Tenuta di Ghizzano is an organic estate winery south-east of Pisa in the province of Pisa on Tuscany’s north-western coast. In 1370 a watch tower was erected here, in what is now an Italian style garden, near where the cellars are. The estate has been in the same family since 1370. Wines are bottled under the Terre di Pisa DOC and Costa Toscana IGP denominations.

Owners: Peirfrancesco and Ginevra Venerosi Pesciolini.

Staff: Consultant Oen: Carlo Ferrini. | Manager: Ginevra Venerosi Pesciolini. Cellarman: Michele Franci.

Vineyards: The Tenuta di Ghizzano estate lies around 20km east of the Tyrrhenian Sea. It consists of about 350ha (865 acres), of which 20ha (50 acres) are vineyards, 20ha (50 acres) are olive groves, 145ha (370 acres) are cereal crops and 145ha (370 acres) are woods and poplar groves. Vine densities were low, at 1,800-2,600 vines per ha (Visit 15th March 2005).

Soils: Marine deposits. Rich in sand, clay and marine fossils.

Single vineyards: Torricella 180 metres, south-facing. Chiesana 150 metres, south west-facing. Pianaccia 150 metres, south-facing.

Biodiversity: 2006 Began working with Pisa provincial council to aid the repopulation of the indigenous pheasant, partridge and hare whose numbers have declined through farming. This meant controlling unwanted predators, increasing drinking and eating facilities.

Organic certifcation: 2003 the estate began the conversion process to organic farming methods. | 2008 Certified organic for the first time (Suolo e Salute). | 2015 Still certified organic.

Biodynamics: Biodynamic practices are used.

Red wines

Terre di Pisa DOC, Veneroso: The estate’s flagship wine. Based on Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. From 2012 sold under the Terre di Pisa DOC. | 1985 Debut. One of the first Pisane estates to produce a Sangiovese-Cabernet blend. | 2001 60% Sangiovese + 40% Cabernet Sauvignon + a bit of Merlot. Rich ripe nose, clean fruit, freshness and clarity and concentration without being extracted; bit of coffee too but decent (Visit 15th March 2005). | 2019 Terre di Pisa DOC. The 30th harvest of Veneroso.

Nambrot: From 2012 sold under the Terre di Pisa DOC. Named after the founder of the family line who lived during Charles the Great’s era. Was 100% Merlot; now with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot. Stainless steel for fermentation. | 2001 Nice rich style, not as clear as the Veneroso, oak a bit heavy and gloopy but good style (Visit 15th March 2005). | 2015 30th harvest. Organic. 13.5%. Smooth, clear, rich fruit with the oak settling in with plenty of time ahead  (June 2020). | 2016 The 20th harvest of Nambrot. Certified organic. 14% alc. Smooth, clear dark fruit with an overlay of new oak but with the requisite depth of fruit, worth decanting as it opened up nicely on the following day (28 April 2020).

Sweet wines

Vin Santo, San Germano: 80% Trebbiano Toscano, 15% Colombana,  5% Malvasia Bianca.

Other activities: 160ha of other land. Cereals. Olives for oil (Frantoio and Razzo varieties). Agritourism.

Contact

Tenuta di Ghizzano

Via della Chiesa, 13, Fraz Ghizzano

56030 Peccioli (PI), Italy

Tel+39 0587.630096 | Website: www.tenutadighizzano.com

Bibliography

Visit on 15th March 2005.