Il Palagio di Panzano
di Monia Piccini
... Panzano in the blood
And the two winegrowers really have passion and Panzano in their blood: because they are real Panzanesi! It means that they were born and raised in Panzano. Here they live and work with their two daughters - in one of the most beautiful spots on earth, in the heart of Tuscany, in the Chianti Classico wine region, in the small village of Panzano, halfway between Florence and Siena.
100 % Tuscany
The winery and the agriturismo are located in a typical Tuscan estate. It is built around the year 1,000 with the slightly reddish stones of the region. The centuries-old house was once the seat of Duke Totto of Panzano before Dario Piccini turned the estate into a winery in the 1960s. This idyllic property, just a few kilometers from Greve in Chianti, is now owned by the third generation of Piccinis. Since 2004 Monia and Franco have put their heart and soul into the wines and the house. Il Palagio di Panzano is surrounded by almost eight hectares of vineyards, where Sangiovese and Merlot grow and the olive trees grow on a further three hectares. Organic farming and careful use of resources and raw materials are the two fundamental pillars of Il Palagio di Panzano's philosophy.
Sangiovese organic
The first Chianti Classico from Monia and Franco, created in 2007 according to their principles, was to the great joy of the whole family the only Chianti Classico of its vintage to be awarded the highest rating by the renowned wine guide "Gambero Rosso". This great award worked as motivation boost for the upcoming years and wonderfully harmonious wines have followed. Convinced that the future of viticulture can only be based on sustainability, Il Palagio di Panzano was converted to organic cultivation in 2009. The official organic certification followed in 2013. Not for nothing Panzano is regarded as the organic district of Italy par excellence!
Red wine & Rosé
In the vineyard as in the cellar of Il Palagio di Panzano, Monia and Franco are advocates of natural processes and a separate vinification in order to be able to highlight the specialities of each individual vineyard. The wines mature under controlled temperature, first in stainless steel tanks with a capacity of between 50 and 100 hectoliters. The wine is then placed in noble oak barrels, and a great care will be taken to preserve the typical flavours of the Sangiovese grapes and to guarantee a different ageing process for each of the wines.
Fairytale in Tuscany
Il Palagio di Panzano looks like a small stone fortress. The villa, with its corners and angles, hidden squares and courtyards, with its numerous terraces and its enchanted garden, is in reality a small fairytale castle. And perhaps you will also meet the two princesses Giorgia and Gianna, the two daughters of the house, to whom even the Gran Selezione with the name "Le Bambole" is dedicated. The property offers lovingly furnished apartments where you can spend your holiday in an excellent way - one week, two weeks, or more... The pool with its sensational view over the Conca d'Oro, the golden valley, makes you fall in love with Il Palagio right away.
Wine in the glass ...
In Panzano in Chianti, in the top location of the shell-shaped valley with the resounding name Conca d'Oro, Monia and Franco Piccini produce excellent red wines at their "Azienda Agricola Il Palagio di Panzano". A light Chianti Classico, a noble Chianti Classico Riserva, an excellent Gran Selezione with the name "Le Bambole", an easy Ignobile and an elegant Torgentile. Besides wine, the production of olive oil is Monia's great passion.
