Fontodi Vigna del Sorbo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG

Vigna del Sorbo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG from Fontodi

A Gran Selezione with an eventful history

The Vigna del Sorbo has had an eventful history before it became what it is today: until the 2009 vintage, this wine was classified as a Chianti Classico Riserva, but it is only since the 2010 vintage that the Vigna del Sorbo has been listed as a Chianti Classico Gran Selezione. However, until the 2011 vintage, it was made from 90 percent Sangiovese and 10 percent Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Since the 2012 vintage, only Sangiovese grapes have been used for the Vigna del Sorbo. This means that Fontodi now has a total of three wines made from 100 percent Sangiovese in its range - in addition to the Vigna del Sorbo, the superstar Flaccianello and of course the evergreen, the Chianti Classico. The grapes for the Vigna del Sorbo come from a single vineyard with a south-westerly exposure from vines that are more than 40 years old. After the grapes are harvested by hand, they undergo a three-week fermentation process in temperature-controlled steel tanks. The resulting wine is then allowed to rest and mature for 24 months in new and used Troncais and Allier barrels. Ruby red in the glass and earthy notes on the nose, followed by berry and cherry notes, the Vigna del Sorbo whets the appetite for more in all vintages.

Red and white - the most beautiful color combination in the world for wine drinkers

In addition to the Gran Selezione, Fontodi also has two other red wines in its range, which are also pure Sangiovese wines. The first is, of course, the Flaccianello della Pieve Colli Toscana Centrale IGT, which is famous far beyond Italy's borders and was voted one of the top 10 wines in the world by the American wine magazine "WineSpectator". Secondly, there is the Chianti Classico, a 100% Sangiovese, which makes up the lion's share of Fontodi's production. The clear opposite to these wines is the Syrah Case Via, which is a pure international variety. Despite the international grape variety, the terroir of Panzano in Chianti is perfectly expressed. A white wine is also produced at Fontodi - one of the rare white wines from the Chianti Classico: Meriggio. The Sauvignon blanc grapes for this wine grow in the vineyards near Villa La Rota, which is also an excellent place to spend a vacation. Unfortunately, only a very small amount of white wine is produced. 

Tenuta Fontodi: a Chianti Classico winery through the ages

The Fontodi winery sits enthroned on a solitary hill just outside Panzano in Chianti. The Manetti family of entrepreneurs acquired Tenuta Fontodi in 1968. At that time, the brothers Giovanni and Marco Manetti were still in their teens. After experimenting extensively with grape varieties, the siblings decided to plant mainly Sangiovese, but also a smaller proportion of international grape varieties - such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Syrah or Sauvignon blanc. In addition to the replanting of the vineyards, much more has happened on the estate: The experienced oenologist Franco Bernabei was hired as a consultant, the wine cellar was expanded, the cultivation areas were extended and biodynamic cultivation was intensified. Today, Giovanni Manetti runs the winery alone, while his brother takes care of the terracotta business. Tenuta Fontodi is one of the largest wineries in Chianti Classico. More than 130 hectares of land, including more than 80 hectares of vineyards, over 20 employees and a production of around 400,000 bottles of wine per year - these figures speak for themselves.

Organic & sustainability for the best wine quality

Since 2003, Fontodi's vineyards have been cultivated according to organic principles and the winery has been officially certified as an organic winery. This is because Giovanni Manetti, the owner of Fontodi, is very concerned about the natural cultivation of the vineyards. He was also the one who launched the "Panzano sostenibile" (sustainable Panzano) project. The idea behind it: Organic farming works best when the neighbor also follows the same principles. Then nature and people benefit the most. The majority of winegrowers in Panzano now rely on organic, sustainable cultivation - the international wine press even named Panzano the "No. 1 organic district in Italy". Other quality factors for Fontodi wines are, of course, the terroir, i.e. the locations where the vines grow and the grapes ripen, or the "Galestro" soil, which is ideal for Sangiovese. All these conditions ensure that the Sangiovese grapes in the Conca d'Oro ripen perfectly while retaining their freshness, acidity and structure. Of course, in addition to Sangiovese, the international grape varieties also find the best conditions.

In Italy, in the region Tuscany, in the region Chianti Classico, in Panzano in Chianti

Giovanni & Marco Manetti

Giovanni Manetti

80 ha of which 70 ha are classified as Chianti Classico

Galestro

South, Southwest, Southeast

430 - 480 meters above sea level.

3,500 to 6,000 vines per ha

Guyot