Tavarnelle Val di Pesa is a commune in Tuscany, administratively in the Metropolitan City of Florence. Tavarnelle is one of nine communes entitled to the Chianti Classico DOCG, but in its case for only half of the land within its boundary (Nesto & Savino: 2016, p.105). It lies in the central western part of Chianti Classico, on the hills which divide the Elsa and Pesa valleys. It covers a total surface area of 22 square miles (57 square kilometres).

Vineyard area: 2014 212.12 hectares representing 3.28% of Chianti Classico’s total vineyard area of 6,476.66 hectares, making it Chianti Classico’s 7th biggest commune in terms of vineyards (Source: Enoproject, Franco Bernabei).

Frazioni (localities): Badia a Passignano. | Sambuca Val di Pesa. | San Donato in Poggio.

Soils: Vary from richer (Badia a Passignano) to stonier (Poggio al Sole).

Terroir: Alessandro Masnaghetti (2018) points out that the Badia a Passignano and San Donato in Poggio zones are separated by the Pesa river, north and south of it respectively, each representing the heart of its respective zone. Northern sector: Badia a Passignano. | Pratale. | Poggio al Sole. | Poggio al Vento. Masnaghetti (2018) says the better vineyards in the Badia a Passignano area, which he says would also include Pratale (or at least its lower-lying valley area, where soils resemble those of Montefiridolfi, in the western sector of San Casciano Val di Pesa) and Casa al Vento (in its higher, cooler part) have medium-stony soils and good exposures. Southern sector: San Donato in Poggio. | Cerbaia. | Il Poggiolino. | Poggio Valluccia. | Sicelle. Masnaghetti (2018) says the San Donato in Poggio area is of similar size to the above-mentioned Badia a Passignano area but with lighter coloured, more stony soils. It is more varied too, ranging from Poggiolino near the village of Sambuca, to San Donato in Poggio to which, he says, can be added Cerbaia, Poggio Valluccia and even Casa Emma and Cortine–although the latter two are actually in the township of Barberino Val d’Elsa.

Wineries

Certified organic: Il Poggiolino (Pacini). | Podere La Cappella. | Villa Spoiano.

No certification: Badia a Passignano. | Fattoria Montecchio. | Frimaio–Fattoria Poggio Romita. | Poggio al Sole. | Tracolle.

Bibliography

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

Alessandro Masnaghetti (2018), I Cru di Enogea, Chianti Classico (Alessandro Masnaghetti Editore, third edition February 2018).

Dr Ian d’Agata, Italy’s Native Wine Grape Terroirs (University of California Press, 2019), p.283.