Poggiosecco Rosso IGT Sangiovese 2024

Azienda Agricola Poggiosecco sits in the Montalbano Hills between Cerreto Guidi and Vinci—the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci. The estate's name translates to "dry slope," referencing the well-drained chalk and sandstone soils that characterize this 16-hectare property. Founded in 1967, Poggiosecco was among the first members of the Consorzio del Chianti.

The estate underwent significant transformation in 2001 when owners Marco Filipello and Giuseppe Pluchino restructured operations toward organic farming. Organic certification followed in 2004, and biodynamic certification arrived in 2009. Today, Marco and Giuseppe consider biodynamic agriculture "the only possible way of farming considering the historical context in which we live."

Biodynamic practices permeate every aspect of vineyard management. Natural treatments—green and cow manure, herbal tisanes, minimal copper and sulfur—follow the biodynamic calendar and lunar phases. Old vines and branches are removed during rising moons, incinerated, and the ashes reintroduced to the soil. Pruning occurs during descending lunar phases when reduced sap flow allows wounds to heal more easily.

The estate cultivates 12 hectares of vines alongside 4 hectares of olive trees. Primary grape varieties include Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cabernet, with smaller plantings of indigenous white varieties Vermentino, Malvasia di Candia, and Canaiolo. The cellar approach mirrors vineyard philosophy: spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts, aging in cement tanks or older oak, no fining agents, and very limited sulfur additions.

The portfolio includes Chianti DOCG (100% Sangiovese), Ginestreto Rosso IGT (Sangiovese-Merlot blend), Aramis (Sangiovese-Cabernet-Merlot), and Etrah—a pétillant naturel Vermentino bottled undisgorged on its lees. These wines represent some of the best-value natural wines from Tuscany.

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Tuscany occupies a central position in both Italian geography and wine culture. The region stretches from the Tyrrhenian coast inland to the Apennine Mountains, encompassing some of Italy's most celebrated wine appellations: Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and Bolgheri among them. Rolling hills covered in vineyards, olive groves, and cypress trees define the classic Tuscan landscape.

The Montalbano Hills, where Poggiosecco is located, occupy the area between Florence and Siena—historically part of the broader Chianti zone. This subregion benefits from elevation (100-350 meters above sea level), well-drained soils of chalk and sandstone, and optimal sun exposure that promotes even grape ripening. The Mediterranean climate brings warm, dry summers and mild winters, with sufficient rainfall to sustain viticulture without irrigation.

Sangiovese dominates Tuscan red wine production. Known locally as Sangioveto, Brunello, Prugnolo Gentile, and other regional synonyms, this variety thrives in Tuscany's calcareous soils and produces wines ranging from bright and cherry-fruited to deeply structured and age-worthy. International varieties—particularly Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon—entered the region in the 1970s and now complement Sangiovese in many blends, often labeled as Toscana IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) rather than under traditional DOCG designations.

The IGT classification allows producers greater flexibility in grape selection and winemaking techniques than the more regulated DOCG appellations. This freedom has attracted both innovative winemakers seeking to experiment and traditionalists wanting to craft wines outside appellation constraints. Natural and biodynamic winemaking has gained significant traction in Tuscany, with producers like Poggiosecco demonstrating that organic and biodynamic practices can yield wines of genuine character and accessibility.

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