Poggio al Sole Chiara Bianco di Toscana IGT

Chiara Bianco Toscana IGT from Poggio al Sole

A prefect fruity fresh white wine  

While for a long time it was the red wines from Chianti Classico that attracted the sole attention of wine lovers, recently white wines from the region have become increasingly common. For example, the Chiara Bianco Toscana IGT from Poggio al Sole. Here is the same motto: Nomen est omen. Because "chiara" (pronounce: kiara) means translated as bright or clear. And this is the white wine from Poggio al Sole for any case! At the same time, Chiara is also a typical Italian maiden name and Kathrin Davaz, who runs the winery together with her husband and is also the mother of four sons, says with a smile: "The wine bears the name of the daughter I never had. After all, around 10,000 bottles of this white wine are produced at Poggio al Sole every year, 80 percent of which is Chardonnay and 20 percent Bianco di Sangiovese. The grapes are harvested relatively soon, at the beginning of September, and immediately processed. Fermentation takes place at a temperature of 16°C and the wine remains on the lees until mid-February. The wine is bottled as early as April and is ready to be enjoyed before summer arrives. The result: a fruity, fresh white wine with a pleasant acidity, perfect for a mild summer evening with fish, risotto or simply as a stimulating aperitif.

24 hectares of vineyards with a colourful, biological grape variety

A total of around 100,000 bottles of wine are bottled at Poggio al Sole every year. Moreover, since the 2016 vintage, all wines are certified organic. This is because Johannes Davaz, who is the owner and both agronomist and oenologist is responsible for the wine production at Poggio al Sole and he is very concerned about sustainability. For example, the winery obtains its electricity from its own solar system. This also includes the wine cellar, which was expanded in 2004. After all, the grapes that grow on the 24 hectares of vineyards in south-eastern to south-western exposure need to be processed quickly and carefully. 14 hectares are planted with the autochthonous grape variety of Tuscany - Sangiovese. But also Canaiolo, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay sprout excellently on the Galestro soil typical for Chianti Classico region. Documents in the archives of the nearby Badia a Passignano Abbey prove that wine and olives were already being cultivated here in the 12th century. This is because until 1969 the estate - then called Casasilia - was owned by the abbey. It was only with the first secular owner that the name Poggio al Sole (pronounced "podscho al sole")  was introduced and which means "hill in the sun". In 1990, Kathrin and Johannes "following a spontaneous intuition" bought the estate and since then have continuously expanded it. Today the estate covers a total area of 70 hectares between the towns of Tavarnelle Val di Pesa and Greve in Chianti.

Wine, wine, wine - as far as the eyes can see

For Johannes Davaz one thing is clear: only those who have a good raw material - i.e. good grapes - can produce good wines. And thus the wines produced at Poggio al Sole are exceptionally good. In addition to the white Chiara, the Poggio al Sole range also includes Rosato Primavera, a fruity, fresh, 100% Sangiovese rose wine. But the main focus in Chianti Classico is of course on the red wines. In addition to the excellent Chianti Classico DOCG - consisting of 90 percent Sangiovese, five percent Canaiolo and five percent Merlot - Poggio al Sole also has a Gran Selezione called Casasilia. It is made from one hundred percent Sangiovese and is without doubt the top wine of Poggio al Sole. One hundred percent Syrah grapes - this is the Syrah Toscana Rosso IGT. A real taste experience! One hundred percent Canaiolo grapes, this is the Trafiore, which means "between the flowers". Then it gets a bit more colourful and international in the red range: 70 percent Sangiovese, 15 percent Merlot and 15 percent Cabernet Sauvignon are used for the Trittico, the house wine of Poggio al Sole. The range is rounded off by Seraselva. An international blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Vacation on the winery - vacation with a pleasure bonus

You don't have to spend your entire holiday here in order to enjoy a guided tour of the wine cellar or a wine tasting at Poggio al Sole. But to be honest, you can't choose a better place for your Tuscany holiday. High up on the "poggio" - i.e. on the hill, is their agriturismo in a historic stone house. Four spacious holiday apartments and a lovingly furnished double room are located at the estate. The fantastic pool provides the necessary cooling after a sightseeing trip to Siena or Florence or after a short detour to nearby Panzano in Chianti. Nestled between vines, cypresses and olive trees, body and soul can find perfect refreshment there. And if you add a glass of wine to this, the Chianti Classico holiday is perfetto.