Podcast 006 | Poggio al Sole, where the hill is in the sun and a colorful bouquet of wines is the main event

The Davaz family from the Poggio al Sole winery

Welcome back to "A Glass of Wine with Nina in Chianti"! Today, I want to take you on a special trip to the heart of Chianti Classico, specifically to the Poggio al Sole winery in Barberino. There, I met the family behind this unique winery: Kathrin, Steffi, Johannes, and Valentino.

We sat under a shady tree on comfy chairs made from old wine barrels. This cool idea really shows how they blend sustainability with style here. It was the perfect spot to enjoy the Casasilla 2018, a 100% Sangiovese that brings together the very best grapes from the estate.

The Hill in the Sun

Poggio al Sole, which means "Hill in the Sun," is beautifully nestled between the towns of Panzano, Greve, and Barberino Tavarnelle. The estate spans 70 hectares, with 24 hectares dedicated to vineyards and 1200 olive trees. Here, you'll find not only Sangiovese but also Merlot, Cabernet, Syrah, Canaiolo, and even Chardonnay growing happily.

The Davaz family, who are originally from Switzerland, bought the winery back in 1990. Johannes and Katrin instantly fell in love with the place and made it their life's passion. Nowadays, their son Valentino and his wife Steffi are a huge help. Johannes, who's an agronomist and oenologist, looks after the vineyards and the cellar, while Katrin handles sales and showcases their wines all over the world.

Valentino has followed in his dad's footsteps and is getting more and more involved with the vineyards, the cellar, and even exports. Steffi, on the other hand, makes sure that guests from all over the world feel super comfortable at the winery, because Poggio al Sole also has lovely accommodations – perfect for a chill vacation in Tuscany.

Sustainable Diversity

What's really cool is the huge variety of grape sorts they grow and the awesome range of wines they make. Sangiovese is definitely the star of the show, featuring in six of their nine wines and really showing off how versatile this grape can be – from fresh and fruity to wines that can age beautifully for years.

Their very own olive oil is another highlight. Plus, the winery makes a balsamic condiment from Sangiovese grapes, which gets its special touch in Modena and really shines with its fruity sweetness.

In recent years, the family has also given their marketing and design a fresh update. The new logo, which is the Davaz family crest, along with the colorful labels, gives the wines a super fresh and modern look, all while keeping that familiar feel.

So, all that's left for me is to say a big thank you to the Davaz family for giving me such a wonderful peek into their life and work. If you're keen to learn more about Poggio al Sole and their wines, or even fancy booking a holiday there, you'll find all the details in the shownotes. Until next time, ciao and a presto!

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