Cuna di Federico Staderini

Whoever says Federico Staderini immediately thinks of one of Brunello di Montalcino's hyper stars, Poggio di Sotto. Internationally, no price seems too high for this Tuscan giant, with which this Sangiovese from Italy beats most of the Cru's Classé's from Bordeaux.

But the modest Staderini, an agronomist & oenologist, also went in search of special terroirs within Tuscany where he could realize his Pinot Noir dream. He found the ultimate spot high in the hills on the east side of Tuscany, north of Arezzo and about an hour east of Florence. Near the hamlet of Pratovecchio he found the right soil and exposition to plant the noble Pinot Noir. The project started in 2003 with the planting of the rare grape Abrostine. In 2004 the first Pinot Noir vines entered the calcareous clay soil.

The entire surface is only a modest 4.5 hectares. Frederico cultivates everything biodynamically and only uses the yeasts naturally occurring on the grape during fermentation. The picked fruit is still trod here in the traditional way with bare feet.

Both in the vineyard and later in the cellar, the grapes undergo a rigorous quality control. Following fermentation, the wines typically mature for 20 months in used Burgundy French oak barrels. This is followed by a maturation in bottle of at least 12 months before the wine is sold.