Poggio al Sole Sangiovese Bianco di Toscana IGT

Sangiovese Bianco di Toscana IGT from Poggio al Sole

Sangiovese Bianco: Pure joie de vivre & white summer drinking fun from red wine grapes

Of course, Tuscany is best known for its red wines: For the coveted Supertuscans, for the Gallo Nero award-winning Chianti Classico and thus for the indigenous grape variety Sangiovese! Recently, however, more and more winegrowers have been proving that Sangiovese grapes can be used to make not only excellent reds, but also first-class whites. An absolutely fine example of this is the Sangiovese Bianco from Poggio al Sole. As the name suggests, the white wine is made from one hundred percent Sangiovese grapes, which are actually red wine grapes! This is made possible by a special production process: The grapes, which are not yet so vigorous and often come from young vineyards, are harvested very soon at the end of the summer. They are pressed immediately so that there is as little contact with the skins as possible - and they are fermented at comparatively low temperatures in steel tanks. The wine is bottled as early as February and is therefore ready to enjoy before summer arrives. Well chilled in the glass, the Sangiovese Bianco is pure joy - in the truest sense of the word! This white wine is so clear and bright that it almost seems transparent. It is as light-footed as a summer meadow wet with morning dew - with its delicate aroma of juicy pears and peaches, surrounded by a bouquet of meadow flowers. With its lively Sangiovese acidity, the Bianco is recommended as an aperitif, for a quick sip between meals, but also as an elegant accompaniment to light summer dishes - or to put it simply: with the Sangiovese Bianco, you have a firm friend at your side for the whole summer ...

Nine wines - each one a poem

In addition to the Sangiovese Bianco described above, a further eight wines are produced at Poggio al Sole: six red wines, a rosato and another white. The main focus is on the Chianti Classico DOCG. This is made from 90 percent Sangiovese, 5 percent Canaiolo and 5 percent Merlot. Without a doubt, the top wine among the reds from Poggio al Sole is the Casasilia - a Chianti Classico Gran Selezione made from 100 percent Sangiovese. The red is made from 100 percent Canaiolo grapes, which are renowned for their fragrance. Another "one hundred percent" is the Syrah, for which - nomen est omen - only Syrah grapes are used. The Trittico is the light, drinkable house wine from Poggio al Sole - a trio of 70 percent Sangiovese, 15 percent Merlot and 15 percent Cabernet Sauvignon is used for this. In addition to the red wines, Poggio al Sole's range also includes another light, fresh white wine, Chiara, which has been made from 100 percent Chardonnay for several years. Last but not least, there is the Primavera - the Davaz family's Rosato - a real pleasure to drink on warm summer evenings, which is also 100% Sangiovese. And not to forget: Of course, Poggio al Sole also produces its own olive oil - after all, around 1,500 shimmering silver-grey olive trees grow here.

Swiss tradition meets dreamlike Tuscany

Poggio al Sole (pronounced "podscho al sole") - the "hill in the sun" - has been owned by the Swiss winegrowing couple Kathrin and Johannes Davaz since 1990. Historical documents show that wine and olives were already being cultivated on these hills in the 12th century. However, the estate was still called Casasilia at the time and was owned by the nearby Badia a Passignano Abbey. It was not until 1969 that the estate, which is located on the highest point of a sun-drenched hill in the middle of the unique Chianti Classico landscape, became secular property and was given the name Poggio al Sole. Incidentally, this hill can also be found on the labels of all the wines. However, this estate is actually much more than just a single hill, but rather a 70-hectare, gently undulating area between the towns of Tavarnelle Val di Pesa and Greve in Chianti. The vines grow and thrive on 24 hectares - 14 hectares of Sangiovese alone. In addition to 1,500 olive trees, the hills of Poggio al Sole are also home to a colorful mixture of Canaiolo, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, which find the best conditions on the Galestro soil typical of the Chianti Classico. Johannes Davaz, agronomist and oenologist, has long been committed to the sustainable cultivation of his vineyards - all wines have been officially certified organic since 2016. The fact that Johannes goes his own way in some things and is occasionally a real lateral and forward thinker is also evident in his approach to pruning the vines: He calls it "Albarello modificato". Normally, two or four shoots are left standing when pruning. However, Johannes believes that it is best to leave three shoots. And what can we say: the success of his vines, grapes and wines proves him right...

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