The kingdom of
Chianti Classico
of Castelnuovo Berardenga
In the heart of Chianti Classico, nestled in the hills of Castelnuovo Berardenga, stands Fattoria di Valiano. The estate, acquired by the Piccini family in 1995, boasts a long and glorious history dating back to Roman times. At that time, in fact, these lands were assigned to a skilled leader, as a reward for the valor shown on the battlefield.
Over the centuries, the Valiano estate has been the home of illustrious owners, among whom the President of the Republic Giovanni Gronchi stands out. For over twenty years, the helm has passed into the hands of the Piccini family, who have found their roots in Valiano.
“It was precisely this magic that captured me and my father Pierangiolo, when in May 1995 we arrived in Valiano for the first time. Driven by the excellence of these hills, we went to the estate to stipulate a contract for the purchase of the grapes, but as soon as we crossed the threshold, we could not believe our eyes. A sea of green spread out in front of us, framed by a crown of hills. A hillock, higher than the others, set the vineyards, guarding them with its cypress garland. Enchanted by this corner of paradise, we decided, at that moment, that Valiano would be the home of our family. In no time at all, we made an offer to the owner, who agreed to sell the property on the condition that he could remain, as director, in that magical place where he had lived and worked all his life. Filled with joy for the outcome of the negotiation, I glanced again at that hillock, perched on the vineyards. That hill bore the name of Poggio Teo and since then, under its tall cypresses, it would have seen the history of our family pass by.”
Mario Piccini
230 hectares of total area, including vineyards, woods and natural areas.
78 hectares of organically managed vineyards, selected and followed parcel by parcel.
Suitable exposures and altitudes , for a balanced ripening of the grapes.
The maximum declination of Sangiovese
The undisputed king of these lands is undoubtedly Sangiovese, which provides its fruit to our Chianti Classico. Its vineyards have a north-east exposure and an altitude ranging from 200 to 300 m above sea level. In the glass it reveals an enveloping aroma of violets and berries. The sip is full and balanced, supported by a superb structure. The velvety tannic texture accompanies towards a soft finish of fruity notes.
Finally, Sangiovese finds its greatest exaltation in our 6.38 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, which takes its name from the extent of its vineyard of origin, underscoring the close bond that binds each bottle from the estate to its terroir. Located at 350 m above sea level, its vines benefit from a southwest exposure, taking advantage of a predominantly clayey soil mixed with skeleton. After a long aging of 18 months in French oak barrels and barriques, followed by 6 months in the bottle, the wine offers a bouquet that plays on references of spices, berries, ginger zest and orange. Freshness and fullness accompany the sip, toward a finish dominated by black pepper and bitter cocoa.
Attention and care on every hectare
The Valiano vineyards stretch out among the hills of Castelnuovo Berardenga, in an ideal context for the vine: variable altitudes, soils rich in character and exposures that favor finesse and balance.
The estate pays particular attention to reading the vineyard: each parcel is observed and followed with care, because it is there that quality is born—even before the cellar.
Organic, innovation and respect for nature
The vineyards, all organically managed, are constantly inspected by the watchful eye of Pasquale Presutto, the winemaker of the Valiano house, who takes care of every hectare of land with scrupulousness and method. Under this banner, Pasquale is leading a small revolution on the estate, with an attempt to carefully monitor the vineyards.
“Our philosophy is encapsulated in this adage: ensure the health of the surrounding environment to produce classy wines. It is a patient work, in continuous dialogue between the introduction of innovative techniques and respect for the rhythms of nature that govern the ecosystem of the vineyard. Only by observing this delicate balance, superfine wines can be born. In fact, the spirit that animates the estate is summed up in the combination: “a grape variety – a territory”, which allows the expressiveness of the grapes and their link with the land of origin to be enhanced. In recent years, we have converted all our vineyards to organic farming, constantly striving to stay up to date on the subject of eco-sustainability”.
Pasquale Presutto
On the wings of Icarus: innovation in the vineyard
to protect the rows in a natural way
If it is true that the past shapes the future, the new course of the fifth generation could only start from Fattoria di Valiano, the family’s estate perched in the hills of Chianti Classico. Here, among rows of vines playing hide and seek with the horizon and cypresses tickling the sky, you can breathe the air of old-fashioned Tuscany, the one that made Goethe fall in love. Yet, in this postcard, the immobility is only apparent, because as Curzio Malaparte wrote: “Tuscany is a magical landscape where everything is gentle around, everything is old and new”. Here, then, among the rows of Poggio Teo, an exceptional cru of Valiano, you can glimpse every morning the new hi-tech guardian of the vineyards: an automatic robot that inspects every inch of land to prevent fungal diseases. The last frontier of agri-tech, the robot takes its name from Icarus, the boy who dared to challenge the sun with wings kneaded with wax.
Our Icarus, however,” explains Pasquale Presutto, Technical Director of the estate, “this time, has learned its lesson and no longer takes risks towards the sun’s rays, but uses its wings, covered with panels, to irradiate the plants with UV-C rays and avoid, in a natural way, the onset of the most fearsome vine diseases, such as downy mildew. The result of an all-Italian reality, Icaro is powered by electricity, with an integrated GPS system, which allows it to successfully orient itself in the maze of rows. This new technology – continues Pasquale – will allow us to continue our path in the name of environmental sustainability, inaugurated a few years ago with the complete conversion of our vineyards to organic farming, to offer wines that know how to interpret the terroir, in full respect of the environment.”
Pasquale Presutto
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