| We hope that this issue of our newsletter finds you in good health and in fine spirits.
The past four months we have just gone through was hard indeed, bringing us uncertainties and new challenges, but here at Gagliole we never let up on our trust and on our ability to cope with whatever comes our way. And so, we re-launch with our usual enthusiasm and energy and are pleased to announce that our new winery and La Valletta Luxury B&B are now open again for tours and stays.
Guided tours and tastings at our new cellar in Panzano in Chianti
Our new winecellar in Panzano in Chianti is now fully operational, with its latest-generation tanks and vats, its new barrique cellar, and its geothermal- and solar-fed cooling system. Just completed in recent months are the warehouse, retail wine shop, and tasting room. The latter is important, of course, because it means that we can now welcome all wine-lovers who come to the hills of Chianti Classico for a very distinctive eno-adventure. We have ready a program boasting many tour & tasting options, ranging from the classic cellar tour and tasting of our portfolio of wines, to the more ambitious offerings, which include tasting the older vintages of Gagliole, our iconic wine, Gallule, grown on the old terraced vineyards in Castellina in Chianti; and our gem Pecchia. We can also offer more custom-designed options, such as a picnic in the vineyard or poolside, for example. Every visit to Gagliole can be tailored to your desires.
La Valletta, traditional Chianti hospitality
Our Luxury Bed & Breakfast has thrown open the doors of its beautiful 1920 farmstead residence, which was lovingly restored in every detail in 2012. So, visitors to Tuscany this season can savour these four apartments and the two double-bed rooms, all tiled in traditional terracotta, with open-beam ceilings and refined furnishings. La Valletta lies in the poetic embrace of cypresses and olive groves, rose gardens and vineyards, guaranteeing to guests an utterly relaxing stay in total harmony with nature, where the pool overlooking the vineyards will give welcome relief on the hottest days. In the kitchen, our longstanding chef Edi always looks forwards to enticing our guests with palate-tickling summer fare and ever-classic Chianti dishes, perfect for pairing with a glass of …
… Rubiolo 2018, our enviably-crisp Chianti Classico
After a swirling ruby red in the wineglass, Rubiolo 2018 releases scents of blood orange, cherry, and balsamic notes, while the palate exhibits silk-smooth tannins and a tangy acidity that drive through to a citrus-edged finish. Just released to the markets, Rubiolo 2018 is already receiving enthusiastic reviews by Italian critics. This all-Sangiovese, the quintessence of that succulent crispness that is so classic to Chianti Classico, represents a synthesis of our twin souls, the growing areas of Castellina and Panzano in Chianti. That generous, smooth breadth is the gift of Castellina, while its impressive linearity is pure Panzano. We guarantee that our Rubiolo 2018 will provide delicious pleasure through your summer months, and far beyond.
Cappella dei Pesci
Finally, we would like to share news of something that has made us quite proud. Not only have we planted a new vineyard at nearby Badia a Passignano, but amidst its vine-rows lies the Cappella dei Pesci (Fish Chapel), an ancient country chapel founded in 1510. Legend has it that here St. John Gualbert, founder of the Vallombrosan Order, worked the miracle of the fishes in 1050, on the occasion of a visit by Pope Leo IX; the Saint ordered some of his brothers to fish in a nearby pond, a place where no fish had ever been known. They pulled out, however, two beautiful pike, which the monks were pleased to serve to the Pope. We planted the vineyard to various clones of Sangiovese, depending on soil type, and we can hardly wait to witness the miracle of nature that our work will bring forth — the growth of the vines and their first fruits.
Over the past months, our vineyards have brought us great joy here at Gagliole; to watch the vines breaking out in new growth once again and beginning another biological cycle — the vivacious colours of the blossoms, the gradual opening of the buds, and the vigorous thrust of their new shoots — renews our own comfort and faith. With painstaking dedication to the tenets of organic viticulture, we have been carrying out vineyard operations at both Castellina and Panzano in Chianti, the most recent being to very carefully select out the most promising bearing shoots. Now we are waiting for the now clusters to form and later to colour up at veraison.
It is our fond hope to see you again soon in Tuscany and to share a glass of fine wine together. In the hopes of a wonderful summer, a virtual hug!
Affectionately,
Monika and Thomas Bär & the entire Gagliole team |
