Tenuta di Vignale is located in the Val di Cornia in Piombino in Livorno Province, on the Costa degli Etruschi (Etruscan coast) in Tuscany. Wines are made under the Val di Cornia DOC.

Background: At the end of the XIX century the property of the estate was divided between two branches of the Franceschi family, but after one part of the family died out a part of the land was handed down to the family of Count Giuli Rosselmini Gualandi, who nowadays still manages the farm, the breeding of the livestock and the various crops and woods. The other part of the Franceschi family sold their large part of the estate to the Genoese family of the Count Eugenio Figoli des Geneys, whose heirs, still manage the property through the Tenuta di Vignale Ltd company.

An important renovation project was started in 1999 by chief executive Paolo M. Orlando, who, as a shareholder in the Tenuta di Vignale Ltd, believed that the growing of vines and olive trees was crucial, as well as his belief in salvaging the farms. This project, once completed, together with the imminent start of excavations to restore the ancient Castle of Lombard to its original state, will make the Tenuta di Vignale one of the most interesting centres in the entire Tuscan Maremma.

Vineyards: 20ha. The coast is very close. Mediterranean flowers and plants.

Wines

Val di Cornia Bianco, Proda as Mandorli: 2003 60% Trebbiano, 30% Vermentino, 10% Ansonica. 5,000 bottles.

Val di Cornia DOC Vermentino, Campo degli Albicocchi: 2003 100% Vermentino. 3,000 bottles.

Val di Cornia Rosso, Vinivo: 2002 80% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot. 2,000 bottles. Nice clean soft summer pudding; no great complexity as just primary fruit; could say it was dull but a light blackcurrant juice crown pleaser at the Bolgheri wine route office 22 Feb 2005.

Val di Cornia Rosso, Villa del Mosaico: 2003 80% Sangiovese, 15% Ciliegiolo, 5% Canaiolo. 10,000 bottles. Iron-rich and smells of cigars, sweet fruit and again a bit oxidised as over-ripe and possibly a hot cellar with some older wood; not for keeping but has sex appeal if a little clumsy (with high alcohol too) at the Bolgheri wine route office 22 Feb 2005.

Contact

Tenuta di Vignale

Località Vignale Riotorto

57025 Piombino (LI), Italy

Tel+39 056 520812