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"Il Palagio" property-direct and on-line Chianti Classico wine sales. |
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Il Palagio wine cellars
> > > Click the images for a larger view < < <
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The wine zoneIl Palagio vineyards and winery are located in the Tuscany region of Italy in the Chianti Classico wine zone and more precisely in the heart of the famous Conca d'oro (the golden scallop). Our vineyards are located just inside this natural amphitheatre, on the crest of the hills separating the valley from the Pesa stream on the east and from the Greve river on west.
Our vineyards are 350-450 m above the sealevel, an ideal elevation for sangiovese grapes. The soil is composed mainly of marl and a certain quantity of clay. The marl allows the plants to take root properly and drains them perfectly. The clay provides the minerals necessary for metabolism. This particular soil composition gives the wine excellent organoleptic characteristics. |
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Our vineyardsOur farm extends over some 13 hectares of land comprising 7.68 hectares of vineyrads with the rest in olive trees.
Dario Piccini bought the villa and the surrounding area at the end of the 70's. He immediately started producing red wines but unfortunately died young and the family decided to rent the villa and the whole area to another property until Monia Piccini, the niece of present owner and of Dario Piccini – had the necessary experience to manage the farm. She improved the farm image and wine quality by replanting all of the vineyards. Monia Piccini is the current manager together with her father, Fabrizio Piccini, assisted by oenologist Marco Chellini.
The vineyards were replanted with three different grapes, with particular attention being given to the drainage system, the desnsity of vines per hectare (5,500) and the grape varietals. The most recent new vines were planted in 2007. The grapes are sangiovese, merlot and a small amount of canaiolo.
The villa is based on a castle dating from about 1200, the period of the war between Guelfs and Ghibellines, and is situated among the olive oil trees and immersed in the tranquility of the vineyards. The villa has been fully restored and divided into small apartments that are rented to tourists. There are a swimming pool and a barbecue area at our guests’ disposal. |
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The Vendemmia at Il Palaggio - everyone joins in! |
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Cultivation and vinificationOur vineyards are cultivated according to the method of the spurred cordon. In fact, we prune plants during the winter so that in April you can see the first buds that will become white scented flowers at the start of summer, leaving space to the fruits afterwards.
In August, the so-called "green harvest" take places: we cut away all the green leaves and walking through the vineyards, we decide which grapes will be suitable and used for the real harvest in autumn.
Grapes are picked up by hand between the end of September and early October. Stalks are removed during mechanical crushing in an area above the cellars. After crushing, the juice is transferred downstairs into stainless steel containers downstairs in the cellar. The cellars are climate-controlled and the vinification process at a temperature of max 28° C. The juice is continuously moved up and down inside the containers for between 14 and 21 days to prevent the skins from forming any kind of cap. This cap is broken at the end of this process letting the polyphenols enter the juice.
At this point, pressing process starts and after 20-22 days the juice is subject to malolactic fermentation and transferred into the oak barrels. According to the wine we are going to produce, the juice refines first in the oak barrels of 23-33 hl for about 6 months and then in the French – new or old – oak barrels, where it refines for between 12 and 24 months, depending on the wines. |
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