Fattoria : Torre a Cona : An estate with a rich history and a long winemaking tradition

Torre a Cona went through a rich history, which started in the Middle Ages. Nowadays Rossi di Montelera family runs the estate and continues its renovation, respecting its heritage and traditions. The family revived the wine-making savoir-faire of Torre a Cona, transmitting their love for the land of Colli Fiorentini through the wines which reflect the terroir and provide a perfect expression of the local grape varieties.

VertdeVin : You are located in the Chianti Colli Fiorentini area. What are the peculiarities of the terroir in this part of Chianti?
Niccolò Rossi di Montelera, owner: Colli Fiorentini is a vast and non-continuous zone of 330 ha which covers the area of Chianti next to Florence. The terroirs here are very diverse. Our estate lies at a high elevation, around 400 metres. We are in a zone with a cooler climate exposed to cold winds like Bora. The areas in the direction of Montecucco and Pisa are much warmer, but they still keep the characteristics of Chianti. In general, it isn’t very easy to talk about in which way Chianti Colli Fiorentini is different from Chianti Classico, the terroirs vary significantly, and we only can talk about the specificities of particular estates. Our vineyards have south-eastern exposure, they overlook the Apennines, so in the past, the snow cover stayed on the ground during the whole winter season. Today with climate change, we don’t see snow anymore, but we can say that our zone has benefited a lot from higher temperatures, with the grapes easily reaching good maturity levels. But it still stays relatively cool. Our soils consist of galestro, a mix of clay and sand, with many stones. We cultivate Sangiovese, Colorino, and Merlot for our red wines and Malvasia and Trebbiano for the sweet ones.

What is the philosophy behind your winery?
N.R.d.M: Torre a Cona is a family estate, and our philosophy is to transmit our love and passion for our terroir through our wines. We produce a very elegant and pure Chianti style reflecting the sense of place with its freshness, verticality, and accessibility.

Chianti is a wine with a long history, but today many consumers choose wines from the New World, which are softer and rounder. How can Chianti attract new fans?
N.R.d.M: There are great, high-quality wines worldwide. Consumers in some countries prefer certain styles, but in general, what differentiates European wines is the history. We are talking about heritage and generations many New World wines
do not have. Chiara Bellacci, sales & marketing manager: Some consumers still prefer bold wines, but we try working with markets that understand our wines and philosophy. We choose our distributors carefully, and they become the ambassadors of our territory and our style. There is no competition with New World wines because Sangiovese already enjoys certain notoriety and appreciation worldwide. Also, consumers’ tastes today are changing towards more elegant and food-friendly wines.

Sangiovese is the soul of Chianti. What for you is a classic Sangiovese?
C.B.: If I need to present a classic Sangiovese, I will open a bottle of Terre di Cino Chianti Colli Fiorentini Riserva. It is a traditional, “ancestral” style of Sangiovese with subtle but persistent tannins, and an elegant structure but lengthy finish. The wine reveals nuances of red fruits, black cherries, and blackberries. It is the ultimate wine to pair with Bistecca Fiorentina and aged cheeses.

Thanks to Niccolò and Chiara for the welcome
Valeria Tenison

Fattoria Torre a Cona
Via Torre a Cona, 49 – 50067 Rignano sull’Arno,
Firenze, Italy
www.torreacona.co