OUR PHILOSOPHY
So, what is the driving philosophy of Società Agricola Villa Santo Stefano? It is undoubtedly Wolfgang Reitzle’s natural passion to always pursue and produce the best, to seek perfection. But more than that, it’s the desire to take full advantage of the potential offered by this charming landscape, its unique soil and special climate, to produce exceptional oil and wine that are both a tribute and a declaration of love to this magnificent area - the Lucchesia. The old Villa Bertolli was supposed to be just a holiday home, but it was simply love at first sight. Its unique hillside location, with breathtaking views over the valley and to the sea in the distance, the lush vegetation, and the magnificent town of Lucca only a few kilometres away, make the villa a perfect holiday spot. However, when Wolfgang Reitzle and Nina Ruge tasted their first extra virgin olive oil and wine from their little vineyard, everything changed and Mr. Reitzle decided to dedicate himself fully to the ancient and noble business of winemaking and olive oil production.
“The biggest enemy of quality is haste.”
HENRY FORD
Being, by nature, the kind of person who always strives for the best, Mr. Reitzle leveraged the achievements of the top experts in the business. For his extra virgin olive oil, he sought the collaboration of the Pruneti brothers, producers of the highest quality oil in San Polo in the Chianti region. For many generations, their oil has charted amongst the best in the quality rankings. It was, for example, the Pruneti brothers who suggested investing in the use of nitrogen for storing pressed oil.
Das Weintraining erhielt er von einigen renommierten Önologen. Heute ist der Önologe Attilio Pagli verantwortlich für die permanente Verfeinerung der Weinqualität. Die tägliche Arbeit vor Ort wird von weiteren Profis verantwortet. Von dem Verwalter des Anwesens und Agronom Alessandro Garzi und dem Önologen Alessio Farnesi.
"Qualität ist das Produkt der Liebe zum Detail."
HENRY FORD
Loto – The Lotus Blossom in Lucca
"Loto" – the Italian word for the lotus flower – symbolizes purity, beauty, and a new awakening. When we moved to Lucca, this special plant suddenly blossomed in our lives. Right on our lake, the lotus flower bloomed and became a wonderful symbol of change and new beginnings. The lotus flower, known in many cultures for its extraordinary ability to bloom even from muddy waters, perfectly reflects what we have experienced in our new beginning here in Tuscany. The sight of this beautiful flower, thriving despite the toughest conditions, constantly reminds us how important it is to seek the good in every moment of life and to forge new paths. In the tranquility and beauty of Lucca, and especially by the lake, we found inspiration and peace – perfectly in line with the symbolic meaning of the lotus flower. For this reason, we named our most significant and first wine "Loto." Since 2006, we have been producing this special wine, which is not only a symbol of quality and dedication for us, but also of the beginning of our journey in the world of winemaking. Loto is our flagship wine, and with every bottle, it embodies the same passion and vision that we invest in the production of our wines.
The meaning of the wings
Four of our wines, whose grapes come from Lucca, carry the winged logo as an expression of a unique philosophy. The symbol of the wings stands for freedom, lightness, and inspiration. It embodies the nature of the organic grapes, which thrive in an ideal climate, and the elegant, effortless character of the wines that captivate the senses. It also reflects the constant pursuit of new horizons, whether through innovative winemaking or the joy of discovering new aromas. Thus, the winged logo not only represents the origin of our wines from Lucchesia but also the journey each drop takes – from the winery to you, free and full of lightness.
