Fattoria Santa Vittoria is located in Località Piana in Foiano della Chiana in Tuscany Italy. Wines are made under the Val di Chiana DOC.

Owner: Niccolai family. Signor Francesco Niccolai (0575.22679 or cell 339.6561337). He is a civil lawyer, studied in Florence.

Background: The house was built in 1572 by Cosimo I dei Medici to commemorate the victory of the republic of Florence over Siena in the battle of Cantagallo. The estate was founded in the 1700s. The estate took its present from in the 1800s.

Staff: Signor Francesco Niccolai’s daughter is Marta (335.5915122). She studied at Wallingford in Oxon so speaks very good English. She looks after the agritourism.

Vineyards: This is a mixed farm with maize, olives, vines, sunflowers; around 90 ha in total of which around 30 ha is vines (Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Trebbiano and Malvasia plus Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grechetto). 300 metres overlooking the Chiana Valley. All cordon speronate apart form some colorino on guyot. Experimental vineyards have seen 15 old red and 15 old white grapes from Italy and abroad planted. This is under the auspices of l’Istituto Sperimentale per la Viticoltura, sez. di Arezzo. These are micro-vinified. They have since been authorised to plant nine varieties including Nero d’Avola (the first in Tuscany was here), Foglia Tonda (old Tuscan red grape) and Incrocio Manzoni (white crossing). The olives are pressed in a local coop and the one in arezzo is where many of the grapes are sold.

Winery: Cement vats. Upstairs room for drying the grapes for vin santo; occupies a hill with views to Lucignano.

White wines

Toscana Bianco IGT, Le Gaggiole: 100% Incrocio Manzoni. | 2003 Fat and appley with plenty of body; not sold; sherry-like finish (Visit 10 March 2005).

Val di Chiana DOC Bianco: 2003 Grechetto, 15% Incrocio Manzoni. Limey crisp, clean, fattish style (Visit 10 March 2005).

Val di Chiana DOC Grechetto: 2000 Bottled.

Red wines

Val di Chiana DOC Rosso, Poggio al Tempio: 80% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot.

Toscana Rosso, Poggio Grasso: 2003 100% Nero d’Avola. 1,500 bottles. Lovely rich black fruit and less animal than the Sicilian version (Visit 10 March 2005).

Val di Chiana Rosso, Scannagallo: Commemorates the battle that saw Florence beat Siena. | 2000 Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon. | 2001 Light, elegant, dry tannin at finish, but decent fruit; good value wine (Visit 10 March 2005). | 2002 Evolved style, elegant, good (Visit 10 March 2005). | 2003 Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon. Sample from a wooden vat: clean fresh black fruit and new French oak, well made (Visit 10 March 2005).

Sweet wines

Vin Santo Val di Chiana DOC: Trebbiano, Malvasia and a bit of Greco or San Colombano; either hung from the ceiling or placed in layers on mats. | 2000 Val di Chiana DOC Vin Santo: Nutty, well made, simple but good stuff (Visit 10 March 2005).

Other products. Olio extravirgine: 2,400 trees (Frantoio, leccino, pendolino, most planted after the 1985 frost.).

Agritourism Tel+39 0575.660430 (four independent appartments on an isolated part of the farm with views of the rolling Chiana valley. 

Contact

Fattoria Santa Vittoria

Località Pozzo

Via Piana 43, I-52045 Foiano della Chiana (AR = Arezzo), Italy

Tel+39 0575 66807 (cellar)

Website www.fattoriasantavittoria.com

Bibliography: Visit on 10th March 2005.