Podere Capaccia in Radda in Chianti
Nina in Chianti with Alyson Morgan in the Podere Capaccia vineyards
Tucked away in a small valley, not far from the medieval town of Radda in Chianti, you'll find a little, almost hidden gem of Chianti Classico: Podere Capaccia. This same valley is also home to some big names in Chianti Classico, like Montevertine, Carleone, or Castello d'Albola. Plus, Piero Lanza's Poggerino winery, which has been in my online shop for a few years, is super close, just on the hill across the way. Once you hit the end of the valley, you'll head up a narrow gravel road, a 'strada bianca', that's pretty steep. And just when you think, 'I must have taken a wrong turn...', that's when you know you're exactly where you need to be! You can now find this Chianti treasure, the wines from Podere Capaccia, available for purchase right here on NinainChianti.com.
Radda in Chianti
You can read on a Tuscany info website: 'If Greve is the commercial brain of Chianti, then Radda is its soul.' And Radda is a super special place for me too! Archaeological finds show that the town center was already inhabited around 2,000 BC and was probably settled by the Etruscans in the 1st millennium BC. But it's not just the town itself; the surrounding wine region also just oozes history.
View from Podere Capaccia to Radda in Chianti
The Podere Capaccia estate is another example, sitting just a few kilometers from Radda, high up on a hill at the end of a small, vineyard-lined valley. This hamlet's history goes way back to the Middle Ages. After many eventful years – where this once grand estate belonged to noble Florentines, then lay unused and crumbling for decades, and eventually gave us the famous Capaccia Querciagrande (a wine talked about alongside the Supertuscans of the 90s) – the winery has been owned by Herman de Bode from Belgium since 2010. His mission is to bring new life not just to the partly ruined buildings, but also to these historic vineyards. Since 2012, together with Californian winemaker Alyson Morgan and Donato Alvino, who's been at Capaccia for almost 20 years, they've been crafting top-notch wines here once again.
Alyson Morgan from Podere Capaccia is the one behind the winery's amazing wines.
The Selection: Small but mighty!
I pick out the wines for my Chianti Classico selection super carefully. It's really important to me that a winery has consistent quality, even though natural vintage variations are totally normal and something I actually appreciate. But what's the point if one vintage is amazing and the others are just so-so? I also need to understand and genuinely like the philosophy of the owners or winemakers behind their wine production. Everything has to feel right, and the wines should truly express the place where they grew and ripened. That's when they get my special 'Verified by Nina' seal!
Podere Capaccia ticked all the important boxes for me. I actually met Alyson, who's in charge of Capaccia's wines, a few years back at the Chianti Classico Collection in Florence and got to try her wines. Right away, something clicked in my head – and in my tasting notes! The following vintages from Podere Capaccia also really impressed me at various tastings and fairs. My visit to Capaccia and adding their wines to my selection got delayed because of the pandemic, so I'm extra thrilled now to proudly feature Podere Capaccia's wines in my online shop – and share them with all you Chianti Classico lovers!
Podere Capaccia Chianti Classico in your glass
Podere Capaccia's four hectares of vineyards (with three currently in use) offer the perfect setup for growing grapes. You'll find sandstone, limestone, and slate in the soil, allowing the vine roots to dig deep. The ideal microclimate, south-facing slopes, and an average elevation of 550 meters above sea level help the grapes ripen beautifully. Plus, those big temperature swings between day and night give us fruity wines with lovely acidity and a great tannin structure.
Right now, Podere Capaccia makes three wines: their Chianti Classico and Chianti Classico Riserva are both 100% Sangiovese wines. True to Radda in Chianti style, these two wines are super precise and elegant. The third wine in the Capaccia family is an IGT, the Toscano Rosso, crafted from 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 25% Sangiovese.
Red wines from Podere Capaccia: Chianti Classico, Chianti Classico Riserva, and Capaccia IGT
Capaccia's red wines offer classic fruit aromas like cherries, plums, and dark berries, along with spicy notes that remind you of pepper and juniper. Their great structure shows off a strong character, all wrapped up in that elegant acidity you expect from Sangiovese. Honestly, with every sip of Capaccia IGT, I just crave a piece of perfectly medium-rare venison fillet. It really doesn't get any better! You get deep, dark, and spicy aromas, an elegant structure, and that unmistakable Radda touch. All in all, these are three reds that any Chianti Classico fan absolutely has to try!
If you check out the Podere Capaccia logo, you'll spot a stylized road and six houses. And that's exactly what Podere Capaccia is all about! It's six buildings, built in the 12th and 14th centuries, that together formed a 'Podere' – basically, a medieval hamlet. And they still do! Even if some of the buildings are pretty run down or almost gone... for now. But the estate's owner, Herman de Bode from Belgium, is slowly but surely renovating these historic buildings and bringing them back to life.
Podere Capaccia's aging cellar
You can find loads more info about Capaccia's rich history, the famous Supertuscan Querciagrande that was once made here, and of course, all about their vineyards, grapes, and wines, right on www.ninainchianti.com! And don't forget the wines themselves!