VALLEPICCIOLA

Chianti Classico, Italy

Azienda Agricola Vallepicciola covers 182 hectares, of which around 65 vineyards, East of Castelnuovo Berardenga (Siena) in the Chianti Classico region. The vineyards are scattered on the hills left of river Arbia, an area rich in clay, limestone and stone pebbles. Meticulous work in the vineyard and very low and concentrated yields lead to a production of high-quality grapes, depth of flavour, texture and freshness.

Owner Bruno Bolofo saw potential in the mosaic of vineyards, olive groves, castles and Medieval hamlets, found in the area around Pievaciata near Siena. In the 1980s, he began with converting an old monastery of Medieval origin on the top of a hill overlooking the green Siena area. He then opened Le Fontanelle, a 5-star hotel with restaurant and spa, surrounded by breathtaking views. The first vineyards they owned were those surrounding the hotel. Over the past few years, they acquired other land and currently own 65 hectares that have been planted with a selection of the varieties that most suited the local soil, rich in marl and sandstone.

Region & Vineyard Notes

Perhaps one of the most beautiful wine regions in the world, Chianti Classico is an area that has miles and miles of hill topped medieval villages and valleys covered in vines, all between the two beautiful cities of Florence and Siena. The region has been making wine for centuries, indeed since the epoch of the Etruscans (over three thousand years ago). During the medieval period, there were vicious battles between the lordships of Florence and Siena, and hundreds of castles and fortresses were built.

The winery extends along the eastern hillside of Castelnuovo Berardenga, near Siena, over a surface of about 110 hectares divided into 12 areas and planted with 7 different grape varieties. The vineyards, distributed on the hilly territories to the left of the river Arbia, have been carefully selected according to the composition of the soils and areas alternating amalgams of clays, calcareous marl, bluish marl, tuff, sandstone and sand. And this is the strongest plus of our company: great variability of soils which makes stimulating the potential diversification that can be drawn from it.