Podcast 011 | My Chat with Marco Ricasoli Firidolfi from Rocca di Montegrossi Winery
Marco Ricasoli Firidolfi from Rocca di Montegrossi winery
In this episode, I want to introduce you to Marco Ricasoli Firidolfi from Rocca di Montegrossi winery. The winery is located in Monti in Chianti, in the southern part of Chianti. Marco is a descendant of the famous Tuscan noble family, Ricasoli Firidolfi. But I mainly know him as a passionate winemaker and agronomist who has been tending his vineyards and producing exceptional wines for many years.
We're sitting in the tasting room at Rocca di Montegrossi winery in Monti in Chianti, with a fantastic view of the white grapes hanging to dry, which will soon be turned into Rocca di Montegrossi's amazing Vinsanto.
Before we dive in, and in the spirit of my podcast title 'For a Glass of Wine with Nina in Chianti,' we've got a glass of wine right here with us. Today, we're enjoying the San Marcellino 2016, an outstanding vintage. Marco explains: 'It was a beautiful vintage, very balanced with perfect weather – some heat, some rain at the right time, and never too warm, cool nights. It was one of the most classic vintages of the last 15 years.'
Marco talks about the challenges and joys of winemaking. He emphasizes how important it is to understand the land, the soil, the terroir, and to manage it carefully using agronomic practices to get the best results.
The History and Terroir of Rocca di Montegrossi
Marco has been running the Rocca di Montegrossi winery for over 25 years. He describes how his family, one of the oldest winemaking families in the world, laid the groundwork for the winery. Today, the estate covers about 100 hectares, with 20 hectares of vineyards, 20 hectares of olive groves, and the rest is forest.
'Monti in Chianti is one of the most beautiful regions of Chianti Classico, with a unique terroir,' Marco explains. 'The terroir here gives our wines their characteristic acidity, freshness, and balance, which you can taste every year.'
Sangiovese is the main grape variety at Rocca di Montegrossi, complemented by Canaiolo, Colorino, Pugnitello, as well as international varieties like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Marco explains how these grape varieties work together to create unique wines. Especially noteworthy is the Ridolfo, a new blend of Pugnitello and Cabernet Sauvignon, which Marco describes as an 'iconic wine'. 'The blend is unique and brings out the best qualities of both grape varieties,' he says.
The famous Vinsanto
A highlight of the winery is their Vinsanto, a traditional sweet wine. Marco explains the elaborate production process: “We hang the grapes to dry and carefully monitor the whole process to make sure we get the best quality possible. The grapes are pressed around Christmas, and then the wine ages for several years in small barrels made from different types of wood.”
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🍷 The wine for this episode - 2016 Rocca di Montegrossi Vigneto San Marcellino Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG
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