Brancaia

"Il Blu" has a firm place among Italy's top wines and is already considered a classic by many wine lovers. The noble wine comes from Casa Brancaia in Castellina. In 1981 the Swiss couple Brigitte and Bruno Widmer acquired the vineyard. Only two years later it took first place at a big tasting with its Chianti Classico. Brancaia has long since joined the top group of Tuscan producers. The wines are always at the forefront of tastings and are highly praised by international wine critics.

The rapid initial success was followed by a steady expansion of activities. In 1989 the Widmer couple bought another vineyard (Poppi) in Rada. And nine years later a third branch was founded southeast of Grosseto (Maremma). This is where the top wine Ilatraia is pressed. Since 1998 Barbara Cronenberg-Widmer, who studied enology and is the owner's daughter, has been responsible for wine production and vineyards. She will be advised by the excellent enologist Carlo Ferrini. Martin Cronenberg and his wife have been managing the three wineries together since 2001, and he is responsible for the management and operation.

The elegant wines are aged for at least twelve months in French barriques and tonneaux in two wine cellars (Chianti Classico and Maremma), which have been created according to the most modern principles. The flagship variety Sangiovese is dominant in the Chianti Classico Riserva, but also in the "Il Blu" and the base wine "Il Tre" were significantly involved. In contrast, it has not been represented in Ilatraia at all since the 2009 vintage.

Environmental protection is a top priority in Brancaia. The owners work according to the guidelines of integrated production. The vineyards are protected in the long term because, for example, the carbon dioxide emissions of the vehicles have been significantly reduced. SUPERIORE.DE

"... a range of products, all of which shine with ripe fruit, well supported by a beautiful oak and powerful structures, but which also have the necessary freshness." Vini d'Italia 2012