Italy - Badia a Coltibuono - Roberto Stucchi

Wine has been made at what is now known as Badia a Coltibuono for nearly a thousand years. Archaeological studies of the estate have found amphorae, grape seeds, and other traces of ancient Roman and earlier Etruscan societies from the first century. Named after the abbey established in 1051 by Vallombrosan monks, Badia a Coltibuono translates to the “Abbey of Good Cultivation” or “Abbey of Good Harvest.” It was here in the 12th century that the word “Chianti” was first used.

Badia a Coltibuono was an early adopter of sustainable practices in modern-day Chianti Classico and has been at the front of a movement to get the whole region to farm organically. All of the estate grapes are now organically grown. Sangiovese is the principal variety cultivated here, interspersed with a number of heritage varieties endemic to the area. The winery produces a number of Sangiovese variations, all of which aim to showcase the splendor of the site, the possibilities of its fruit, and both the time-honored traditions and new innovations that keep Chianti Classico perennially relevant on a local and international scale.