San Felice wine estates has appointed Francesca Giuggioli as the new Head Winemaker of their Chianti Classico estate in Castelnuovo Berardenga, Tuscany.

 Owned by the Grisaldi del Taja family from 1700 to 1968, the estate was acquired by the Allianza Group in the 1970’s.  Today it spans about 685 hectares across Tuscany’s prestigious wine producing  areas of  Chianti Classico Montalcino and Bolgheri.  The estate is home to the Vitiarium Collection and the Borgo San Felice Relais & Chareau.

Francesca has been with the winery since 20o8.  I have been enjoying the wines of San Felice for many years and was very interested in the new winemaker.  Recently I was invited to a tasting of the wines of San Felice in NYC with Francesca, but I was unable to attend because at the time I was in Rome.  When I returned, I contacted Virginia Cademartori of Head of PR and Communications for PLATINUM MEDIA LLC and she put me in touch with Francesca.

  Francesca was kind enough to answer some questions about her new position and her winemaking philosophy.  The following are some of her responses and descriptions of some of the wines that she will be working on.

“My journey with San Felice began in 2008, when I joined as a young winemaker. Being appointed head winemaker is not a destination, but the natural evolution of years dedicated to elevating the character and quality of our wines. It reflects the estate’s trust in me to carry forward its identity and vision. With this role comes a broader perspective, along with a deep sense of responsibility and belonging.”

In Avane Chardonnay Toscana 2024 made from mostly Chardonnay from San Felice (Castelnuovo Berardenga, Siena).  In Avane, from “Avenal” the Etruscan name of the area, encloses a trace of the ancient culture present in the territory of San Felice. The soil is of medium-textured, predominantly calcareous marl, breakdown of alberese and galestro limestones and the training system is spur-pruned cordon. Harvest takes place by hand the first week of September in the early morning hours.  Maceration at a temperature of 8° C. Fermentation predominantly in steel and partly in oak barrels. Bottle aging for a few months before release. The wine has hints of citrus, white flowers, peach, pear, with a note of acacia and a touch of melon. $33

Pugnitello Tuscan IGT 2022 made from 100% Pugnitello. Pugnitello is an ancient Tuscan native grape variety whose name means little fist, because of the shape of the clusters.  Following its rediscovery, it has been researched, in collaboration with the universities of Florence and Pisa, in San Felice’s experimental vineyard. The wine is the fruit of 20 years of study and experimentation focused on saving native Tuscan grapes from extinction. The vineyard is located Castlenuovo Berardenga (Siena).  Soil is medium-textured, predominantly calcareous marl breakdown of galestro limestones, with an abundant gravel-pebble mix. The training system is guyot. Harvest takes place the first week of October. There is a 20-25 day fermentation on the skins at 30C, followed by malolactic fermentation. Aging of the wine is in 225-liter French oak barriques for 18 to 20 months and 8 months in the bottle before release. This is a full bodied concentrated wine  with hints of wild fruit preserves of black and red fruit, blackcurrants, cherries, cinnamon, clove,  a touch of tobacco and a hint of spice. This is a wine that will age. $69

Francesca also said,  “My philosophy is to craft wines that gently reflect their terroir, expressing it with sensitivity and respect. I believe in preserving authenticity, allowing each parcel to tell its own story without forcing expression. The result is wines that are inviting from the very first sip, approachable in their youth, yet capable of developing depth, complexity, and longevity over time. Harmony, purity of fruit, and grace lie at the heart of every bottle, reflecting the land, its history, and our commitment.”

Borgo Chianti Classico 2022 DOCG made from Sangiovese and Pugnitello. The vineyard is located Castlenuovo Berardenga.   Soil is medium-textured, predominantly calcareous marl breakdown of galestro limestones, with a abundant gravel-pebble mix. The training system is cordoned speronato and guyot. Harvest is the third week September to the first week of October. Vinification is in stainless steel for 2 weeks separately for each variety. Aging for approximately 12 months in large Slavonian oak barrels. The wine has hints of black fruit, blackberries, blueberries, black cherry and plum. $33

Francesca also spoke about what is important to her and her vision for the winery.
“What matters most to me is respecting what has been built over time, while remaining open to thoughtful evolution. It is about preserving the identity of the estate without standing still, allowing each vintage to express its own voice while remaining true to a clear vision. Every decision, from vineyard to cellar, should serve a single purpose: to reveal the authenticity of our land with balance and precision.”

Chianti Classico Grande Selezione ��La Pieve” 2021 San Felice Made from Sangiovese and other native vines from the finest company vineyards. The soil is of medium texture with a predominance of clay of calcareous-marly origin, derived from the disintegration of Alberese and Galestro.  The training system is cordone speronato and guyot. Harvest is the 4th week of September.  Alcoholic fermentation in steel tanks, with maceration for 22 days at a temperature of 28– 30°C. Malolactic fermentation and aging in wood for 24 months. Refinement in French oak tonneaux of 500 liters. Bottle aging for 8 months. This is a full bodied wine with hints of violet, black currants and spice with a touch of tobacco and a hint of licorice. This is a true expression of Chianti Classico.  This wine will age for 10 to 15 years. $50

Congratulations to Francesca Giuggioli on her new position!  I look forward to many more years of enjoying the wines of San Felice.