Gagliole

Castellina in Chianti

Gagliole

The Antico Podere Gagliole winery, nestled in the heart of Chianti Classico in Castellina, has been owned by the Swiss Bär-Bettschart family since 1990. Monika Bär-Bettschart first fell in love with this little piece of land during her holidays when she was young, and then with Thomas. They only bought Gagliole after they got married. The family still calls Zurich home — but their "heart's home" is definitely in Tuscany.

La Valletta

To start, the Gagliole vineyards were leased out. It took about ten years for the family to decide to make and sell wine under their own label. In 2011, Thomas Bär expanded the family estate by adding another winery, La Valletta in Panzano in Chianti, and soon after, opened a top-notch Bed & Breakfast there. Today, Gagliole winery boasts a total of 22 hectares of vineyards, all farmed sustainably. In 2019, La Valletta got an even bigger, super modern cellar and storage area, designed to meet every need. You could even call it Gagliole's winemaking heart.

A Warm Welcome

Alessia Riccieri, who's in charge of selling and exporting their wines worldwide, always gives a super warm welcome to all visitors and guests. This applies to both Bed & Breakfast guests and anyone curious to check out Gagliole's cellar at La Valletta. She also lets you peek behind the scenes of the winery and how they craft their wines. With her extensive and always up-to-date knowledge of winemaking, Alessia is always happy to help and offer support. And if Alessia happens to be away, don't worry – Cosimo, Edi, Angela, and many others will make sure you get just as warm a welcome!

Castellina in Chianti

Eight of Gagliole winery's total 22 hectares are located in Castellina in Chianti. Here, the vines grow on ancient terraces, with olive trees and roses nestled in between. This farming method doesn't just look spectacular; the layout of the terraces and the special location create a lovely play of sun and shade for the vines. Plus, it helps maintain an ecological balance in the vineyard. The soils here are Galestro – loose rock layers where the vines can grow deep roots. This results in mineral-rich, elegant wines. 

Panzano in Chianti

Ten hectares of vineyards are in Panzano in Chianti, an area famous for its ideal growing conditions thanks to its shell shape and unique microclimate. Another four hectares are near the ancient Passignano Abbey. La Valletta's vineyards are quite high up, so they get sun almost all day while also enjoying cool breezes. Along with these factors, the richer clay soils, full of stones, give the wines their structure and power. The vines growing here at the top edge of the golden valley range from two to forty-five years old. This creates a perfect balance of youth and maturity, freshness and spice. 

Tradition

Gagliole's coat of arms, which you'll also see on their bottles, features a compass and a horizontal balance beam. These symbols were actually part of the Bettschart family's 'house mark' way back in the Middle Ages. They represent top quality, endless care, and absolute precision. And it's with these very principles in mind that the Bär-Bettschart family and their team dedicate themselves to creating their wines today, never forgetting the time-honored Tuscan traditions. 

Innovation

At the same time, Gagliole uses the unusual 'Vinification intégrale' method. With this, the grapes are first gently destemmed, sorted on a vibrating table, and then go straight into the barrique barrel, where all the fermentation happens. It's a truly 'holistic' approach! The barrels are then rotated several times a day to ensure constant contact between the juice, skins, seeds, and the barrel itself. Unlike traditional fermentation methods, the temperature in the barrel is lower and very consistent, and it lasts for 45 to 60 days. This way, they create wines with richer colors and aromas that remind you of wild berries and spices. 

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