Poggio al Sole Chiara Bianco di Toscana IGT

Chiara Bianco Toscana IGT from Poggio al Sole

A clear case of fruity-fresh white wine  

For a long time, it was the red wines from Chianti Classico that attracted the sole attention of wine lovers, but recently white wines from the region have become increasingly popular. For example, the Chiara Bianco Toscana IGT from Poggio al Sole. Here too, nomen est omen. Because "chiara" (pronounced kiara) translates as bright or clear. And the white wine from Poggio al Sole certainly is! Chiara is also a typical Italian girl's 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 annually at Poggio al Sole, which consists of 80 percent Chardonnay and 20 percent Sangiovese, vinified as a white wine. The grapes are harvested relatively soon, at the beginning of September, and processed immediately. 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 that is perfect for a warm summer evening with fish, risotto or simply as a stimulating aperitif.

24 hectares of vineyards with a colorful, organic variety of grapes

A total of around 100,000 bottles of wine are bottled at Poggio al Sole every year. Since the 2016 vintage, all wines have also been certified organic. This is because Johannes Davaz, who is also the owner, agronomist and oenologist and is responsible for wine production at Poggio al Sole, attaches great importance to sustainability. For example, the winery obtains its electricity from its own solar power system. This also includes the wine cellar, which was extended in 2004 and was originally built in 1972. After all, the grapes, which grow on a total of 24 hectares of south-east to south-west facing vineyards, need to be processed quickly and carefully. The autochthonous Tuscan grape variety - Sangiovese - is cultivated on 14 hectares alone. But Canaiolo, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay also thrive on the Galestro soil typical of Chianti Classico. Documents in the archives of the nearby Badia a Passignano Abbey prove that wine and olives were grown here as early as the 12th century. The estate - then still called Casasilia - was owned by the abbey until 1969. The name Poggio al Sole (pronounced "podscho al sole"), which translates as "hill in the sun", only came with the first secular owner. In 1990, Kathrin and Johannes bought the vineyard "following a spontaneous inspiration" and have been continuously expanding it ever since. 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 eye can see

For Johannes Davaz, one thing is clear: you can only make good wines if you have good raw material - i.e. good grapes. And so it is that the wines produced at Poggio al Sole are exceptionally good: In addition to the white Chiara, Poggio al Sole's range also includes the Rosato Primavera, a fruity, fresh, one hundred percent Sangiovese wine. 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 produces the Gran Selezione called Casasilia. It is made from one hundred percent Sangiovese and is undoubtedly Poggio al Sole's top wine. One hundred percent Syrah grapes - that is the Syrah Toscana Rosso IGT. A real taste experience! One hundred percent Canaiolo grapes - that's the Trafiore, which means "between the flowers". Then things get a little more colorful and international in the red range: 70 percent Sangiovese, 15 percent Merlot and 15 percent Cabernet Sauvignon are used for the Trittico, Poggio al Sole's house wine. The range is rounded off by the Seraselva. An international blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Vacations at the winery - vacations with the pleasure plus

To enjoy a guided tour of the wine cellar or a wine tasting at Poggio al Sole, you don't have to spend your entire vacation here. But to be honest, you could hardly choose a better place for your vacation in Tuscany. The historic stone house, which also houses the agriturismo, is perched high up on the "poggio" - the hill. Four spacious vacation apartments and a lovingly furnished double room are located on the estate. After a sightseeing trip to Siena or Florence or a short detour to nearby Panzano in Chianti, you can cool off in the beautiful pool. Nestled between vines, cypresses and olive trees, both body and soul will find refreshment here. And if you add a glass of wine to the mix, your Chianti Classico vacation is perfect.

In Italy, in the region Tuscany, in the region Chianti Classico, in Tavernelle Val di Pesa

Johannes & Kathrin Davaz

Johannes Davaz

24 ha, of which 13 ha are classified as Chianti Classico

Galestro

South-east and south-west orientation

320 - 480 meters above sea level.

Guyot