Fattoria I Veroni is an organic estate winery in Pontassieve (about 10 km from the city of Florence) in the Metropolitan City of Florence. Red Chianti Rùfina DOCG wines are made, as are two dried grape wines: Vin Santo del Chianti Rùfina DOCG and Vin Santo del Chianti Rùfina Occhio di Pernice DOC. The oldest records of the estate date to1585.

The name: The name I Veroni is derived from an ancient Tuscan term “verone”, the (three) wide terraces surrounding the farm where many years ago tobacco leaf for cigars and grain from the Arno valley was dried.

Owner: Lorenzo Mariani, the current owner, took over here in 1996 from his father. He is the fourth generation of his family at I Veroni, since his maternal great-grandfather bought the large property in 1897 which comprised various farms working the classic mixed crops of the time. Lorenzo told me (visit 2005) when it was his generation’s turn to deal with an agricultural family property meant ‘you either abandon it or you relaunch it’. He chose the latter route, encouraged by Vittorio Frescobaldi of Castello Nipozzano and Francesco Giuntini of Fattoria Selvapiana.

Sales: 20% to Florence.

Staff: Consultant: Andrea Paoletti since 2009. | Agronomist: Paola De Blasi. | Dott Luca Innocenti.

Background: In the Middle Ages the vineyard and farmland of I Veroni formed part of the extensive feudal estates of the Conti Guidi family. The Conti Guidi controlled the area and had a series of towers constructed for better control over the area. One such tower is no longer visible because it was incorporated in subsequent buildings over the following centuries. The main building here was originally a look-out tower. Records show vines have been grown here since the 1500s when the estate passed from the Guidi family to the Gatteschi family who in 1809 built a stone fermentation tanks, still visible today. In the 19th century I Veroni passed to the Modigliani family of Rùfina. In the early 20th century the firm was bought by Carlo Malesci, and it still belongs to his family, under current incumbent Lorenzo Mariani. He took over management of the firm in 1996, helped initially by Emilio Monechi, an oenologist and friend.

Terroir: Around 50 hectares (123 acres) of land around the San Martino a Quona church, in the Pontassieve hills. 10km from Florence. Altitude of 240-280 metres (790-920 feet). Mainly calcareous soils. South-south-west facing, an advantage in a cool valley like the Sieve as the vines get sunlight to 21:00 hours.

Vineyards: The vineyards cover 22 hectares: 80% is Sangiovese. 20 hectares are planted with olives. New vineyards were planted from 1998. | 2005 12 hectares (29.6 acres) of vines. Around 5,000 vines per hectare (2,024 vines per acre). 90% Sangiovese. 1103P rootsock. One vineyard called San Martino contains some Merlot. In the mid-2000s the oldest vines were still trained up trees dating from the 1930s/1940s. | 2016 20 hectares (49.4 acres) of vines. Primarily Sangiovese. | 2018 20ha producing 110,000 bottles (Gambero Rosso: 2018, p.684). 70ha of which 21ha of vines. 40ha of olives.

Organic certification: 2009 Went organic. | 2013 First vintage with full organic certification. | 2021 Moving to Biodynamic certification (Alfredo Masseti told me, July 2021).

Wine production: 13,000 bottles in total. 10,000 bottles of the white and pink wines. 30,000 bottles of the Rosso Toscana (‘the house wine’). 50–60,000 bottles of I Domi. 30,000 bottles of Quona.

First wines: The first bottled wine here dates to 1957 and was produced from promiscuous vineyards (interplanted with fruit and olive trees) of Sangiovese, Canaiolo and white grapes. Most of the vineyards were re-planted from 1967, including the San Martino a Quona vineyard, which comprises 4.5 hectares (acres) out of the overall total of 20 hectares of vineyards and from which the company reserve was born in 1996. This has a south-south-west exposure, and a average gradient of 20%. Now, the vineyard plots are not ‘promiscuous’, but consist of blocks 100% planted with a single grape variety. The main Sangiovese clones are R24, R23, R6 and VCR102. The main rootstocks are 1103P and 110R. The vines are spur pruned and cordon trained.

Winery: The first stone wine fermentation tank was built in 1809. Parts of this are still visible in the original cellars. A new winery was being planned for 2006.

Winemaking: The wines ferment in cement vats, or conical 25 hl wooden vats. Reds age in 500-litre tonneaux, or in 225-litre barriques.

White wines

IGT Toscana Bianco Vermentino:

Alba di Paola: A white wine made from Sangiovese.

Pink wines

IGT Toscana Rosato, I Veroni: 100% Sangiovese. | 2016 Bottled.

Red wines

IGT Toscana Rosso, I Veroni Rosso: 2015 Bottled.

