Podcast 006 | Poggio al Sole, where the hill in the sun and a colorful bouquet of wines is the program

July 2

The Davaz family

Poggio al Sole | Barberino Tavarnelle

Welcome back to "A glass of wine with Nina in Chianti"! Today I would like to take you on a special journey into the heart of Chianti Classico, more precisely to the Poggio al Sole winery in Barberino. Here I met the family behind this unique winery: Kathrin, Steffi, Johannes and Valentino.

We sat under a shady tree on armchairs made from old barrique barrels. This creative idea shows how sustainability and style go hand in hand here. A perfect place to enjoy the Casasilla 2018, a 100% Sangiovese that combines the best grapes from the estate.

The hill in the sun

Poggio al Sole, which means "hill in the sun", is picturesquely situated between the municipalities of Panzano, Greve and Barberino Tavarnelle. The winery covers 70 hectares, of which 24 hectares are vineyards and 1200 are olive trees. In addition to Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet, Syrah, Canaiolo and even Chardonnay also thrive here.

The Davaz family, originally from Switzerland, bought the vineyard in 1990. Johannes and Katrin immediately fell in love with the site and made it their life's work. Today, they are actively supported by their son Valentino and his wife Steffi. While Johannes is responsible for the vineyards and cellar as an agronomist and oenologist, Katrin takes care of the distribution and presentation of the wines worldwide.

Valentino has followed in his father's footsteps and is increasingly involved in the vineyards, in the cellar and also in export. Steffi, on the other hand, ensures that guests from all over the world feel at home at the winery, as Poggio al Sole also offers accommodation - perfect for a relaxing vacation in Tuscany.

Sustainable diversity

The variety of grape varieties grown and the resulting range of wines is particularly exciting. Sangiovese is the main protagonist, appearing in six of the nine wines produced and demonstrating the versatility of this variety - from young and fruity to wines with long storage potential.

Another highlight is the estate's own olive oil. The winery also produces a balsamic condimento from Sangiovese grapes, which is refined in Modena and impresses with its fruitiness and sweetness.

In recent years, the family has also modernized its marketing and design. The new logo, the Davaz family coat of arms, and the colorful labels give the wines a fresh, modern look without losing their recognition value.

Finally, it only remains for me to thank the Davaz family for the deep insight into their life and work. If you would like to find out more about Poggio al Sole and their wines or book a vacation there, you can find all the information in the show notes. Until next time, ciao and a presto!