Carpineto Dogajolo Chardonnay 2025

The Carpineto - Dogajolo Chardonnay cuvée comes from the Carpineto estate in Chianciano, in southern Tuscany, not far from Montepulciano, between the Val di Chiana and the Val d'Orcia. It is the result of a meticulous zoning study, carried out to identify the soils best suited to white grape varieties, Chardonnay in particular. The hills enjoy a Mediterranean climate with hot, sunny summers, tempered by altitude and by cool nights that preserve the acidity of the grapes.

The Chardonnay grapes, complemented by Grechetto and Sauvignon Blanc, are destemmed, chilled and then left briefly to macerate with their skins to extract the aromas. The juice is then separated by pressing, settled and fermented, the whole process taking place at a controlled temperature. The wine is filtered immediately then kept cold for spontaneous, natural stabilisation, without fining or chemical stabilisation, in order to keep all its fruit.

This wine reveals notes of Golden Delicious apple, pear, white peach, pineapple, lemon, white flowers, boxwood and almond. The pleasantly fruity nose remains deliberately restrained in its aromatic expression. The dry palate offers good body and well-judged acidity, before a velvety, caressing finish.

Ah, Italy, what a beautiful, hedonistic country, the land of la dolce vita, but how difficult it is to understand its wine industry! The key to understanding the appellation system in Italy is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single homogeneous nation, as each region has its own appellation system. Italy can offer wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavors and styles, bottles brimming with surprise and creativity. Unfortunately, it also produces a large quantity of soulless, characterless wines sold under their most commercially useful and prestigious name: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco, and many others... But let's talk a little history. Viticulture in Italy dates back to antiquity and originated in Greece. The Etruscans are said to have introduced the vine, and Greek immigrants improved and modified the grape varieties, subsequently calling the country "Oenotria": the land of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life, and certain regions already distinguished themselves by the excellence of their product. The Romans also established numerous vineyards in Europe, leaving an indelible mark of their conquest. Today, Italy is the world's largest wine producer, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic zones. The northern mountains have a rather harsh mountain climate. The plains of the "central boot" are characterized by a continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. In the southern part of the Italian boot, the Mediterranean climate prevails, with very hot and dry summers, not forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In short, Italy produces a wide variety of wines thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of which originated in its own lands. It is a country as complex as its wines, which deserve to be explored!