felt the need to prepare to manage growth because we always want to guarantee the increase in the levels of attention, processing and quality that we can boast today: it is the main element that explains our success and we certainly do not want to lose it on the street. To obtain this result, we needed a much larger and much more technological structure, “says Sciotti.
The CEO concludes: «I believe a lot in this choice, also because Finca Fella wines make prizes everywhere are presented and get incredible sales performances in every market in which they overlook. We are very but very enthusiastic about our Spain project, which means wines with an absolutely exceptional quality/price ratio ». A success that Fantini – which exports 96% of its production – has already introduced the bottles of Finca Fella also in the Italian market, given the strong demand.
