2.00pm-5.00pm
Open on the day:
'24 Cantagallo Chianti Montalbano $42
'22 Le Farnete Carmignano $56
'21 Cantagallo Chianti Montalbano Riserva $64
'20 Cantagallo Chianti Montalbano Il Fondatore $98
Hosted by Gerard O'Bryan of Apostrophe Wines, and free of charge.
Chianti Montalbano & Carmignano
Tuscany, often described as the cradle of the Renaissance, is a region where history, culture, and wine are inseparable. Its rolling hills, cypress-lined roads, and medieval towns—most famously Florence, Siena, Pisa, and Lucca—have inspired generations of artists and thinkers, while also nurturing one of Italy’s most celebrated wine traditions. The Tuscan dialect became the foundation of standard Italian, and the region’s influence has flowed as much from its wines as from its artistic and literary legacies.
At the core of Tuscan viticulture is Sangiovese, Italy’s most widely planted grape, which finds its most refined and expressive forms here. The historic zone of Chianti, first defined by Cosimo III de’ Medici in 1716, remains central to Tuscany’s identity. Within its boundaries, Chianti Classico produces some of Italy’s most iconic wines, shaped by the varied soils and elevations between Florence and Siena, offering elegance, structure, and a true taste of place.
Beyond Chianti Classico, Tuscany’s richness lies in its diversity. The Montalbano subzone, tucked into the hills west of Florence, is known for fresh, lively wines that reflect the cooler climate and rugged landscape of the area. Not far away, Carmignano, also enshrined in Cosimo III’s historic edict, has been producing wines that combine Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon for centuries—long before the rise of the modern “Super Tuscans.” Its wines are admired for their depth and complexity, a fusion of tradition and forward-thinking that has made Carmignano a unique reference point in Tuscany.
Together, Chianti, Montalbano, and Carmignano represent the diversity and longevity of Tuscan winemaking. They capture the region’s ability to honor history while embracing innovation, producing wines that remain among Italy’s most characterful, enduring, and distinctive.
Tenuta Cantagallo & Le Farnete
The Pierazzuoli family’s journey in viticulture began in 1970, when Garibaldo purchased Tenuta Cantagallo, a 200-hectare estate in the Tuscan hills between Florence and Vinci, at the heart of the Chianti Montalbano DOCG. In 1990, his nephew Enrico joined as winemaker, determined to raise the estate’s quality while preserving tradition. That same year the family acquired Tenuta Le Farnete, a 50-hectare estate in Carmignano, another of Tuscany’s historic and prestigious wine regions.
At Cantagallo, 30 hectares of vineyards lie on tuff and marl hills, with vines aged between 10 and 35 years. The southern exposure allows excellent ripening of Sangiovese, alongside small plantings of Merlot and Syrah for the Gioveto IGT Toscana. Flagship wines include the Chianti Montalbano DOCG Riserva “Il Fondatore”, produced in only 2,500 bottles per year, Chianti Montalbano DOCG, Riserva, and the Millarium Vinsanto DOC Riserva, crafted from Trebbiano and Malvasia dried in the estate’s traditional vinsantaia. Recently, the family replanted Colorino to revive this historic Tuscan grape.
Winemaking at Cantagallo combines tradition and precision. Grapes are vinified in stainless steel tanks with temperature control and micro-oxygenation, while maturation takes place in a barrique cellar housed in a converted water tank. Bottling is carried out under vacuum with a state-of-the-art line, followed by refinement in dark, temperature-controlled rooms until release.
The Le Farnete Estate, in Comeana near Florence, has belonged to the Pierazzuoli family since 1990. Its 11 hectares of south- and southeast-facing vineyards, some up to 50 years old, are ideally suited to Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. From these vines come the estate’s signature Barco Reale DOC di Carmignano, Carmignano DOCG, and Carmignano DOCG Riserva, along with a renowned extra virgin olive oil. Le Farnete’s cellars, partially underground, provide optimal conditions for vinification, maturation in barriques and tonneaux, and careful bottle refinement before release.
Together, Cantagallo and Le Farnete root the Pierazzuoli family in two of Tuscany’s most historic zones, Chianti Montalbano and Carmignano. Their philosophy— “a bottle of wine for each vine stock”—reflects their dedication to quality over quantity. Alongside wine, the family has developed an olive oil mill, an agriturismo, and an osteria showcasing Tuscan produce. Serena and Enrica manage agritourism and shipping, Monia oversees administration, and Dario supports Enrico in overall management.
Guided by the belief that a family must keep its feet in the past, its hands in the present, and its mind on the future, the Pierazzuolis unite tradition with innovation. By adopting renewable energy and sustainable farming, they safeguard their land while ensuring that future generations will inherit a landscape as rich—if not richer—than it is today.
