#SehnsuchtChiantiClassico: A virtual visit to the Davaz family at the Poggio al Sole winery
Poggio al Sole
Now that I have visited some of "my" wineries virtually for and with you as part of my #SehnsuchtChiantiClassico blog series and told you what everyday life and living in Corona times is like, I would like to take you on a little trip to the Poggio al Sole winery today - to Kathrin and Johannes Davaz. They are looking positively and optimistically to the future - with a new logo, new plantings and lots of excellent new wines.
Poggio al Sole: The winery on the "hill in the sun"
Hills and slopes covered in forests and cypress groves, vines and olive trees. The soft, radiant light of Tuscany, the clouds that drift across the sky and seem close enough to touch - these are all images of longing from Chianti. And right in the middle of this magical scenery, between the towns of Tavarnelle Val di Pesa and Greve in Chianti, lies the Poggio al Sole vineyard, which covers an area of around 70 hectares. In fact, Poggio al Sole should not be described as "in the middle", but rather as "on top". The estate, which is owned by Swiss winegrowers Kathrin and Johannes Davaz, is located at the highest point of a sun-drenched hill - as the name of the vineyard suggests, which translates as "hill in the sun".
Poggio al Sole - a sun-drenched elevation
The Davaz family - Swiss roots, intertwined with Tuscany
Johannes, who is both agronomist and oenologist at Poggio al Sole, actually comes from a well-known Swiss winemaking family. According to Kathrin and Johannes, they bought the winery around 30 years ago "following a spontaneous intuition". Today, Valentino, one of Johannes and Kathrin's four sons, also lives here with his wife Steffi. They support the work in the vineyard, cellar and agriturismo.
Jeremias, the eldest son in the family, lives in Zurich and - like so many others - is currently working from home. Nicola, the third son in the quartet, is studying medicine in Basel. And the youngest member of the Davaz family, Noè, is studying economics - also in Switzerland. In other words, the Davaz family has only seen and heard from each other recently via video or telephone. And this will probably remain the case for some time to come - as long as the borders are still closed to private individuals.
Until a visit is possible again, the sons will simply get in touch virtually - and ask mom how this and that dish is cooked and, above all, which wine goes well with it, says Kathrin Davaz with a smile. "But I'm pleased," she says, "that I was able to give my sons an appreciation of the fact that eating and drinking is a piece of culture that brings people together and keeps them together - all over the world!"
Johannes is both agronomist and oenologist at Poggio al Sole
Change is progress
Until a few days ago, Italy had a very strict curfew: you were only allowed to leave your home for urgent business reasons or to buy food. And only at the supermarket or the Alimentari within the municipal boundaries. You were not allowed to cross these boundaries. Kathrin Davaz explains: "You almost had a guilty conscience when you went for a walk through the vineyard to see what was right. But at the end of the day, each individual bears a certain responsibility for the well-being and health of everyone."
After more than seven weeks of curfew, a gradual easing of the strict restrictions has now begun. Since May 4, Italians have been allowed to go for walks in parks, visit relatives and move around their region again. "One thing is clear" smiles Kathrin Davaz, "Italy's dogs in particular are delighted that the curfew has come to an end. Because walking the dog was expressly permitted, every single member of the family took the dog for a walk every day. First mom, then the children, then dad and of course the grandparents too. Now the dogs are finished...
But we are also infinitely relieved that the measures are now being relaxed a little. Because these have been really tough weeks."
Johannes, winemaker with passion and tradition
A fresh, youthful breeze at Poggio al Sole
However, it is also undisputed that the coronavirus pandemic has left deep rifts in the Italian economy - especially as Italy's economic situation was anything but easy even before COVID-19. "After the tragic human losses that Italy and its people have suffered and the economic consequences that will be with us for a long time to come, it will probably take some time to return to a life as we were used to, or rather to a life that resembles what we were used to," says the winemaker.
However, life and the course of events cannot be stopped and so the Davaz family decided to relaunch the Poggio al Sole logo. One thing was clear: the name and the hill were to remain the central features. And so the new logo, which now depicts the hill as a gentle curve, is a sign that things are moving forward, that a fresh wind is blowing at Poggio al Sole - and in a way it is doing so with the increased involvement of the younger generation.
Valentino embodies the young generation at Poggio al Sole
And the wind blows gently and freshly in real life too, when the sun slowly disappears behind the hills and then a cool evening breeze blows through the vineyards. "The ideal moment of the day to open a bottle of rosato, by the way," says Kathrin.
Poggio al Sole
Full of optimism for the future
The fact that new Sangiovese vines were planted just a few weeks ago shows that Poggio al Sole is looking positively to the future. And under extremely good conditions: Because immediately after planting, it started to rain - ideal for the young seedlings to grow and find a firm foothold in the well-moistened soil! And this despite the fact that there had been a few nights of frost just a few days earlier...
Small young Sangiovese plants on Poggio al Sole
Another reason to be happy: the new vintages from Poggio al Sole are on their way to me and can already be pre-ordered in the online store! In addition to Chiara, a second white wine from Poggio al Sole, Sangiovese Bianco, is new to my range. Another new feature is that the Trafiore is now simply called Canaiolo, as it is made entirely from this grape variety.
Of course, the delivery also included the fresh Rosato "Primavera", the wonderful Syrah, the Seraselva, but of course also the Chianti Classico and last but not least the Chianti Classico Gran Selezione "Casasilia". A fresh olive oil from Poggio al Sole - of which there was unfortunately very little last year - is also available from me again.
10 % special discount #SehnsuchtChiantiClassico for all wines from Poggio al Sole
10 % special discount #SehnsuchtChiantiClassico for all wines from Poggio al Sole
The new vintages from Poggio al Sole have just arrived and are now available to order in the store! Among them are the perfect wines for warm spring days and sparkling early summer evenings that await us now: two wonderfully fresh white wines, the "Chiara" and also the "Sangiovese Bianco", which is new to me, and of course the fruity Rosato "Primavera".
The Davaz family would like to offer all our customers a 10% discount on all Poggio al Sole wines from May 8 to 17, 2020. Available of course at NinainChianti.com, free shipping for Germany and Austria.
So that we can all continue to enjoy our beloved Chianti in the form of the excellent wines of this region, despite or especially during these difficult times ...
Poggio al Sole