San Felice and the New Tuscany of the Vitiarium Line

Vitiarium was presented as the second stage of San Felice’s renewed identity, following a brand repositioning introduced under general manager Carlo De Biasi. Architect and wine designer Federica Cecchi developed four labels whose imagery refers to the borgo, the old pieve, recovered vines and Etruscan culture.

The collection comprises Borgo Chianti Classico DOCG, Pugnitello Toscana IGT, In Avane Chardonnay Toscana IGT and La Pieve Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione. It was designed for fine restaurants and specialist wine shops, offering an estate Chianti Classico, a Gran Selezione, a varietal expression of recovered Pugnitello and a local white-wine interpretation.

The line takes its name and purpose from research begun in the early 1980s to prevent the loss of old Tuscan vine genetics. The 2.5-ha experimental vineyard planted in 1986 assembled 270 minor varieties, including 161 red cultivars. Thirty advanced to a second phase of morphological and vinification trials. Abrusco, Ciliegiolo, Mazzese and Malvasia Nera showed particular promise in blends with Sangiovese, while Pugnitello’s agronomic and qualitative performance supported its use as a varietal wine.