IGT Toscana Rosso, Rosso del Pelacane: 2002 Merlot, Sangiovese, Petit Verdot.

IGT Toscana Rosso DOC, Zibo: Sangiovese and Merlot.

Chianti Rùfina DOCG, Fattoria I Veroni: 2003 Light and a bit metallic, simple tannin, some decent flavour, very light though (Visit Thursday 17th March 2005).

Chianti Rùfina DOCG, I Domi: Single vineyard. 50,000 bottles. The name ‘Domi’ comes from the cover (dome) of a water well. The Chianti Rufina vineyards are located in the resort of Pianottolo, at an altitude of 300 metres above sea level and with an exposure to the South, South-West. Organic farming. Sangiovese 90 %, Canaiolo Nero and Colorino 10%. Vineyards located near the vineyard of Pianottolo in the surrounding areas of San Martino a Quona’s church in the Chianti Rufina area (around 250 meters a.s.l). Exposure: South, south-west. Hand picked. Grapes ferment on the skins for about 15 days in stainless steel tanks. Delestage. Matured in Slavonian oak casks for 12 to 14 months. 15.5% alc.’ (Source: Anthony Byrne Fine Wine). | The estate website says ‘About one year maturation in French oak casks of 32 and 25 hl (10% of which goes in French oak barrels of 5hl capacity).’ 2015 Bottled. ‘90% Sangiovese, 5% each Canaiolo Nero and Colorino. | 2019 14.5% alc. 45,000 bottles. Drink 2021-2030 Alfredo Masseti suggested (July 2021). A soft and rich red with plenty to  satisfying, not least its juicy fruit and tannins (Dec 2021). | 2021 90% Sangiovese, 5% each Canaiolo Nero and Colorino. 555 bottles. Low crop. 14.5 alc.

Chianti Rùfina DOCG Riserva, Fattoria I Veroni: 2000 Aged in tonneau. High tone fruit, not very balanced; also some VA, not great really (Visit 17th March 2005). | 2007 Bottled. | 2008 Bottled. | 2009 Bottled. | 2010 Bottled. | 2011 Bottled. | 2012 Bottled. | 2013 14%. Lotto 16M02A11. Nice fruit/weight, well put togther, a bit simple but certainly satisfying and fairly clean. Bit short and would benefit from more interesting acidity tasted in Viale Piave 08th Dec 2016 (samples from Thurner PR). | 2021 90% Sangiovese. 14,5%alc. Low crop. Small grapes. Both juicy and quite tannic. 

Chianti Rùfina DOCG Riserva Vigneto Quona: 30,000 bottles. The flagship wine. From a single vineyard of Sangiovese vines on south-facing slopes located around the nearby Pieve di San Martino a Quona church. Galestro and clay–limestone. The Sangiovese was re-planted using budwood from the estate’s own historic Sangiovese biotypes. Aged in Garbellotto oak vats, around 30,000 bottles Alfredo Masseti told me (July 2021). | 2014 Bottled. | 2015 100% Sangiovese. | 2018 15% alc. 100% Sangiovese. 8 months in barriques and larger barrels. The alcohol level of 15% is well integrated in a wine that has plenty of fruit depth and juiciness but also allied to a light liquorice note. The oak is is well in the background.

Dried Grape wines

Vin Santo del Chianti Rùfina DOCG, I Veroni: 1997 60% Malvasia Toscana, 30% Trebbiano Toscano. Picked late October, grapes laid to dry on matting into the new year. Pressed, fermented, and then aged in oak and chestnut casks (100-litre maximum size). 16,5% vol. A bit caramel-like, sugary and ‘hot’ alcohol finish too (Visit 17th March 2005). | 2003 Bottled. | 2005 Bottled. | 2006 Bottled. | 2007 Bottled. | 2008 Bottled.

Vin Santo del Chianti Rùfina Occhio di Pernice DOC, I Veroni: 2009 17% alc. Lotto VOP 19B09. Savoury raspberry fruit aroma, a rich mouthfeel with well balanced sweetness and acidity and with plenty of depth (July 2021). | 2016 Clear, rich, very, very good (visit 2022.)

Other activities: 20 hectares (49.4 acres) of olive trees (4,000 trees) for extra virgin olive oil.80% Frantoio, 10% each Leccino and Moraiolo.

Contact

Fattoria I Veroni

Società Agricola I Veroni Società Semplice

Località I Veroni

Via Tifariti, 5

50065 Pontassieve (FI), Italy

Tel+39 055 836 8886 | Website: www.iveroni.it

GPS: 43.776242, 11.419743

Sales: Anthony Byrne Fine Wine (UK).