The estate covers an area of 140 hectares, situated
in the heart of the Chianti Classico
district, in the municipality of Greve
in Chianti.
52 hectares (=128 US acres) of the estate are occupied
by vineyards and there are eleven hectares of olive-groves.
The vineyards have a mainly south-western and eastern
exposure and are situated at an altitude of between
330 m and 400 m a.s.l.
The main vine variety is Sangiovese,
which occupies 82% of the area dedicated to the cultivation
of vines.
The Cabernet Franc is the estate's
peculiarity since it consists of vines of over forty
years of age which have a very low yeld and
are located among the Sangiovese in the old vineyards.
Since 1990 the Cabernet Franc has been vinified separately .
The plantation density of the old vineyards is still
3500 vine-stocks per hectare. The vines are Tuscan bow
pruned: this involves bending one or two branches, 6-7
buds long, in a downward direction. The new vineyards
are planted obtaining a plantation density of 5680 vine-stocks
per hectare. Currently these vines are single or double
cordon trained: this involves having one or two permanent
horizontal branches located at height of 60/70 cm from
the ground on which 4 to 6 short "spurs",
with 1 or 2 buds, are left after pruning.
In the event of any imbalance, interventions are carried
out at veraison (when the berries change from green
to red), i.e. at the end of July, eliminating the excess
clusters.
The olive-groves, of indeterminable age,which
were restored following the severe frost of 1984,
consist of the traditional Chiantivarieties-Frantoio,
Leccino, Moraiolo and Pendolino- which are pruned
using the polyconic vase method.
Frantoio, also known as Correggiolo,
Frantoiano or Razzo, is native to Tuscany. The olive
oil produced is highly valued, elegant, tasty and very
fruity.
Moraiolo, also called Morellino or
Morello, is another Tuscan variety which can be found
throughout Central Italy. This olive oil is greatly
appreciated for the high content of the non saponifiable
fraction (squalene).
The origins of Leccino, which is cultivated
throughout Italy, are uncertain. This variety is very
resistant to the cold.
Pendolino, also known as Piangente, is native
to the Florentine area. The plant has decidedly pendulous
bearing, hence its name ("pendolino" literally
means "pendulum").
The average production
over the last ten years is 18,000 kg of olives, producing
3,300 litres of oil.
The olives are also picked entirely by hand in the month
of November. The olives are stored in crates and pressed
within 48 hours. The olives are crushed in an authorized
external oil press using the continuous extraction method.
|