Gagliole Gallùle Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG

Gallùle Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG from Gagliole (former Riserva)

A new wine with an old name

The Antico Podere Gagliole estate has a total of 20 hectares of vineyards. Ten of them are located in the immediate vicinity of the Castellina estate: the special feature is that these vineyards are terraced, just like in the Middle Ages in Tuscany. The terraces are alternately planted with vines, olive trees and rose bushes. This ensures on the one hand an ecological balance in the vineyard, but also an interplay between sun and shade for the vines. And it is precisely from these vineyards that the grapes for the latest wine creation from Bär-Bettschart come: for the Gallùle Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG - 100 per cent Sangiovese from vines more than 30 years old. And the name of the Riserva itself is reminiscent of times long gone, when the estate was still called Gallùle in the Middle Ages. The grapes are carefully harvested by hand and then selected again by hand in the wine cellar. The vinification takes place partly in large barrels, but partly also according to the method of "Vinification intègrale". In other words: both the alcoholic and the malolactic fermentation take place in oak barrels. The barrels are turned several times a day. This results in regular contact between juice, shells, cores and wood. In contrast to conventional cooking methods, the temperature in the barrel is lower and very constant. The Riserva then remains in barrique for at least 18 months before resting and maturing in the bottle for at least 12 months. The result is a very harmonious and deep wine, rich and complex with a garnet red colour. Characteristics that only Sangiovese grapes from vines more than 30 years old can give to it. And, of course, you could drink this wine immediately… But those who allow it to remain in the bottle for another four, five or six years can expect a high drinking experience.

With precision & tradition: wines under the balance beam

Swiss precision meets Italian tradition at Gagliole! Under these conditions are produced red wines and - which is rather rare in Chianti Classico - two white wines of the highest quality. Basis of the assortment is the Chianti Classico Rubiolo, which consists of 90 per cent Sangiovese and 10 per cent Merlot. An excellent red wine is the Valletta Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT. It is produced in a 50:50 ratio from Sangiovese and Merlot grapes. Another red wine in the range is Gagliole Toscana IGT, all of which grapes come from the vineyards on La Valletta in Panzano - 90 per cent Sangiovese and 10 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon. The Pecchia Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT, the 100% Sangiovese from Panzano, produced with the "Vinificazione Integrale" method, is undoubtedly a top red wine. And then come the two excellent white wines from Gagliole: the light, fruity Biancolo, which is vinified half and half from the Trebbiano and Chardonnay grape varieties. For the stronger Il Bianco are used Chardonnay, Malvasia and Procanico grape varieties which is a clone of the Trebbiano grape variety. These vines are about 45 years old and all grow on the terraces around Gagliole in Castellina. The product range is completed by an excellent Olio Extra Vergine, which is pressed in the company’s own mill.

Castellina in Chianti: the place where love writes the wine history

The history of Gagliole is a story full of love and passion: as early as 994 AD, the son of the Longobard king Berengario donated today’s Gagliole estate to his wife as a marriage present. Today the Bär-Bettschart family considers this unique place as a temporary gift. Monika Bär-Bettschart’s initial infatuation with this place finally turned into a love of the whole family for Tuscany. The wish to cultivate the land and produce wine grew over the time, but in the beggining the vineyards were leased to the surrounding wineries. This love grew so much that in 2011 Thomas Bär decided to expand the family estate in Tuscany  and bought another winery with about ten hectares of land. La Valletta in Panzano in Chianti completes today the property of the family Bär-Bettschart. Today three generations of the family take part in the events at Gagliole and with their daily commitment ensure the maintain of the centuries-old traditions of viticulture and oil production.