Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
The grapes come from vineyards in Gaiole in Chianti at 360 metres above sea level. The soils are composed of limestone and clay, and the vines are between 15 and 30 years old. Vineyard production is 20 q/ha.
Grapes
White Malvasia forms the base of the wine, accompanied by a very small proportion of Trebbiano.
Vinification
Selected grapes are harvested by hand at the end of September and hung from iron hooks in well-ventilated rooms. After several months of drying, they yield a must concentrated in extract and sugar.
The must is sealed in small chestnut or oak casks. Once the oxygen inside the cask is depleted, fermentation is forced to stop. During the following years, oxygen gradually penetrates the porous wood and summer temperatures rise in the storage rooms, prompting repeated short periods of fermentation. The process continues until the wine stabilizes at 12–15% alcohol.
Ageing
The Vinsanto remains in small casks for at least seven years from the harvest before bottling. Chestnut caratelli are specified in the technical summary, while the detailed production account also includes oak casks.
Technical data
Alcohol reaches a stable level of 12–15%. Finished-wine yield is generally below 20 hl/ha. Annual production is approximately 1,000 bottles, all in 375 ml format.
