John Hamel II, managing director of winegrowing for Hamel Family Wines, understands volcanic soil as good as anyone. His family has been meeting the challenge since it opened in 2006.
The Capezzana estate continues Carmignano’s delicious, centuries-old tradition of blending Sangiovese and Cabernet Gaddo, Filippo and Beatrice are among the Contini Bonacossi family members carrying on winemaking work that dates to Renaissance times while continuing to innovate with new bottlings. (Robert Camuto) By May 11, 2021
Just before Italy reopened last month, I did the logical thing and hopped in the car and drove to Tuscany.
The countrysides were empty of tourists, frigid and in full bloom. Restaurants were still shuttered, but wildlife songbirds, deer, pheasants, foxes and more was abundant.
My first stop was in the northern end of the region, just 15 miles west of Florence, in one of Tuscany’s oldest and least-known wine areas.