Barberino Val d’Elsa, or Barberino Val di Elsa is one of of nine communes in Tuscany entitled to the Chianti Classico DOCG, but in its case only for half of the land within its boundary (Nesto & Savino: 2016, p.105). Barberino occupies the centre-west portion of the Chianti Classico zone, with Tavarnelle Val di Pesa directly to the north, roughly halfway between between Florence and Siena, but administratively in the Metropolitan City of Florence, 19 miles (30km) south of the city of Florence itself. As its name suggests, Barberino is located in (and overlooks) the Valley of the Elsa river (‘Val d’Elsa‘) which eventually empties into the Arno. Strategically located, Barberino’s town centre is still surrounded by its original fortifications.
From 01st January 2019 following a public vote the communes of Barberino Val d’Elsa and Tavarnelle in Val di Pesa merged into the commune of Barberino-Tavarnelle in the Province of Firenze (Florence).
Localities (‘frazioni’): Casanuova del Piano. | Cipressino. | Linari. | Marcialla. | Monsanto. | Pastine. | Petrogono. | Ponzano. | San Filippo a Ponzano. | San Martino. | Sant’Appiano. | Sosta del Papa. | Tignano. | Vico d’Elsa. | Vigliano. | Zambra.
Vineyard area: 2014 1,99.65 hectares representing 3.08% of the Chianti Classico total vineyard area of 6,476.66 hectares, making it Chianti Classico’s 8th biggest vineyard township (Source: Enoproject, Franco Bernabei).
Wineries
Certified organic: Fattoria di Spoiano. | Fattoria Le Masse. | Fattoria Sant’Appiano. | Isole e Olena. | La Spinosa. | Podere La Fraschetta. | Podere Marcialla. | Quercia al Poggio.
No certification: Cantina Ripoli. | Cantine Guidi. | Casa Emma. | Casa Sola. | Castelli del Grevepesa. | Castello della Paneretta. | Castello di Monsanto. | Fattoria La Ripa. | Fattoria Montecchio. | Fattorie Giannozzi. | Fattorie Marchesi Torrigiani. | Il Campino. | Impresa Enoagricola. | Le Filigare. | Pasolini dall’Onda. | Spadaio e Piecorto. | Tenuta Bonomonte.
Bibliography
Bill Nesto MW & Frances Di Savino, Chianti Classico, the Search for Tuscany’s Noblest Wine (University of California Press, 2016), p.106.