Tenuta La Novella

Abandonment and restoration (from 1996)

Tenuta la Novella is a 188-hectare estate that had been abandoned for many years. In 1996 François Schneider fell in love with the setting and decided to restore its residence. He renovated the old cellars dating back to the Medici era, together with the surrounding vineyards and olive groves. It took ten years to bring the spirit of the estate back to life.

Current management (since 2015)

Since 2015, Simone Zemella and his assistant Lorenzo Morandi have continued to develop the property.

Tenuta la Novella lies at an altitude of 500 metres in the heart of Tuscany, between Florence and Siena, within the Chianti Classico appellation. The 13.5 hectares of vineyards occupy the estate's finest terroirs.

Vineyards and olive groves are farmed to strict organic and biodynamic standards, without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers.

The estate makes olive oil, Chianti Classico and IGT wines, and Vin Santo. The old cellars date back to the Medici era and were renovated by François Schneider. Olives are pressed at the estate's own mill.

The estate believes that exceptional products come from nature and human talent working together. In pursuit of the highest quality, it makes its olive oil, Chianti Classico and IGT wines, and Vin Santo according to strict organic and biodynamic farming standards.