Winemaker Bio

Family

People are always the foundation for any success story. So it’s no surprise that what lends Prelius its strength is the Stianti Mascheroni family. Leaders in Tuscany’s organic viticultural movement, the family revitalized the village of Volpaia in the heart of Chianti Classico near Radda in Chianti.

An avid sailor, Carlo had long spent time on the coast of the Maremma and more recently began to search for a retirement home on its idyllic seashore. Instead, an offer to look at a property with a vineyard was proposed. The family arrived on a clear, sunny September day in 2005 and its fate was sealed. Two years later, Prelius was established.

Three decades earlier, Giovannella and Carlo received Volpaia as a wedding gift from the bride’s father. History repeated itself when Carlo and Giovannella Stianti Mascheroni presented Prelius to their daughter, Federica Mascheroni Stianti.

With an arts education, Federica began her career in painting restoration and worked in a contemporary art gallery in Florence, but always remained close to the family’s activities at Volpaia. Taking on the responsibilities of a new winery venture required a full-time commitment, however, and for the past two years Federica has devoted her creative energies to Prelius.

Federica now manages the Prelius estate with the assistance of Lorenzo Regoli, vineyard manager and first resident winemaker at Castello di Volpaia since 2001. Consulting winemaker Riccardo Cotarella brings technical innovation, new ideas, and suggestions during the final blending process to Prelius, as he has to Volpaia since 2001.