La Spinosa | Organic estate winery in Barberino Val d’Elsa, now Barberino Tavarnelle in Tuscany, Italy. The main wines are bottled as IGT Colli della Toscana Centrale and Chianti Colli Fiorentini DOCG.

Background | Three friends with farming backgrounds bought this abandoned estate in 1982, initially farming cereals and livestock, then adding vines and olives. Claudia Caccetta told me at Millésime Bio Jan 2017 that the owners are from Milan and Rome.

Staff | Sales: Gianfranco Ossola.

Organic certification | 1982 Bio sans papiers. | 1994 First vintage with full organic certification.

Vineyards | 2017 | 13ha of estate vines + 3ha of rented vines. All in Barberino Val d’Elsa. Valley floor (‘fondo valle’). Sangiovese, Merlot, Canaiolo, Colorino, Trebbiano Toscano, Malvasia Lunga del Chianti, Foglia Tonda, Malvasia Nera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Mammolo,’ I was told at Millésime Bio Jan 2017.

Winmaking | Estate bottled since 2000.e

Red wines

Colli della Toscana Centrale , Prunaiolo | 2008 34% Sangiovese, 33% each Cabernet Sauvignon & other (guess Cabernet Franc or Merlot). Very smoky new French oak which seems to be drying/hardening the fruit but it might bounce back, but a bit heavy for now. No medal at DWWA 29th April 2013.

Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT, Gorgotesco | Sangiovese 80%, Merlot 15%, Malvasia 5%.

Chianti Colli Fiorentini DOCG | Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Colorino. / 2013 Ruther musty, blurred old style wine at Millésime Bio Jan 2017.

Toscana Rosso, Medoro | 2015 100% Sangiovese. 15.5% alc.12 months in 750 litre botte, then 12 months in clay amphora.

Passito wines

Foco D’Ambra Vino Passito | Trebbiano and Malvasia. Dried for 5 months.

Other crops | Olives for olive oil, plus 8-10ha of cereals, heritage strains of spelt (‘farro’) and durum wheat (‘grano duro’) I was told (Millésime Bio 2017).

Contact

Azienda Agraria La Spinosa Soc Semplice

Piazza Barberini, 3

I-50021 Barberino Tavernelle (FI = Firenze), Italy

Tel+39 055.8075413 or 055.8066214 | www.laspinosa.it