Tenuta di Artimino is a large estate around the 16th-century Medici villa of La Paggeria designed by Buontalenti and located in the Renaissance village of Artimino in Carmignano in Prato province, about 12 miles (20km) west of the city of Florence. Artimino is famous for having one hundred chimneys, all of which differ from each other. It was once surrounded by a 32-mile wall. The wines were praised by Francesco Redi in his Bacco in Toscana’. Wine produced now comprise reds wine under the Barco Reale di Carmignano DOCG, the Carmignano DOCG, the Rosato di Carmignano or Vin Ruspo DOC and sweet white wines under the Vin Santo di Carmignano Occhio di Pernice DOC.

Owner: Giorgio Segantini (2005). | From 2012 the Olmo family (Annabella Pascale, Francesco Spotorno Olmo), with the arrival of the third generation, after a demanding and expensive load on the front of the reorganization of the reception of the historic Tenuta di Artimino , decided to undertake an important redevelopment of the estate also on the vine-wine level. Francesco Spotorno Olmo is in charge of the administrative aspect, while Annabella Pascale of the productive, commercial and image one.

Staff: Exports: Giuseppe Poggi (60 in 2005). Started working here mid-1960s. Took me for a drive to see the Barco Reale wall. | Alessandro Matteoli (Agronomist). | Filippo Paoletti (Oenologist).

Background: Tenuta di Artimino was founded by the Medici and boasts a grand 16th century villa called La Ferdinanda. The fattoria has been managed by the same family for four generations and owes its local reputation to very traditional riservas with long barrel ageing.

Location: A few miles south of Poggio a Caiano. The area around the high Artimino hill was inhabited in the Paleolithic era. In the C7thBC and Etruscan town was built on the site. Appears to have been prosperous as it could control the natural trade routes along the Arno and Ombrone rivers than from exploitation of the local agricultural resources. The acropolis probably stood on the hill now occupied by the Villa Ferdinanda (lots of chimneys). Opposite the villa is the village, which still has some of its medieval walls. The church stands further down the hill.

Vineyards: The southernmost estate in Carmignano. Vines in Carmignano and Chianti Montalbano. Mainly Sangiovese and Cabernet and to a lesser extent Merlot and Syrah. Also a few hectares of white grape varieties such as Sauvignon, Riesling, Chardonnay and Trebbiano.| 2005 700ha of land of which 75ha of vineyard. Systematic replanting began in the early 1990s. Experiments to try to salvage some of the hundreds of grape varieties that were planted in the region from the time of the Medicis. | 2020 Approximately 80 ha.

Winery: The cellars (ugly yellow building) are among the best equipped in the area: auto-remontage.

Winemaking: 2005: I was told the grapes were picked by hand and machine. Said to use no or very few barriques. Winery: From 2015 consultant oenologist Filippo Paoletti began re-vamping the oak regime via an increase of medium-sized wood (35hl).

Wine production: 2005 Around 2,700-3,000hl annually.

Other activities: Villa la Ferdinanda, location for UNESCO heritage events. Hotel 4-star Paggeria Medicea. Apartments to rent in the village. Biagio Pignatta restaurant

Pink wines

Rosato di Carmignano DOC or Vin Ruspo: 2013 Bottled.

Red wines

 Barco Reale di Carmignano, Villa Artimino: 2003 Soft animal nose, slightly dirty from the vineyard chemicals it seems; a bit animal and supermarket simple (Visit 7th March 2005).

Carmignano DOCG, Villa Artimino: 2002 Soft, bit hot and juicy, seems to be Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon, has a southern, animal feel (Visit 7th March 2005).

Carmignano DOCG, Vigna Grumarello: 1999 A bit animal and dry and southern, VA starting to come through (Visit 7th March 2005).

Carmignano DOCG, Poggilarca:

Carmignano Riserva DOCG, Villa Medicea: The flagship wine. | 1990 3,000 hl produced. | 2000 Deeper colour than the Barco Reale and entry-level Carmignano, bit animal and southern, very atypical it seems, industrial stuff and very anonymous (Visit 7th March 2005).

Toscana Rosso, Vigna dell’Iris: 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese. Nice mix of black and red fruit, but tannin a bit thin and sugary and the alcohol is not well integrated (Visit 7th March 2005).

Sweet white wines

Vin santo de Carmignano Occhio di Pernice DOC

Other activities: Olive oil. Grappa. Agritourism: 50 appartments in Artimino, some with double beds. Restaurants: Biaggio Pignatta (check). La Cantine del Redi (check). La Delfina (does not belong to Artimino).

Contact

Fattoria di Artimino

Fraz Artimino

V.le Papa Giovanni XXIII, 1

59015 Carmignano (PO), Italy

Tel+39 055.8792051 or+39 055.8751424 | Website: www.artimino.com.en