On January 14, 2015, in HEALDSBURG, California, Bill Foley and Mario Piccini officially announced their partnership to introduce Piccini's esteemed wine collection to the American market. With roots dating back to 1882 and a humble beginning of 17 acres in the Chianti region, the Piccini family has upheld a legacy of winemaking in the picturesque Tuscan countryside for over a century. Today, under the guidance of siblings Mario and Martina, the fourth generation is dedicated to producing a diverse range of traditional wines from five distinct estates spanning nearly 1,000 acres across Italy.
The legacy wine of the family is Piccini Chianti, which boasts a distinctively orange label that brought fame to the name. Within a decade of the introduction of the Orange Label, Piccini became one of the top-noted Chianti producers worldwide. “Orange is a color that transmits energy, youth, and a positive can-do approach,” says Mario Piccini, Managing Director. “We’ve taken that orange and have applied it to everything else we do.” In addition to the Chianti Orange Label, Memoro wines, which include red, white, and rose, consist of grapes from ‘all four corners of Italy’ and developed rapidly worldwide as a truly unique Italian wine experience. “We give as much importance to innovation as we do tradition. Piccini will always be Chianti, but we dare to experiment and incorporate new techniques. We dare to pioneer,” says Mario.
“Our partnership with Foley Family Wines shows our desire to significantly increase focus on the United States. We are very passionate about the wines we produce and are excited to build awareness among American consumers,” stated Mario Piccini. “Piccini is our first foray into Italian wines,” said Bill Foley, “I’ve always felt that Italian wines would be a great addition to our portfolio, but it was very important to find the right partner. Piccini wines are of excellent quality, and the Piccini family is as innovative and passionate about the wine business as we are.” Full integration will take place over the next few months. The transaction is between two privately held companies. No details will be disclosed. Brindiamo Group acted as the company's advisor on the transaction.
About Piccini Wines
Piccini, established in 1882 by Angiolo Piccini, remains family-owned and managed across four generations. They now boast five estates, including the iconic Piccini in Castellina in Chianti. This brand serves as the cornerstone of the company's legacy, passed down through generations of the Piccini family. With winemaker Antonella Conti at the helm, Fattoria di Valiano is named after the Latin term for "valor" and is situated in Castelnuovo Berardenga, dedicated to premium Chianti Classico wines. Villa al Cortile, located in the heart of the esteemed Brunello di Montalcino zone, focuses on producing Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and its Riserva, led by winemaker Santo Gozzo. Tenuta Moraia, acquired in 2000, is situated in the Maremma region of coastal Tuscany, with winemaker Paolo Vagaggini overseeing the production of Sangiovese Grosso, Merlot, Vermentino, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon. Regio Cantina, nestled in the volcanic hills of Monte Vulture in Basilicata, dedicates its 37 acres of vineyards to the production of Aglianico del Vulture DOC. Piccini collaborates with a team of young professionals in Italy and strong partners worldwide to expand its distribution network, currently spanning an impressive 72 countries.
About Foley Family Wines
Foley Family Wines, founded by Bill Foley in 1996 through the acquisition of Lincourt Vineyards in California’s Santa Ynez Valley, has expanded into a prominent producer, marketer, and distributor of highly-acclaimed, handcrafted wines sourced from some of the world’s most renowned vineyards. Each brand within the company’s portfolio maintains its unique identity, style, techniques, and team. Foley Family Wines proudly owns various properties, including Foley Estates (Santa Rita Hills, CA), Lincourt Vineyards (Solvang, CA), Merus (Napa Valley, CA), Foley Johnson (Napa Valley, CA), Kuleto (Napa Valley, CA), Chalk Hill (Sonoma County, CA), Sebastiani (Sonoma County, CA), Lancaster Estate (Sonoma County, CA), Roth Estate (Sonoma County, CA), The Four Graces (Dundee, OR), Three Rivers Winery (Walla Walla, WA), Firestone Vineyard (Santa Ynez Valley, CA), Eos (Paso Robles, CA), Vavasour (Marlborough, New Zealand), Clifford Bay (Marlborough, New Zealand), and Te Kairanga (Martinborough, NZ). Bill Foley serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Fidelity National Inc. and as the Executive Chairman of Fidelity National Information Services, both recognized as Fortune 500 companies.