Page 18 - Italian-American Herald - September 2024

18 ITALIANAMERICANHERALD.COM | SEPTEMBER2024 ITALIAN-AMERICANHERALD EXPLORING
An unforgettable wine adventure at Villa Calcinaia in Chianti
By Barbara Ann Zippi
While visiting family in Loreto Aprutino in Abruzzo, Italy, in May, I
heard about Count Sebastiano Capponi's
500 year celebration of Villa Calcinaia, near Greve in Chianti, nestled in the Tuscan hillside, famous for its award-winning DOCG Chianti Classico in Chianti. The Capponi family purchased Villa Calcinaia in 1524.
I journeyed to Villa Calcinaia, about 20 minutes outside Florence, accompanied by my cousin from Loreto Aprutino, Simona Nobilio. The two of us shared a renovated sharecropper’s cottage on this country estate among rolling hills with Pio Imports Partner & Vice President Dave Dahme, one of Sebastiano's largest importers of Villa Calcinaia award-winning wines.
We were among a small group of arrivals the day before and were hosted by siblings Sebastiano and Tessa Capponi at Ristoro Di Lamole in Chianti, located at the top of the mountain with a breathtaking panorama of the rolling hills of Tuscany. With five wine glasses at each place setting representing 500 years, we tasted exquisite rare vintages paired with exceptional cuisine.
We were joined by wine experts and wine journalists from Italy, Poland, Germany, Canada, Vienna, France and the United States. Among the honored guests was
Paolo Sottani, mayor of Greve in Chianti. This year Greve is celebrating 100 years of the Consortium for Chianti Classico (1924- 2024).
"What an honor to be included in the celebrations with proud, emotional and philanthropic siblings Niccolò, Tessa and Sebastiano,” remarked Michael Gordillo
of Toronto, a journalist, wine critic and partner at Wine Align, one of the world most prestigious wine awards.
This historic villa today is 215 hectares
of woodland, pastureland, olive groves and 88 hectares of vineyards. Improvements through the centuries include a chapel
and the family's summer residences. With sharecropping coming to an end between 1950-1970, the collection of sharecropper cottages are in the capable hands of Genevra Capponi, Sebastiano's wife for more that 30 years. She renovates them into delightful B&Bs that reflect the Tuscan way of living with unique decorating characteristics and renovation skills. The Palazzo Capponi, located along the Arno River steps from Florence's center city by way of Italy's famous
Continued on page 20
Another glass of Villa Calcinaia’s finest? Yes, please.
This historic villa today is 215 hectares of woodland, pastureland, olive groves and 88 hectares of vineyards.
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