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 history of Tuscan winemaking: thanks to the Mazzei family, the name of the wine "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: no more than 40 hectoliters of grapes are obtained per hectare. The characteristic features of the berries grown in different territories also influence the formation of the wine's taste. Berries harvested from the lower plots in Siepi and Belvedere form a powerful structure, while clones from the higher plots in Fonterutoli and Badia impart richness and elegance to the wine. Harvesting is given special attention: grapes from different plots are harvested only by hand at different times when the berries reach optimal ripeness. The winemaking process is conducted under the supervision of the legendary agronomist-oenologist Carlo Ferrini, awarded the title of "Winemaker of the Year" by Gambero Rosso in 2000.