Fontodi

Panzano in Chianti

Fontodi - a flagship in Chianti Classico

Fontodi can justifiably be described as one of the flagships of Chianti Classico. Not least because of the size of the winery: more than 220 hectares of land, including more than 100 hectares of vineyards and a production of more than 400,000 bottles of wine per year - these figures speak for themselves. And every single bottle of wine has it all in the truest sense of the word: top quality, excellent taste and an unwavering love of wine.

Best locations in the Conca d'Oro

In 1968, the Manetti family - a family famous for their terracotta production - acquired Tenuta Fontodi. Actually only looking for a house in the countryside, they "accidentally" acquired 20 hectares of vineyards. But the Manettis soon recognized the potential of the Conca d'Oro - the golden valley of Panzano in Chianti. Marco Manetti and his brother Giovanni began to rebuild the wine production. After experimenting with different grape varieties, the brothers decided to plant the majority of the vineyards with the indigenous Sangiovese grape variety. This laid the foundations for an extraordinary success story.

Flaccianello della Pieve

Today, Giovanni Manetti is the sole director of Fontodi. When Giovanni took over the winery in the early 1980s, he was influenced by the meteoric rise of Antinori's Tignanello, the first Super Tuscan. In response to this wine and the other Super Tuscans, Giovanni developed the Flaccianello della Pieve Colli Toscana Centrale IGT for the first time in the 1981 vintage in collaboration with oenologist Franco Bernabei, who incidentally still works for Fontodi today. A red wine made from 100 percent Sangiovese, but vinified using new, modern methods and - still unusual at the time - matured in barriques.

Giovanni Manetti

Today, as in the past, Flaccianello achieves outstanding ratings for its special taste; the wine has been named one of the top 10 wines in the world several times by the famous American wine magazine "WineSpectator". Giovanni Manetti can therefore undoubtedly be regarded as one of the pioneers who helped the Sangiovese grape to achieve its current status in Chianti Classico. Incidentally, Giovanni Manetti himself carries the quintessence of Italian taste within him when he roams the vineyards and cellars in perfect style and checks that everything is in order.

Sangiovese & Co.

Fontodi has several 100% Sangiovese wines in its range, the Flaccianello, the driving force, the Chianti Classico, which plays the leading role in terms of quantity and could be described as the little brother of the Flaccianello. Since the 2012 vintage, the Vigna del Sorbo has also only been made from Sangiovese grapes from a single vineyard. The Filetto di Lamole is a relatively new addition to the range. Another red wine from Fontodi is the Syrah Case Via, which expresses the terroir of Panzano in Chianti. One of the rare white wines in the region is the Meriggio - 100% Sauvignon blanc. A recent addition to the Fontodi Sangiovese family is the equally pure Sangiovese Terrazze di San Leolino.

Panzano in Chianti

The use of pesticides was abandoned early on at Fontodi. Today, the winery is a certified organic operation, with many internationally award-winning wines. As is so often the case, the key is the terroir - in other words, the sites and the climate in which the vines grow and the grapes ripen. Fontodi's vineyards are located in the Conca d'Oro, in the golden shell, in Panzano in Chianti. The conditions here are perfect for the autochthonous Sangiovese grape variety: But the international grape varieties - such as Pinot Noir, Syrah or Sauvignon blanc - are also in good hands in Fontodi's vineyards.

Chianina cattle

The Chianina is an old breed of cattle from Tuscany, known for its size and muscular stature. It is characterized by its white coat and excellent meat quality. Originally used as a working animal, today it is particularly valued for the production of high-quality meat, especially the famous Bistecca alla Fiorentina. In addition, the manure from the Chianina cattle at Fontodi is used in agriculture, especially in vineyards, as a valuable fertilizer and contributes to soil fertility.

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