Episode 027 | Fontodi - Young. Brave. Full of Energy. In Conversation with Margherita Manetti - Part 2
Margherita Manetti is part of the young generation at the Fontodi winery
Inside Fontodi – A Look into the Cellar with Margherita Manetti
In the second part of my chat with Margherita Manetti from the Fontodi winery in Panzano in Chianti, things get really exciting: We'll dive into the cellar and see how the wines that make Fontodi so unique are created.
Margherita takes us along – first mentally through the cellar, then through her stories. It all starts with the grapes, which are painstakingly harvested by hand and double-selected. Only the perfect berries make it into the tanks. “It's back-breaking work,” Margherita says, laughing. “You stand at the sorting table all day, your eyes burn, your back aches – but it's worth it. Quality is everything.”
Sorting Table
Amphorae and French Oak
In Fontodi's cellar, tradition meets a love for experimentation. The Sangiovese is traditionally fermented in stainless steel tanks, but for international grape varieties like Pinot Noir or Syrah, Fontodi now uses terracotta amphorae – made from the same galestro-rich clay as the soils around Panzano.
After that, it's off to the barrels: Around 1,000 French oak barriques are waiting on the lowest floor of the cellar. “Before, we had 80% new barrels, but today it's only 30%,” Margherita explains. “We want to preserve the finesse of the Sangiovese and Pinot Noir and not hide everything under a thick layer of wood.”
Around 1,000 French oak barriques are in Fontodi's cellar
Flaccianello – A Piece of Revolution
Of course, we also have to talk about the story of Flaccianello della Pieve, Fontodi's legendary Supertuscan. Margherita tells how her father produced a 100% Sangiovese in the early 80s – which was a rule-breaker back then. The wines were declassified as a simple “Vino da Tavola” until IGT was introduced as a category in the 1990s. “Today it's unimaginable that 100% Sangiovese was forbidden,” Margherita says. “But it was precisely this rebellion that made Fontodi what it is today.”
By the way, the name Flaccianello comes from a small Romanesque church, Pieve di San Leolino, near the winery, whose cross also adorns the label. “Today the church is almost a tourist attraction; everyone wants to see the Flaccianello cross,” Margherita says.
Travel, Markets, and People
Today, Margherita isn't just busy in the cellar; she's also the face of Fontodi worldwide. 80% of the wines are exported, mainly to the USA, Canada, and Northern Europe. Every market has its quirks: “In Asia, wine and brands are luxury goods – it's often more about the image than the depth of the wines. In the USA, however, there are many collectors who cellar Flaccianello for decades.”
Panzano – A Village, A Vision
At the end of our chat, we come back to Panzano, where Margherita's father was president of the Unione Viticoltori di Panzano, the Panzano winemakers' association, for a long time. Later, Panzano was named Italy's first organic wine-growing district by the international wine press. Today there are 23 wineries here, almost all of them working organically. “We are a family, not competitors,” Margherita says. “That's what makes Panzano special.”
Panzano in Chianti
My tip:
If you want to feel the Fontodi spirit even more, definitely listen to the second podcast episode. Margherita's passion for wine, nature, and craftsmanship is infectious – and Flaccianello is long since more than just a wine; it's a piece of Tuscan history.
Find out more about this episode and Nina in Chianti
🗝️ Learn more about Fontodi - Find the most important key facts here
🍷 Wine for this episode - Fontodi Chianti Classico DOCG
🛒 Order Fontodi 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
For today's podcast episode, I'm visiting the Fattoria e Villa di Rignana winery in Panzano in Chianti, and Cosimo Gericke, the owner, is right here with me.