Badia di Morrona (‘Morrona Abbey’) is an estate in the Era Valley in Terricciola in Pisa province on the Tuscan coast, between Pisa and Volterra. It produces wine under the Chianti Colline Pisane DOCG plus Chianti DOCG, Bianco Pisano di San Torpè DOC, and Colli dell’Etruria Centrale DOC.

Owner: Filippo Gaslini Alberti and the Gaslini family (they have an estate in Piemonte; main business is insurance).

Background: The estate has C11th origins. The extensive buildings were originally a Benedictine abbey (Badia, Abbadia), then a bishop’s palace, and are now a farm-vineyard. In 1929 it was bought by Italo and Mario Gaslini.

Staff: Oen: Giorgio Marone Depaoli. Viti: Arrigo De Paoli.

Vineyards: 600ha of land. 1990 Around 45 ha, one of the larger Pisane estates at that time. Vineyards have been acquired and replanted at 5,000 and 6,000 vines/ha. Sangiovese dominates; sandstone; should have some SB vines planted in the early 1990s. Vines on a range of sites. Also heavy clay, plus sand and shells; mix of sites too around the commune of Terricciola. Says this is a young region, developing, anything is possible; oldest vines ‘Vigna Alta’ which is Sangiovese, old pruning system; 240 metres. | 2015 100ha of vines (Gambero Rosso: 2015, p.556).

Winery: From 1990 under the Gaslini family and Corrado dal Piaz (from Trentino) a new winery, with pneumatic presses, was created. The C12th barrel cellar is a little drive away from the main (new) cellar.

White wines

Bianco Pisano di San Torpè DOC: This was made under Corrado dal Piaz.

Toscana Bianco, La Suvera: 2003 70% Chardonnay, 30% Trebbiano. Oaked. Rich and oaky but good quality, nice and fresh and well-balanced for the year when tasted at the winery in early 2005. 4,500 bottles. Around €10. Sold to restaurants in Italy.

Toscana Vermentino IGT Felciaio:

Red wines

Colli dell’Etruria Centrale Rosso, Vign’Alta: 2001 5,000 bottles. Old vines, 2,500 vines/ha. Nice old vine Sangiovese fruit and a bare hint of Cabernet Sauvignon (Visit, 14th March 2005). | 2010 100% Sangiovese.

Toscana Rosso, Taneto: 70% Syrah,15% each Sangiovese and Merlot. | 2011 Mainly Syrah, plus Sangiovese and Merlot.

Toscana Rosso, N’Anita: 2001 20% Merlot, 40% Sangiovese, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. 12,000 bottles. International style with nice wood, technically a good (Visit, 14th March 2005). They know their market. Sold to both local restaurants and Japan. | 2009 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot. Ripe roasted plum aromas, concentrated and broad with nice evolution, cedar starting to develop, sweet tannins firmed up by oak, dense if perhaps not elegant with it (Bronze, DWWA 2013).

Chianti DOCG, I Sodi del Paretaio: Fantasy name: ‘i sodi’ means hard, ‘sodi’ being big bits of hard ground (or sods I suppose) and ‘parete’ are walls. | 2003 100,000 bottles; bit of a stinky nose; light easy style, but crisp and well made from 90% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot; could be a bit Piemontese; easy, nice crisp style; and well made again (Visit, 14th March 2005).

Other activities: Olives for olive oil. Acquavitae. Agritourism. The estate has a hunting reserve.

Contact

Badia di Morrona

Via di Badia, 8

56030 Terricciola (PI), Italy

Tel+39 0587.658505 | Website: www.badiadimorrona.it/en/