Tenuta Il Palagio | Sting

Figline-Valdarno is not necessarily the postcard idyll in Tuscany that we all have in mind. This only begins a few kilometres to the south-west behind the next range of hills of the Colli Fiorentini. The two villages, which have grown together, are more like the supply centre of the northern Chianti region. You can find everything here. From toothbrushes to tractors. Industry, DIY stores, warehouses, car dealerships and every supermarket chain has a branch here.

You wouldn't buy a winery here? Twenty years ago, married couple Trudie Styler and Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, better known as Sting, bought a 16th century villa here as a summer residence. The idea of using the estate for private use only and "to provide the family with a healthy, natural environment and wholesome food" has now become much more than that. After all, around 350 hectares of hilly land with olive groves, fruit, fields, meadows and vineyards is not exactly small, even with six children. The estate is therefore partly open to visitors and even has a farm shop where you can buy everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to their own salami and wine. The olive oil, jams and excellent home-made honey are now even available at Harrods in London.

Paolo Rossi, the Estate Manager, was born and raised in Il Palagio. His family has been here for generations. Nobody knows the country better than him. And when you get to know him, you realise how much he loves the land here. It would be hard to find a better counsellor for day-to-day business. Paolo Cacíorgna has gained experience as an Oenologist in France and California, but his love belongs to his homeland, Tuscany. He is in charge of Il Palagio's wine production, which is based on the Steiner method. And in 2020, he was joined by Riccardo Cotarella, probably Italy's most famous Oenologist. A top team that guarantees authentic wines of the highest quality.

Many of the long-established wine producers have always bought grapes from the higher hills south of Florence. This is because here, at up to 500 metres above sea level, there is poorer, stonier soil and also a good water supply. The nearby Arno valley always brings a fresh breeze and cooler nights. This gives the grapes a fine flavour, juicy fruit and good acidity.

The focus is of course on Sangiovese, which is practically pure in classic Chianti and is only refined with very few local grape varieties such as Canaiolo and Colorino. A small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are also cultivated, which support the Sangiovese in the top wine "Sister Moon". Il Palagio has won many awards in recent years, such as the Winespectator TOP100, and made it into the small group of award-winning wines in the exclusive "Opera Wine" competition at the annual VinItaly wine fair. Trebbiano, Vermentino and Sauvignon round off the range of grape varieties in the white wine segment.

The wines are fermented and stored in the restored historic vaulted cellar. Mainly in old large wooden barrels made from Slavonian oak and to a lesser extent in barriques made from French wood. Look forward with us to these wonderfully typical and honest wines from Tuscany, which combine the glamour factor of the estate owner with outstanding qualities. SUPERIORE.DE