sangiovese
Walk around the estate … to Selvapiana
This week, we are visiting the Fattoria Selvapiana, in Tuscany in the chianti RUFINA zone which is the oldest and highest appellation in Chianti. It extends along the right bank of the Arno and then rise towards North on both banks of the Arno’s major tributary, the Sieve rive.
The Fattoria Selvapiana is located in Pontasieve, in the Sieve Valley, centrale of this appellation and known for its cool climate. From 1957, Francesco Giuntini, the 5th generation Giuntini family member, has worked with great energy and intelligence to restore the prestige of the Chianti Rufina appellation and to build a good reputation for Selvapiana estate wines. Today, his adoptif children, Federico and Silvia Massetti Giuntini are following the same line and have this deep respect to the Sangiovese grape, typical from this region.
The estate rises up at 240 meters high and spreads on 58 ha, its largest part is around the cellar with parcels Selvapiana, Pontasieve, Cerbognole which will produce the Chianti Rufina Vendemmia with 95% of Sangiovese.
All the estate (vines and olive trees) have been in organic culture for years, the soils are scratched or grass is allowed in between the rows, it depends on many factors and no decisions are taken too fast, listenning to the soil’s needs is the only factor. Now, one of the work is the stripping, manually, to allow the Sangiovese to be well-riped and balanced
The Cru Bucerchiale, the best vineyard of the estate South South-West facing, was planted in 1968 with Sangiovese from a massal selection of the old vines of Selvapiana. The soil is clay limestone with schist.
Selvapiana also produce a POMINO wine. The vineyard in this appellation are even higher in altitude (up to 550 meters high). Only two producers are producing in the appellation : Frescobaldi and Villa Petrogano, which is managed today by Selvapiana. The landscape is completely different, very hilly (foothill of the Appenines), the climate is cooler and the vines harvest later.
Selvapiana is also an important name in the Olive oil world, 40 ha of olive trees with Frantoio variety complete the estate. The olive trees are very old with lots of centenary, it give a olive oil very green, very spices with green tomatoes and artichoke flavor … DELICIOUS !
Food and Wine, January 2012
A very nice article on Tuscan wines, with Selvapiana ones, made with Sangiovese and …. Sangiovese !
Rufina is an appellation to discover, one of the highest in altitude in Chianti (350 to 450 meters high), the climate there is always some degrees less than in classico, which explains that the wines keep also a nice freshness and a beautiful elegance !
Selvapiana produces wonderful olive oils, and great wines able to be aged for years and years ! Definitely Wines to have !