Brancaia is an organic estate winery in Località Poppi in Radda in Chianti the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany, Italy. Bruno and Brigitte Widmer came to Tuscany to visit friends in Castellina-in-Chianti and when the next door property came up for sale in 1981 Bruno decided to buy it. From 1982-1997 Bruno Widmer had the Mazzei family at Castello di Fonterutoli make the wine for him. Then he bought another property where he could build his own winery, and in 1998 made his first wine there, independent of Fonterutoli. Wines are also made under the Maremma Toscana Rosso DOC from the Poggio Al Sasso estate.

CEO: Barbara Widmer (Bruno’s daughter). Her husband is Martin Kronenberg. | Staff: Carlo Ferrini consults.

Organic certification: 2019 First vintage with full organic certification.

Vineyards–Chianti Classico: 40 hectares (99 acres) of which 25 hectares of Chianti Classico and 15 hectares of IGT Toscana. The vines are located across three properties. These are Poppi in Radda, Brancaia in Castellina in Chianti, and Poggio al Sasso in the Maremma. 

Winemaking: 1992 Carlo Ferrini began consulting here in 1992 (still doing so as of Feb 2018). | 1999 Barbara Widmer’s first vintage as winemaker, fresh out of oenology school.

White wines

Il Bianco: 2013 Toscana Bianco IGT. 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Semillon and Gewurztraminer, 5% Viognier.

Red wines

Chianti Classico DOCG, Brancaia: 2016 100% Sangiovese. Fermented in stainless steel (70%) and concrete (30%). No oak. Sweet fruit with some green edges (Anteprima 2018). | 2018 Bright primary fruit, well made (Anteprima 2020). | 2020 35,000 bottles. 

Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva: 2009 Bottled. | 2010 80% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot. Clear, floral red cherry flavours (Silver, DWWA 2013). | 2011 Creamy oak, decent depth, good (Decanter Fine Wine Encounter 2014). | 2014 80% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot. | 2016 Nice texture with fruit and oak settling down with each other (Anteprima 2020). | 2018 35,000 bottles.

Brancaia Il Blu, Toscana Rosso IGT: 2000 55% Sangiovese, 40% Merlot. 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. From Brancaia and Poppi. | 2009 50% Sangiovese, 45% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Bright cherry and cedar, juicy, good use of oak (Silver, DWWA 2013).

Maremma Toscana Rosso, Ilatria: 2010 40% each Cabernet Sauvignon & Petit Verdot, 20% Cabernet Franc. Smoky blackcurrant, bacon and leather notes. Silver medal (DWWA 2013).

Brancaia Tre: From all three (‘tre’ in Italian) of vineyard sites.

Contact

Brancaia

Località Poppi, 42

53017 Radda in Chianti (SI), Italy

Tel+39 0577 742007 | Website: See here.

Bibliography

Bill Nesto MW & Frances Di Savino, Chianti Classico, the Search for Tuscany’s Noblest Wine, (University of California Press, 2016