Donatella Cinelli Colombini: Wines of Tuscany

This past week at Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda, Siena, I had the pleasure of imbibing many of the amazing wines from the Fattoria, as well as from their other winery, Casato Prime Donne. Each evening we enjoyed a different bottle with our carefully and lovingly prepared Tuscan meal. During our first full afternoon, we were also taken on a tour of the Fattoria property and cantina, while learning the history of the owner, Donatella Cinelli Colombini, her family, and also sampling their wines.

The wines from both properties are all organic, grapes hand-picked with only the rain to irrigate and help them grow. In the cellar, they use bigger French oak barrels from Burgundy for a slower aging process.

At dinner the first evening, we had one of the only white wines we would drink all week, Sanchimento IGT Toscana Bianco. Made with the Traminer grapes grown around the chapel at the Fattoria winery, this limited production white is named after the patron saint of the chapel, San Chimento. Typically a northern grape from the Alsace (Gewürztraminer), the wine is aromatic and spicy. 

The next day we toured the Fattoria, ending with a tasting of two of their wines. The first wine, Cerentola DOC Orcia, is a blend of Foglia Tonda, a rare red grape indigenous to central Tuscany, and Sangiovese, the most common grape in this region. Blended together, the two grapes bring balance to the wine; the Foglia Tonda smoothness and the Sangiovese, tannins. 

The second wine we sampled was their Brunello di Montalcino from the Casato Prime Donne winery. It is at this winery, where the all female staff, produce the Montalcino wine from 100% Sangiovese grapes. This is the longest aged wine and released for sale four and half years after harvest. Full-bodied with 15% ABV, this wine has amazing tannic structure and balance.

That evening at dinner, we opened bottles of their Chianti Superiore. Grown and produced at the Fattoria, this wine is named Superiore because of the low-yield of the grapes used. Dominantly Sangiovese, small bunches of other varieties are used to maintain the Chianti tradition of blending. 

The next evening, and during our “happy hour” events, we opened bottles of Leone Rosso DOC Orcia, which is one of my favorite wines at the Fattoria. A blend of Sangiovese and Merlot, which would typically get the classification of “Super Tuscan”. Since the wine is produced under the DOC Orcia appellation and not IGT, it escaped the fate of Super Tuscan classification. Well-balanced and smooth, this wine is perfect on its own or with food.

The following evening we opened their Rosso di Montalcino from the Casato di Prime Donne winery. Made from the same Sangiovese grapes as the Brunello, this wine is meant to be consumed earlier. The evening we opened this bottled we also sampled the local Pecorino cheeses, fresh and aged. This wine was a perfect pairing with the aged Pecorino.

If you ever find yourself in Siena, be sure to stop in for a wine tasting or plan an overnight stay at the Fattoria, immersing yourself in the wine, food, and culture of Tuscany. You will not be disappointed!

Cin Cin!