Le Calcinaie

Tenuta Le Calcinaie is a beautiful small estate just 3km from the town of San Gimignano (Siena). It is named after the composition of the soil of this zone: in fact layers of limestone, originating from marine deposits of the Pliocene epoch, are found at half a meter underground (“calce” means lime in Italian). Simone Santini, a wine technician, is the owner: he planted his first hectare with Vernaccia vines, the “Vigna ai Sassi” vineyard, in 1986 and in 1989 he planted 7,000 square meters with red grape varieties. At the time he was also working as a bricklayer. The 1993 vintage of Teodoro, 100% Sangiovese, was the first wine he released (only one barrique was bottled) followed by the 1995 vintage of Vernaccia di San Gimignano. At first Simone contracted vineyards then he gradually bought plots of land. Since 1995 viticulture follows the organic protocol, the vineyards are certified organic since 1998 and since 2012 also the wines are certified organic (according to the EU regulation). At first the wines were vinified and matured in a small cellar, then a new cellar was completed in 2006. It is built underground so that the temperature is kept even. Furthermore, an optimal level of humidity is obtained as the front part is insulated and the back walls are made with reinforced concrete which is permeable and lets the moisture from the ground seep through. The composition of the soil – layers of limestone topped by layers of clay, sand and fossils – yields mineral, structured and flavourful whites. The delicate skin of the Vernaccia grapes is protected from the sun by the north-eastern exposure of the vineyards. The reds are grown on the higher part of the property and the soils are skeletal and made up of brown clay: this enhances the colour and power in the wines.