Tenuta di Lilliano

A small pearl in the confusing wine-growing region of Chianti Classico is the Tenuta di Lilliano. The winery has remained true to its guidelines even in the seductive times of the Chianti boom and produces fantastic wines with a classical approach and hints of modernity. In 1958, Princess Eleonora Ruspoli Berlingieri began producing and marketing fine wines. Her family had acquired the estate in 1920. Today, the Tenuta di Lilliano is owned by Giulio (managing director) and Pietro Ruspoli. Situated on the Elsa Valley between Castellina and Monteriggioni, the estate covers 460 hectares, 50 of which are planted with vines. Although the medieval layout has been preserved in terms of topography, cellars and ring wall, the architectural structure changed until the 19th century.

Tenuta di Lilliano produces wines, grappa and olive oil, but also offers travellers hospitality in ten ancient country houses that have been recently restored. The vineyards are planted exclusively with red wine varieties - the indigenous Sangiovese, Canaiolo and Colorino del Valdarno as well as the French grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The grapes thrive on mostly stony and calcareous Alberese soils. In new vineyards, Sangiovese was planted exclusively with clones from the "Chianti Classico 2000" research project initiated by the Chianti Classico Consortium.

The vinification and ageing process at Tenuta di Lilliano is predominantly traditional. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled, glass-lined concrete tanks. Depending on the type of wine, the wines are then matured in steel tanks or barriques. Lorenzo Landi is the Oenologist and Andrea Brunelli the cellar master responsible for production. Among the bottle treasures in the estate's own wine cellar are the Ruspoli Chianti Classico, Chianti Classico Riserva and Gran Selezione and the IGT wine Anagallis, whose name is derived from a small orange flower that grows in the Chianti region. SUPERIORE.DE

"The Ruspoli family has not abandoned the belief in something like typicality of Chianti Classico, but with each new vintage stakes out what we might understand as terroir." Andreas März, Merum