Poggio al Sole Seraselva Rosso di Toscana IGT

Seraselva Rosso Toscana IGT from Poggio al Sole

A supertuscan with international format

Seraselva Rosso Toscana IGT is the supertuscan in the Poggio al Sole range. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes are used in a ratio of 60:40. After 22 days in steel tanks, the wine remains in barriques for 18 months and then in bottles for a few more months. Depending on weather conditions, the grapes for Seraselva are harvested by hand between the end of September and the beginning of October. Only the best grapes are selected for further processing. And these are grapes from a very special location, to which the name of the wine also refers. The result of this long and careful production process is a very strong red wine with an international style, which is very suitable for longer storage. Ten years and more are not a problem for the Seraselva. Therefore it may be a good idea to stock a few bottles of this wine.

Poggio al Sole: 70 hectares of smooth ondulating and sunny hills country

The vineyard "Poggio al Sole" (pronounced "podscho al sole"), which means "hill in the sun", is situated at the highest point of a sun-drenched hill in the middle of the unique landscape of Chianti Classico region. This hill can also be seen on the labels of all their wines. But in fact this property is much more than just a single hill, it is much more than 70 hectare area of gently rolling hills between the towns of Tavarnelle Val di Pesa and Greve in Chianti. The vines grow and thrive on 24 hectares - 14 hectares of which are planted with Sangiovese. In addition, on the hills of Poggio al Sole, next to the 1,500 olive trees, grow a colourful mixture of Canaiolo, Merlot, Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. They enjoy the best conditions of the Galestro soil typical for Chianti Classico. Johannes Davaz, agronomist and oenologist, has long been committed to the sustainable cultivation of his vineyards - since 2016 all his wines have been officially certified organic. Johannes goes his own way in many things and he is a real lateral thinker and pioneer and this could be seen in his approach to pruning the vines: he calls it "Albarello modificato". Normally, two or four shoots are left during pruning. But he believes that it is better to leave three shoots. And one can see that the success of his vines, grapes and wines proves him right...

Eight wines - each one with an unique character

A total of eight different wines are produced at Poggio al Sole: six red wines, one rosato and one white wine. The focus of the production is clearly on the Chianti Classico DOCG. Johannes Davaz rounds off the 90 percent Sangiovese share with 5 percent of Canaiolo and of Merlot. Without doubt, the top wine among the reds from Poggio al Sole is Casasilia - a Chianti Classico Gran Selezione made from 100 percent Sangiovese. The red wine with the flowery name Trafiore ( which means "between the flowers") is made out of 100 percent Canaiolo grapes and since last vintage its name has changed also to Canaiolo. Another "hundred percent" is the Syrah. As the name suggests, only Syrah grapes are used for this deep red drinking pleasure. The main component of Trittico, to a certain extent the light, palatable house wine of Poggio al Sole, is again Sangiovese (70 percent Sangiovese, along with 15 percent Merlot and 15 percent Cabernet Sauvignon). In addition to the red wines, the Poggio al Sole range also includes a light, fresh white wine, Chiara, which consists of 80 percent Chardonnay and 20 percent Bianco di Sangiovese. Last but not least, there is a Rosato - Primavera - a real drinking pleasure for mild summer evenings, which is a one hundred percent Sangiovese wine. And not to forget that Poggio al Sole also produces its own olive oil - after all, around 1,500 silver-grey shimmering olive trees grow here.

Swiss tradition meets Tuscan history

Since 1990 the winery has been owned by the Swiss winemaker couple Kathrin and Johannes Davaz. Johannes comes from a well-known family of winegrowers who have been producing excellent wines in Switzerland since the early 70`s. But Poggio al Sole can also look back on an eventful and long history. Documents prove that wine and olives were already being cultivated on these hills in the 12th century. However, at that time the estate was still called Casasilia and was owned by the nearby abbey of Badia a Passignano. First in 1969 the estate passed into secular ownership and was given the name Poggio al Sole. Since the purchase in 1990, Kathrin and Johannes have continuously expanded the winery: more vineyards were purchased, the wine cellar was expanded and modernized, a solar system was installed and an agriturismo now completes this typical Tuscan winery. Those who dream of the perfect Tuscany holiday can choose between four spacious holiday apartments and a lovingly furnished double room. From every single apartment and room you can enjoy the view from the "poggio" over the gently undulating vineyards, the valleys and woods up to the neighbouring Rignana winery and the nearby abbey.