Panzanello is an organic estate in Panzano in Chianti in Greve in Chianti, a commune in the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany, Italy. The estate is also known as the Fattoria Sant’Andrea.

Owner: Andrea Sommaruga (+39 335 1211952. Andrea Sommaruga’s grandmother bought this estate in 1964. It was planted with vines but the grapes were sold to the co-op. The oldest vines here date from 1964-1990 planted by his grandmother. She had 34ha of land of which 7ha was vines and 2 ha were olives and the rest was forest. Andrea took over from his grandmother in Dec 1994 (he has an MBA in finance from Connecticut in the USA so speaks English). He had to respect the contract his grandmother had made with the co-op. So from 1995 he rented 2ha of vines from his grandmother. He wanted to make 100% Sangiovese red wines. His first botting was Feb 1997 (7,000 bottles). In 1998 he made 12,000 bottles. In Oct 1998 his grandmother died and this allowed him to get out of the contract with the co-op. He thus went to 9ha of production. In 1999 helped by EU subsidies he planted 5ha of vines and in 2002 he planted another 5ha leaving him with (in 2005ish) around 20ha of vines and 20ha of olive trees (3,000 olive trees).

Staff: Consutant winemaker: Gioia Cresti (1995+ here).

Vineyards: 120 hectares (acres) of land of which 29 hectares of vines. 450 metres. Clay-rich soils.

Polyculture: 70 hectares of woodland. Also olives.

Organic certification: 1974 Went organic under Andrea Sommaruga’s grandmother. | 1998 First vintage with full organic certification.

Pink wines

Toscana Rosato IGT: 100% Sangiovese.

Red wines

Chianti Classico DOCG, Panzanello: 2016 100% Sangiovese Nice weight, simple fruit and tannin as a restaurant wine (Anteprima 2018). | 2018 Aged in non-new oak. Crunchy and rich (2020 Anteprima).

Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva: 2010 97% Sangiovese, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. First bottle TCA. Deep colour, black core and a pinkish rim, very ripe style, concentration and quite like an Argentine Malbec. No medal (DWWA 29th April 2013). | 2013 A bit acetic (Anteprima 2018). | 2016 98% Sangiovese, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Toscana Rosso IGT, Il Manuzio: Il Manuzio was the name of this estate in the 1500s. | 2001 Sangiovese, oaky, dense. | 2014 A bit hot alcohol-wise, and the Merlot’s slightly vegetal flavour is apparent (Anteprima 2018). | 2015 98% Sangiovese, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. 24m in new oak. Rich, hint of funk (2020 Anteprima).

Toscana Rosso IGT, Le Piazzole:

Contact

Ag Ag Panzanello

Via Case Sparse, 86

Loc. Panzanella

50020 Panzano in Chianti (SI), Italy

Tel+39 055.852470 | Website: www.panzanello.it