Episode 025 | Sophie Conte on respect, terroir and dreams in Tregole
Sophie Conte from the Tregole winery in Castellina in Chianti
Tregole: where Etruscan history meets modern passion for wine
A visit to Sophie Conte and her extraordinary winery in Tuscany
Rain is in the air as I ride up the steep road to Tregole. "Going up, up, up" - that's how I've described it to Sophie before, and that's exactly how it feels today. From Castellina, the road climbs steadily until I finally reach the beautiful estate at an altitude of 520 meters.
A history that goes back 2400 years
"We're just a small piece in a huge puzzle," Sophie explains to me as we make ourselves comfortable in a cozy room with a view of the Tuscan hills. And what a puzzle it is! The name Tregole comes from the Etruscans - we're talking 400 years before Christ. "Tre" for three and "gole" for valleys - a hill with three small valleys around it.
The history of the watchtower from the year 1000 is particularly fascinating. A man named Teodorico Ildebrando was stationed here. "Imagine how different life was in 1003 compared to today," Sophie says thoughtfully. This perspective runs through our entire conversation - the respect for history and the desire to preserve the heritage without changing it too much.
Records testify: Tregole has a history dating back to 1000 AD
From marketing to the winery
Sophie's own story is at least as exciting. She studied communication and marketing - not exactly the classic path to becoming a winemaker. "I slowly became interested in wine," she says. After completing a Master's degree in marketing and management for wineries, she initially worked for other producers in the region.
In 2014, the family was faced with an important decision: What should happen to the land? "My mother had no idea, my brother was doing a completely different job and I was already in business." Encouragement from friends and colleagues tipped the scales: "Sophie, believe in this place. You can do great things here." Today, ten years later, she can definitely say that they were right.
The year of the psychologist
As we taste her 2023 Chianti Classico - fresh, fruity and with an impressive minerality - Sophie talks about one of the most challenging years of her career. "I call 2023 the vintage for psychologists," she laughs. "You need a really clear head and a lot of focus."
The reason: Peronospora, a fungus that was causing problems throughout Europe. "In Tregole, we were used to fighting Oidium, but not Peronospora over such a long period of time." The result: drastically reduced quantities, but exceptional quality of the remaining grapes.
Sophie made a bold decision: instead of producing three different wines as planned (Chianti Classico, Riserva and Gran Selezione), she only made a single Chianti Classico. "If you want to understand all of Tregole's vineyards, you have them in this bottle."
The fermentation cellar at Tregole in Castellina in Chianti
Sangiovese is like a woman
"If you treat her well, she's nice to you. If not, it can become very uncomfortable," Sophie explains her relationship with Sangiovese. This grape variety makes up 100% of her red wine production, and she does so deliberately. "Sangiovese is quiet and loud at the same time, full of character and delicate at the same time."
The extreme altitude - the vineyards reach up to 600 meters - gives the wines a special character. "Tregole wines linger on the palate for a long time," Sophie describes with a wink. "They remain focused in the center of the mouth."
Il Chicchero - the surprise wine
In addition to the red wines, Sophie also produces something very special: Il Chicchero. The name comes from a card game, typical in Siena, and means something like "ace up the sleeve" - a surprise effect. This wine is somewhere between a white wine and a rosé, sometimes lighter, sometimes pinker, depending on the year.
"It is Sangiovese, harvested 20 days earlier than for Chianti Classico, with the berries that have the firmest skin." The secret: whole grapes in the tank, pressure from their own weight until the first white juice emerges. "The quantity is different every year. Sometimes 400 bottles, sometimes 600. It's a wine that we make for fun."
Labels with soul
Sophie is particularly proud of her labels - and rightly so. The story behind it shows her creative approach: instead of working with an agency, she gathered friends from design and marketing around her for a winter. "We met up, drank wine, ate together and thought about Tregole."
The result: a sketch of the house that reappeared at every meeting. "Why don't we use the simplest thing - the sketch?" The house has always been on the labels, since the beginning of wine production here. The different colors for each wine complete the design.
Tradition meets innovation
What particularly impresses me about Sophie is her approach to winemaking. She mainly works with whole berries without crushing them. "If the tannins are not yet fully ripe, I keep them in the berry. Logical, isn't it?" This technique gives the wines more focus on the crunchy fruit components rather than the pulp.
The harvest does not take place until mid-October - very late for Chianti Classico, but simply due to the altitude. "Our dream is to still have the grapes on the vine when the leaves have already fallen. The wine is made on the vine."
More than just wine
Tregole is not only a winery, but also an agriturismo. Sophie's mother looks after the guests, while Sophie stays with the wine. "Hospitality has always been the main business of the house," she explains. With 16 beds, a pool and cooking classes, the estate offers the perfect getaway.
"A friend said to me the other day: 'Sophie, don't say out loud that you're stressed. That's not believable in the place where you live." And indeed - Tregole radiates a calmness that is infectious.
A place of the future
As we enjoy the last sip of the 2023, I realize that Tregole is more than just a winery. It is a place where history comes alive, where tradition and innovation go hand in hand, and where a young woman proves that passion and respect for the terroir are the best ingredients for exceptional wines.
Sophie Conte has managed to bring a 1000-year-old heritage into the modern age without losing its soul. Her wines tell the story of Tregole - and you can taste it in every sip.
Women power on Tregole: Edith and Sophie Conte
Links that can help you
The wine of the episode: 2023 Tregole Chianti Classico DOCG
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