Podcast 008 | A colorful conversation with Piero Lanza from the Poggerino winery

Piero Lanza from Poggerino winery

Today, I want to take you on a trip to beautiful Chianti, specifically to Radda, where I visited Piero Lanza at his Poggerino winery. Poggerino is just a few minutes from Radda's town center, nestled in an idyllic valley. When you turn off the main road to the winery, you enter a different world. It's hard to describe, but Poggerino has a very special vibe that immediately captivates you.

During my visit, I chatted with Piero about lots of topics that get any wine lover excited. Piero isn't just an excellent winemaker; he's also super passionate about observing the weather. His knowledge of the region's climate changes is impressive and plays a huge role in the quality of his wines.

We sat on the terrace of his new tasting room, which was just finished last spring. This space is perfectly set up to try Poggerino's many wines, whether you're inside or out. Piero's sister Benedetta, who's known for her cooking skills, prepares simple dishes here that pair wonderfully with the wines.

A Special Terroir

During our chat, we had a glass of Chianti Classico Riserva Bugialla in front of us. Bugialla is the name of the vineyard and an old 12th-century church on the property. The wine, made 100% from Sangiovese grapes, ages for two years in large Slavonian oak barrels and has an incredible aging potential of up to 25 years.

Poggerino is about 43 hectares, with 12 hectares planted with grapevines. The mix of high altitude, rocky soil, and surrounding forests creates a unique terroir that makes Piero's wines so special. The forests bring cool nights, which really helps the wines develop their complexity and elegance. Poggerino is a family business, and Piero works closely with other winemakers in Radda to constantly improve wine quality. Sustainability is super important to him too, which is why the winery has been organically certified for over 15 years.

Concrete Egg – A Special Winemaking Method

Piero talks about his work at Poggerino, his philosophy in the vineyard and cellar. Something really special at Poggerino is the 'concrete egg,' where Piero produces a very unique Chianti Classico. You can hear directly from Piero in this episode about what it's all about and why the wine becomes so special in it.

The Challenges of the Weather

And when Piero Lanza and Nina in Chianti get together, it's always about the weather. Definitely no small talk! Piero deeply explores weather patterns and their effects. He swears by working WITH nature and the weather – because, as Piero says, that's a super important key to amazing wine quality.

---

Find out more about this episode and Nina in Chianti

🗝️ Find out more about Poggerino - Get the key facts here

🍷 Wine for this episode - Poggerino Bugialla Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG

🛒 Order Poggerino wines easily and quickly online - Online shop

😀 Nina in Chianti? - find out all about Nina

❓ Got a question for Nina in Chianti? - Feel free to ask it here

🧐 Curious and want to learn more? Chianti Classico knowledge, Tuscany on your plate, insights, events, and much more

🛒 Buy Chianti Classico online quickly and easily and get free shipping to Germany or Austria, low shipping costs across Europe

🇮🇹 VIP? Sign up for my 3-minute Tuscany-feeling newsletter right away and get regular Chianti Classico Moments by email

Follow Nina in Chianti on LinkedIn

Follow Nina in Chianti on Instagram