Gagliole Valletta Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT

Gagliole Valletta Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT

The ruby red with the special fermentation method

The Valletta Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT is made half from the autochthonous Sangiovese grape variety (coming from the vineyards around Gagliole) and the other half from the international Merlot grape variety (which grows in La Valletta). After manual harvesting, the Sangiovese grapes are transferred to large oak barrels for vinification. In very good vintages, the Merlot is vinified according to a special procedure in unique barrels of the Tonnellerie Baron from France - namely according to the method of the "Vinification intègrale". In other words, the berries are used for both alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in these special oak barrels. And the barrels are turned several times a day to ensure regular contact of juice, peels, seeds and wood. In contrast to conventional vinification methods, the temperature in the barrel is low and very constant. 16 months maturing in new and used barrels and at least six months bottle maturing produce a wine that presents itself in an intense ruby red in the glass. In the nose impresses a complex and captivating aroma of ripe black fruits, which mixes with liquorice, spice and tobacco. On the palate - silky and full bodied with a hint of coffee and dark chocolate. But one should be patient with the Valletta: four to six years of storage will be rewarded with absolute drinking pleasure.

Antico Podere Gagliole: a Swiss family owned vineyard in Tuscany

Considering the high class wines made in Gagliole today, it is astonishing that the owners - the Bär-Bettschart family decided only ten years ago to produce and market wine under their own label. The family acquired the estate in 1990, and at the beginning the vineyards were leased to other wineries. But with the steadily growing attachment to the land and the people and the love of wine, the desire to cultivate the land and produce wine grew up. So much that  in 2011 Thomas Bär expanded the family estate in Tuscany by buying another winery with about ten hectares of land: La Valletta in Panzano in Chianti, which completes the property today.

Castellina and Panzano: vineyards in the best locations and of the highest quality

Today 20 hectares of top vineyards belong to the winery Antico Podere Gagliole. Ten of them are in the immediate vicinity of the Castellina vineyard: the vineyards in Gagliole are terraced, as it used to be in the past in Tuscany. The terraces are alternately planted with olive trees and rose bushes, which ensures an ecological balance on the one hand, but also an interplay between sun and shade for the vines on the other. The soils around Gagliole in Castellina are Galestro, which leads to mineral, elegant wines. The vineyards of La Valletta are located in the famous Conca d’Oro, at the top of the shell-shaped valley. Sunny views for the vines and at the same time regular cooling, because there is always a gentle breeze up here. The vines here are between 2 and 45 years old.

Swiss precision and Italian tradition united under compasse and balance beam

Swiss precision meets Italian tradition at Gagliole! And under this ideal blend here are produced red and white wines of the highest quality. The Chianti Classico Rubiolo is the main product and consists of 90 per cent Sangiovese and 10 per cent Merlot. An excellent red wine in the assortment is the Valletta Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT. It is made in a 50:50 ratio from Sangiovese and Merlot grapes. Another red wine in the range is Gagliole Toscana IGT with grapes coming from La Valletta in Panzano - 90 per cent Sangiovese and 10 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon. The Pecchia Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT is undoubtedly one of the top red wines in the region. For this 100% Sangiovese from Panzano are used only the very best grapes and is produced using the "Vinificazione Integrale" method, . Gagliole also has two excellent white wines in its range: the light, fruity Biancolo, half made from Trebbiano and half from Chardonnay grapes. And then the stronger Il Bianco - a blend from Chardonnay, Malvasia and Procanico grape varieties (a clone of the Trebbiano grape variety). The grapes of these vines, which are about 45 years old and all grow on the terraces around Gagliole in Castellina, are characterised by a particularly thick skin. The product range is rounded off by an excellent Olio Extra Vergine, which is pressed in the company’s own mill.