Le Fonti Panzano La Lepre Toscana IGT

La Lepre Toscana IGT from Fattoria Le Fonti Panzano

A young hare with fruitiness and freshness

At Fattoria Le Fonti they know how the hare runs - not least because the surrounding vineyards are home to many of these hopping contemporaries. And the house wine of Fattoria Le Fonti is named after the rabbit - the "Lepre", which of course is also depicted on the label of the wine bottle. The La Lepre is pressed from Sangiovese grapes with an admixture of Merlot - depending on the vintage 5 to 15 per cent. As always, these grapes, which naturally grow in the same vineyards as the grapes for all the other Le Fonti wines, are harvested by hand. These are valuable grapes, but they do not meet at 100% the high standards of Vicky and Guido for their classified Chianti Classico wines. The subsequent fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks to preserve the fruity aromas. The La Lepre then matures for eight months in used French oak barrels - after which the "young hare" is bottled. With its fruitiness, freshness and good acidity, it is the ideal accompaniment to food. For example, simply and poignantly with a pizza. And maybe Vicky and Guido had the idea for this wine on one of their legendary pizza evenings with friends and family... On one of those evenings where it's not the label that counts but the content and the fun.

Typical wines of Tuscany - best from Panzano

In the middle of the Chianti Classico wine region, exactly halfway between Florence and Siena, you will find the best conditions for the world-famous red wines of Tuscany. Vicky and Guido Schmitt-Vitali, the two owners of Fattoria Le Fonti, have dedicated themselves to winegrowing and the production of olive oil. The road to their winery is in the middle of the medieval town of Panzano. Le Fonti's range is based on a typical Chianti Classico, a Chianti Classico Riserva and, since the 2013 vintage, a Chianti Classico Gran Selezione. Furthermore, Le Fonti scores with the internationally awarded super tuscan "Fontissimo", with a fruity fresh Rosato and with the house wine "La Lepre". A fruity-spicy olive oil rounds off the assortment.

Fattoria Le Fonti: bio, buono, buonissimo!

The area around the small town of Panzano has in recent years been named the "organic district of Italy" by the international wine press. More than two decades ago, the Panzano`s winegrowers formed the "Unione di Viticoltori di Panzano". One of the goals of the Unione is the biological-sustainable cultivation of the vineyards. The vineyards of Vicky and Guido are also certified organic. Here, of course, Sangiovese grows abundantly - the autochthonous leading variety of Chianti Classico. But also the two international grape varieties Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon can be found in the vineyards of Le Fonti. Not to forget the 1,500 olive trees that grow and thrive here. The sites extend over the "Alta Valle della Greve" - the Greve valley, which lies at the back of the Conca d'Oro. In this part of Panzano there is a lightly cooler climate - in the hot summers that is an advantage for the gentle ripening of the grapes.

Vacation in Tuscany

One thing is clear: If you spend your holiday in Tuscany, you won't miss out on enjoyment. The Fattoria Le Fonti is of course also a top destination for connoisseurs. The signs in and around Panzano, which show guests the way to the estate of Vicky and Guido, cannot be overlooked. And I'd like to reveal that much in advance: the expectations of wine lovers and epicures are not disappointed here. During a tour through cellar and mountain Vicky reveals some winegrower secrets and of course at the end a tasting of the noble wines is not to be missed. From the classic wine Chianti Classico to the spicy olive oil.