Paterna was established in 1985 by a group of friends wanting to escape the disillusioned by the estates that were spending more time and money on their cellars than their actual products, which naturally suffered in quality as a consequence. The organically farmed 15 hectare estate is located on the Eastern corner of Central Tuscany, ~300 mASL, run in a cooperative manner by three young couples, producing wines only from local grape varieties, as well as olive oil and other agricultural products. Vineyards have an average age of 40 years, and form an important part of the integrated ecology on the estate. The wines are vinified in a highly traditional manner, the sulphur is kept to a minimum and whites are preserved by undergoing a period of skin contact during fermentation. These wines represent outstanding value, since the philosophy of the winemakers is to create wines for consumption and enjoyment, not just for show.