From June 16 to July 3, 2025, Annette and I spent time in wine country Italy, by car.
For an overview of the whole trip, go here: Wine Country Italy - Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige - in the Summer of 2025
Third Stop: Chianti Classico (Tuscany)
From Bolgheri we drove to Chianti Classico and stayed 3 nights at Fattoria e Villa di Rignana.
On the arrival day, we went to the pool and had dinner at La Cantinetta di Rignana.
On the second day, we visited Greve and several Chianti Classico estates. The day ended with dinner again at La Cantinetta di Rignana.
On the third day, we started with an extensive winery visit at our hotel, at Fattoria di Rignana, with owner and winemaker Cosimo Gericke, followed by visits of more wineries in the Chianti Classico region. For dinner, as La Cantinetta di Rignana was closed on that day, we went to Locanda di Poggio al Sole, the restaurant of the Poggio al Sole winery, near Fattoria et Villa di Rignana.
Badia a Coltibuono
At Badia a Coltibuono, the historic estate located in Gaiole in Chianti Classico, I returned to a place where I had spent an amazing afternoon and dinner with the Wine Makers and Owners Roberto and Emanuela Stucchi Prinetti in 2011, arranged by the European Wine Bloggers Conference.
Badia a Coltibuono (Google AI based)
Badia a Coltibuono is a wine estate located in the Chianti Classico zone. It is known for its Sangiovese-based red wines, as well as its highly acclaimed Vin Santo del Chianti Classico wines.
The original abbey was founded in 1051 by an offshoot of the Benedictine order, who quickly began planting the first vineyards in what is now Chianti Classico. Over the centuries, the abbey extended its reach to own several thousand hectares of land, and developed a considerable wine production.
However in 1810, under Napoleonic rule, the monks were forced to leave and the abbey estates were secularized and sold off by lottery. In 1846 the estate was purchased by the Florentine banker Guido Giuntini, and today, the estate is owned and managed by his direct descendants, the Stucchi Prinetti family.
Badia a Coltibuono makes a range of wines under the Chianti Classico and Toscana IGT classifications. Along with the standard Chianti Classico, there is a Riserva and the Cultus Boni cuvée. All three wines are predominantly Sangiovese with some of the traditional grape varieties Canaiolo, Ciliegiolo and Colorino, and all three are barrel-aged in a combination of French and Austrian oak.
The Vin Santo of the wine portfolio is produced from air-dried Malvasia and Trebbiano and aged in barrel for six years. Badia a Coltibuono's Occhio di Pernice wine is made from carefully selected Sangiovese grapes and aged for eight years in oak.
The Toscana IGT Montebello was launched with the 2011 vintage. It showcases the region's historical heirloom grape varieties, many of which are now very rare. As well as the four varieties used in the Chianti Classico wines, Montebello includes Mammolo, Pugnitello, Sanforte, Malvasia Nera and Foglia Tonda.
The Badia a Coltibuono estate covers 74 hectares (183 acres) of organically farmed vineyards. Wildlife is encouraged in the estate woodlands surrounding the vines – even including wild boar and deer which might threaten the vines.
2012: Wining and Dining at Badia a Coltibuono in Tuscany with Wine Makers and Owners Roberto and Emanuela Stucchi Prinetti, Italy
(Excerpts from the posting on schiller-wine)
Badia a Coltibuono (which means Abbey of the Good Harvest) dates from the eleventh century, when the monks of the Vallombrosan Order founded the Abbey and began planting the first vineyards in the Upper Chianti area. Over the centuries, the monks amassed hundreds of hectares of land. In 1810, when Tuscany was under Napoleonic rule, the monks were forced to leave Coltibuono and the monastery was secularized. The estate was first sold by lottery. It was in 1846 that one of Roberto and Emanuela Stucchi Prinetti forefathers, the Florentine banker Guido Giuntini, acquired Coltibuono.
After World War II, Piero Stucchi Prinetti, the son of Maria Luisa Stucchi Giuntini, took charge of the property and transformed Badia a Coltibuono into what it is today. He began to bottle and sell his wines on the domestic and international markets. And he was the first to realize the potential of another traditional product of the region, its extra virgin olive oil. Piero Stucchi Prinetti passed away in 2002.
Today, the vineyards and the winemaking side are looked after by Piero’s son Roberto Stucchi Prinetti, while his sister Emanuela looks after the commercial side. His brother Paolo oversees the Coltibuono restaurant; and the youngest brother Guido runs hospitality.
Badia a Coltibuono includes vineyards (70 hectares), olive groves (20 hectares) and a forest (700 hectares). Annual production of wine from Badia a Coltibuona vineyards is 400.000 bottles. In addition, the Stucchi family also has a second line of wines “Coltibuono”, where grapes a bought from other producers. Annual production is 600.000 bottles.
In the Cellar with Roberto Stucchi Prinetti
Upon arrival, half of us were taken on a cellar tour by Roberto, while the other half attended the kitchen presentation. The centuries old wine cellar is indeed impressive.
Reception
We were invited by Emanuela and Roberto Stucchi Prinetti to a wonderful reception in the drawing room ( with an amazing ceiling). During the reception, we had a chance to taste the Stucchi Prinetti family's second line of wines, the Coltibuono line.
Wining and Dining with Emanuela and Roberto Stucchi Prinetti
Emanuela and Roberto Stucchi Prinetti hosted a very special dinner for us. The wonderful dinner was accompanied by excellent wine pairings.
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Wine Country Italy - Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige - in the Summer of 2025
Lake Como
At Villa Almana in Cernobbio at Lake Como - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Bolgheri
Dinner at La Tana del Pirata in Marina di Castagneto Carducci, Bolgheri, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Winery Tour and Tasting at Tenuta Argentiera, Bolgheri, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Florentine Steak - Dario Cecchini Selection - for Lunch at Osteria Magona in Bolgheri, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Running into Marco Balsimelli, Production Director, Ornellaia and Masseto, at Osteria Magona, Bolgheri, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at La Macchiole, Bolgheri, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Visiting Vigna Lodovico and Tasting Lodovico Antinori's Cult Wines Lodovico and Il Nicchio with his Assistant at Locanda dell' Aioncino - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Dinner at Locanda dell' Aioncino, Bibbona, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Tasting the Wines of Tenuta di Biserno and Staying at Relais di Biserno, Bibbona, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Tenuta San Guido (Sassicaia): Barrel Cellar Tour and Tasting - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Bistecca alla Fiorentina for Lunch at Osteria Enoteca San Guido (Sassicaia), Bolgheri, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Ornellaia, Bolgheri, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Dinner at La Pineta, with Chef/ Co-owner Daniele Zazzeri, a Michelin Starred Seafood Restaurant, at Marina die Bibbona, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Grattamacco, a Benchmark Producer in Bolgheri, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
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