About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
Galatrona is Petrolo’s single-vineyard Merlot, grown in the namesake vineyard at Feriale on the south-eastern edge of the Chianti Hills within the Val d’Arno di Sopra DOC. The 10 ha vineyard contains almost 50,000 vines trained to spurred cordon. It was planted from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s with low-vigour Bordeaux clones.
The vineyard lies at 300 m above sea level with a south-eastern exposure. Its loamy soil is rich in clay and also contains shale, marl and sandstone. The clay retains moisture during hot, dry Tuscan summers, while the combination of clay and stone supports the wine’s structure and elegance, including in less favourable years.
Farming has progressively followed natural and sustainable practices since 2004: dry farming, no tillage, permanent grass cover managed with mulch, and no synthetic pesticides or fertilisers. The vineyard has been officially certified organic since the 2016 harvest. Canopy and plant management is performed by hand through targeted interventions; severe pruning and crop thinning are almost absent in balanced mature parcels.
Grapes
100% Merlot. Galatrona is made exclusively from the vineyard bearing its name.
Vinification
The grapes are harvested manually into crates and selected again on a sorting table. Spontaneous fermentation takes place with native yeasts in glazed concrete vats. Extraction is managed through gentle, frequent manual pump-overs.
Ageing
Spontaneous malolactic fermentation takes place in wood. The wine matures for approximately 18–20 months in rigorously selected French-oak tonneaux and barriques, around one-third of them new. The fine lees undergo regular bâtonnage during the first eight months.
Technical data
The 2023 wine is Val d’Arno di Sopra DOC, Vigna Galatrona, estate produced and bottled, and certified organic. Alcohol is 14%, total acidity 5.64 g/l and pH 3.68. Average production is approximately 30,000 bottles.
Tasting profile
An intense, elegant and full-bodied Merlot with substantial structure and complexity. Fruit, acidity and tannins remain in balanced proportion, while the clay- and stone-rich site contributes persistence and a strong expression of place.
Vintage notes
The 2023 growing season was described as delicate. A normal winter was followed by frequent spring rainfall, reducing fruit set. Warm summer weather subsequently restored balance to vine growth. Merlot harvesting began on 6 September; yields were lower, but naturally sparse clusters preserved quality.
The selected technical sheet covers the vintages from 2023 back to the inaugural 1994 release. The denomination changed from Toscana IGT to Val d’Arno di Sopra DOC with the 2013 vintage, and the wine became certified organic with the 2016 vintage. No Galatrona was produced in 1996.
Label / history
Galatrona was first produced in 1994. The 2019 label received a special flying-heart motif to mark the wine’s 25th anniversary, with graphics created with the contribution of artist Sabina Mirri.