Il Molino di Grace is an organic estate winery in Panzano-in-Chianti, a locality (‘frazione’) in Greve-in-Chianti in Tuscany’s Chianti Classico region.

Background: Founded by Frank Grace in the 1990’s. The winery was built in 1997. Grace was succeeded by his two sons Tim and Daniel. The estate is named after a 19th century historic windmill located on the property across from the winery. However, the viticultural history of the property is much older: the first vineyards date back to the mid-1600s and were worked by monks from the local monastery. The estate produces approximately 250,000 bottles of Chianti Classico DOCG, Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva, Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione and Super Tuscan wines annually.

Staff: Winemaking consultant: Franco Bernabei 1998+.2022 No consultant.

Vineyards: 46 hectares of land in total of which 20 hectares are vineyards in a single location (behind Fontodi. 350-400m. Rootstocks: 420A mainly, plus a bit of Richter. 

Soil: Typically for Panzano, most estate vines are on galestro (clayey schist). Unusually for Panzano the estate also has vines on pietraforte (compact limestone), in lower lying sites, plus a little alberese (friable marl).

Sustainability: ‘We plow each vineyard only once every three years to the most shallow depths between the rows (maximum of 45 cm.) We use the cuttings from the vines to fuel the heating and air conditioning in the winery, thus eliminating the use of gas. All of the fertilizer used in the vineyards is organic, the yeast is indigenous, and the grapes are harvested and picked by hand only,’ (Source: winery website 07 March 2020).

Organic certification: 2010 Went organic. | 2014 First vintage with full organic certification.

Red wines

Chianti Classico DOCG, Il Molino di Grace: 2015 100% Sangiovese. Slightly thick-tasting fruit, creates a sensation of heaviness (Anteprima 2018). | 2019 Smooth with a warm end.13.55 alc.

Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva, Il Molino di Grace: 2009 Bottled. | 2015 100% Sangiovese.

Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione, Il Margone: 2007 100% Sangiovese. Stinky, mousy, no medal (DWWA 2013). | 2011 22,000 bottles. | 2013 100% Sangiovese. Starting to fall apart (Anteprima 2018).

IGT Toscana Rosso, Gratias: 2015 90% Sangiovese, 5% each Colorino and Canaiolo.

IGT Toscana Rosso, Il Volano: 2011 Sangiovese, Merlot.

Contact

Tenuta Agricola Il Molino di Grace s.r.l

Località Il Volano, I-50022 Panzano in Chianti (FI), Italy

Tel+39 055 856 1010 | Website: See here.

Bibliography

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