OUR LAND

Podere Ciona is located in Chianti Classico, the original and oldest part of Tuscany’s Chianti wine-growing region, symbolized by the Gallo Nero {Black Rooster}, a figure prominently featured on the authentication labels of locally produced wines.

Our estate lies on a south-facing hill between 1,600 and 2,050 feet (490 and 625 meters) above sea level, with an altitude difference of over 400 feet (120 meters) between the highest and lowest vineyards. It comprises 13 acres (5.4 hectares) of vineyards, 2 acres (0.5 hectares) of olive groves – about 120 trees – and 100 acres (40 hectares) of woodland, primarily oak and chestnut. We also have fruit trees, chickens and two vegetable gardens (beehives coming soon), with the intent of diversifying cultivation and self-producing as much as possible.

OUR VINEYARDS

The plantings extend over an area of about 13 acres (5.4 hectares), oriented to the south-southwest. The soils are a mixture of quartz arenite (sandstone), clay schist and marl and have excellent drainage – ideal for high-quality winemaking. The varietals planted are Sangiovese, Merlot, Alicante Bouschet, and a little Cabernet Franc. The lower vineyards, about 10 acres (4 hectares), were replanted between 1999 and 2003, the rest in the winter of 2011/2012; the lower Cabernet Franc vineyard was re-grafted in 2018.

Total extent of vineyards: 5.38 hectares
Grape varietals planted:
Sangiovese {2.73 ha | 13,500 vines}
Merlot {2.00 ha | 10,000 vines}
Alicante Bouschet {0.30 ha | 1,500 vines}
Cabernet Franc {0.35 ha | 1,550 vines}
Soil type: A mixture of quartz arenite {sandstone}, clay schist & marl
Altitude: Between 490/625 meters above sea level
Vine training: Horizontal double-spurred cordon & Guyot
Average vine density: 5,000 plants per hectare
Average yields per plant:
1.3kg {Sangiovese}
1.1kg {Merlot}
1.5 kg {Alicante Bouschet}
900 gr {Cabernet Franc}

our WINES

Podere Ciona is currently producing: a Chianti Classico DOCG (Denominazione di Orgine Controllata e Garantita) line of Annata, Riserva and – starting with the 2016 vintage – Gran Selezione; a Supertuscan IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) Le Diacce – based on Merlot – and a younger IGT based on Merlot and Alicante grapes, Semifonte; a small quantity of Sangiovese Rosé. In the near future, a small bottling of a Cabernet Franc IGT will be made as well.

We purposely keep our yields very low – on average one bottle per vine – in order to produce a superior wine. Harvesting is done exclusively by hand, grapes are processed within 30 minutes of picking and a berry-by-berry selection is carried out before the fermentation vats are filled. Alcoholic fermentation takes place both in stainless steel and French oak vats (according to the grape selection), while ageing is done exclusively in French oak of different sizes: barriques & tonneaux (a mix of Allier, Nievre, Tronçais and Vosges oaks) and large 15 to 30 hL casks.


Total yearly estate average production: 24,000 bottles | 4,000 cases (6pks)
Winemaker: Lorenzo Gatteschi
Oenologist: Dott.ssa Vincenza Folgheretti
Agronomist: Dott. Marco Pierucci

OUR AWARDS

OUR PARTNERS

Our wines are available from the following global partners.