Villa Vignamaggio

There are some centuries-old family histories in Tuscany. That of the Gherardini family, however, is not only documented by wars and power since the Middle Ages, but even appears in works by Dante Alighieri. One of the ladies, Lisa Gherardini, is said to be the Mona Lisa portrayed by Leonardo da Vinci. Called "Monna Lisa, la Gioconda" at the time, this spelling now serves as the brand name for the winery's Gran Selezione. The family name of the founding family, who farmed the estate for over 600 years from 1404, adorns the label of the Riserva.

Panzano is one of the oldest settlements in the heart of Tuscany, on a chain of hills separating the Greve Valley from the Val di Pesa, historically always surrounded, today known as a pioneer of organic farming. Almost all the wineries around Panzano are already certified. Since the 2018 vintage, also Vignamaggio.

Today, Vignamaggio owns around 70 hectares of vineyards, spread over 61 vineyards in 9 different locations on both sides of the hill range. The soils are therefore varied. But mainly Galestro, the typical rock that runs through the entire Chianti region. In the Greve valley, it is stonier, calcareous and lighter; on the south side of Panzano, in the huge hollow called "Conca d'Oro", it is loamier, sandier and clayey. The slopes are sometimes quite steep and range from 250 to 450 metres above sea level. Due to the two river valleys, the vineyards are always well aerated and therefore not very susceptible to mould and grape diseases. Depending on the orientation and subsoil, the vines have been adapted over the years and planted either in Guyot or "Cordone Speronato" training. Two thirds are Sangiovese, the rest is divided between Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as Malvasia Bianca and Trebbiano. Just under 3% are various old varieties.

The oldest part of the vineyards lies directly behind the Renaissance villa, which is situated on the serpentines that wind up from Greve to Panzano. It was built around 1400 and has been sensitively renovated so that it can now be visited again in all its glory.

Part of the vineyards is dedicated to the scientific research project "Arca di Noè" (Noah's Ark), in which over 200 grape varieties or historic clones from the oldest vineyards have been replanted in order to preserve the genetic make-up of historic varieties of Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Malvasia, Trebbiano, Ciliegiolo, Colombana, Mammolo, Occhiorosso and others.

Organic farming is not only practised in the vineyards, but is complemented by olive groves, fruit trees, cornfields, woods and a pig farm of the old "Cinta Senese" breed.

Under the new owner Patrice Taravella, an architect who has been restoring Vignamaggio to its former fame and quality since 2014, a lot has also been invested in the farmsteads that have been added over the decades. In addition to the winery, a variety of tourist establishments have been created, ranging from rooms in the agriturismo, a restaurant and an event or wedding ceremony complex, flats in restored "farmhouses" to luxurious accommodation in the historic villa or in the Hotel Villa Sangiovese. The Renaissance garden discovered in historical paintings is also being rebuilt on 2 hectares. Here, an exciting gastronomic-vinophile synthesis of the arts is being created on historic soil. SUPERIORE.DE