Bottega has opened a new cellar in Castelnuovo Berardenga (SI), in the heart of the Chianti Classico area thus extending its production to one of the most prestigious denominations on the Italian wine scene.
Coinciding with the grape harvest, the ‘Cantina Bottega Castelnuovo Berardenga’ therefore begins full-scale operations. The facility, destined for the production of Chianti Classico Docg, Chianti Classico Riserva and fine Super Tuscans, is surrounded by 13 hectares of Sangiovese and Canaiolo vineyards, where the harvest and vineyard activities are conducted strictly by hand.
The beating heart of the cellar is an impressive barrel cellar that houses around 800 hectolitres of wine. The choice of large 25-hectolitre barrels, made of Slavonian oak, is the basis of the desire to maintain the typical Tuscan character of Sangiovese through ageing in fine woods. The entire activity in the vineyard and cellar takes place under the supervision of oenologist Guglielmo Pasqualin.
For Bottega, the Chianti project and the related sale of this wine has distant roots dating back to 1993. On an autumn evening, in front of a fireplace, Sandro Bottega shares his views on the wines of the main Italian regions with Stefania Sandrelli and Giovanni Soldati. The warm atmosphere of a country cottage prompts the famous actress to formulate her desire to learn more about the world of wine and to start producing a Tuscan red wine.
The project takes shape and in 1994, still in autumn, the three friends are among the rows of a small estate in the Sienese countryside to personally choose the best grapes to produce their Chianti. Acino d’Oro was born, a Chianti Classico DOCG, bearing the signatures of Stefania Sandrelli, Giovanni Soldati and Sandro Bottega on the label.
Over the years, the increase in sales volumes, reaching 130,000 bottles and distribution in the world’s main airports and restaurants, does not alter the original project. At the same time, several national and international awards certify the quality of this wine.
In 2023, the need arises to directly manage their own winery to confirm and further increase the quality of Bottega brand Chianti.
