Poggio al Sole Seraselva Rosso di Toscana IGT

Seraselva Rosso Toscana IGT from Poggio al Sole

A Supertuscan of international stature

The Seraselva Rosso Toscana IGT is - as the saying goes - the Supertuscan in the Poggio al Sole range. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes are used in a 60:40 ratio. After 22 days in steel tanks, the wine remains in barriques for a full 18 months, followed by a few months in the bottle. Depending on the weather conditions, the grapes for the 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, careful production process is a very strong red wine with an international style that is very suitable for longer storage. Ten years and more are no problem at all for the Seraselva. Perhaps it would be a good idea to stock up on a few bottles right away.

Poggio al Sole: 70 hectares of gentle, sunlit hills

The winery "Poggio al Sole" (pronounced "podscho al sole"), which translates as "hill in the sun", is located at the highest point of a sun-drenched elevation in the middle of the unique Chianti Classico landscape. 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 - since 2016, all wines have also been officially certified organic. 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...

Eight wines - each with its own 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 production is of course clearly on the Chianti Classico DOCG. Johannes Davaz rounds off the 90 percent Sangiovese content with 5 percent each of Canaiolo and 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 wine with the flowery name Trafiore, which translates as "between the flowers", is made from 100 percent Canaiolo grapes, which are renowned for their fragrance. Another "one hundred percenter" is the Syrah. As the name suggests, only Syrah grapes are used for this deep red drinking pleasure. The main ingredient of the Trittico, Poggio al Sole's light, quaffable house wine, is Sangiovese. With a share of 70 percent, it sets the tone in this trio alongside 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 the Primavera - the Davaz family's Rosato - a real pleasure to drink on warm summer evenings, which is also a 100% Sangiovese wine. 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 Tuscan history

The winery has been owned by Swiss winegrowing couple Kathrin and Johannes Davaz since 1990. Johannes comes from a well-known winegrowing family that has been making excellent wines in Switzerland since the early 1970s. But Poggio al Sole can also look back on an eventful and long history: Documents prove that wine and olives were grown on these hills as early as 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 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: additional vineyards were purchased, the wine cellar was expanded and modernized, a solar power system was installed and an agriturismo now completes this typical Tuscan winery. Those dreaming of the perfect Tuscan vacation can choose between four spacious vacation 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 forests as far as the neighboring Rignana winery and the abbey.

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