Mazzei Fonterutoli Chianti Classico

The owners of Fonterutoli are the Mazzei marquises, who also own the "Zisola" estate in Sicily and "Tenuta Belguardo" in Tuscany. They have played an important role in the Tuscan winemaking history: thanks to the Mazzei, the name "Chianti" appeared in 1398. Today, the Mazzei family owns 470 hectares of vineyards, 69 hectares of which are occupied by the Fonterutoli estate vineyards, located in 4 separate zones: Belvedere, Fonterutoli, Badia, and Siepi. One of the factors determining the high concentration and complex aroma of Fonterutoli wines is the support of low vine yields: from 1 hectare, no more than 40 hectoliters of grapes are obtained. The characteristic features of the berries grown in different areas also influence the formation of the wine's taste. Berries harvested from the lower areas in Siepi and Belvedere form a powerful structure, while clones from the higher areas of Fonterutoli and Badia give the wine richness and elegance. Special attention is paid to the harvest: grapes from different plots are harvested only by hand at different times when the berries reach optimal ripeness. The winemaking process is overseen by the legendary agronomist-enologist Carlo Ferrini, awarded the Gambero Rosso title of "Winemaker of the Year" in 2000.