This 470-hectare estate is located northeast of Siena in the commune of Castelnuovo Berardenga, on the southern border of the Chianti Classico zone. Fèlsina epitomises the powerful style of southern Chianti, where the wines are stylistically more akin to those from Montalcino than their fellow Chianti from Fontodi or Isole e Olena. Domenico Poggiali bought the estate in 1966. Giuseppe Mazzocolin, son-in-law of Domenico, entered the family business in the late 1970s and played a significant role in the growth of the winery. In 1990 Giovanni Poggiali, Domenico's grandson, joined the management and continues his grandfather's enterprise with the same passion. Giuseppe Mazzocolin is now less involved in the running of the estate, and consultant oenologist Franco Bernabei is very much at the helm of the winemaking team.

The Rancia vineyard lies entirely within the Chianti Classico zone, in the commune of Castelnuovo Berardenga, north east of Siena. It is a 6 hectars vineyard which sits at 400 metres above sea level, facing south. The vines were planted between 1958-1982, with newer plantings using genetic material from the old Rancia vineyard. Vines are trained according to a simple Guyot system, with an average yield of 40-45 hectolitres per hectare. Soils are quartzitic blue-grey sandstone, with layers of sand and calcareous albarese mixed with alluvial pebbles. In the higher areas, the soil is a limestone marl galestro mix.

Vinification: After destemming and crushing, fermentation took place between 28-30°C, with automatic daily punching down of the cap, followed by 12-15 days of maceration. Towards the end of fermentation, the wine was racked into French oak barrels, where it matured for 12-18 months. It was aged for a further 6-10 months in bottle before release.

Weather 2018 winter was characterized by heavy rainfall that filled the 2017 water deficit and by a wave of intense frost (up to - 13C °) between 26 and 28 February. This phenomenon did not cause damage to the vines as they were all still in vegetative rest. During spring, temperatures were above the seasonal average, with abundant rainfall. Unlike 2017, many early defoliation have been done and a more intense mowing and control of the weeds, while the working of the land has been reduced. High temperatures in summer with storms that have maintained water reserves in the soil and thus balance for the vine. The month of September was beautiful, with sunny days until the 10th of October. This allowed a double or even triple selection of grapes on all the vineyards, increasing the already excellent quality.

Technical Information:
Grape: 100% Sangiovese
Region: Chianti Classico, Tuscany
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Acidity: 5.90 g/l
Residual sugar: 0.50 g/l
pH: 3.50
Closure: Natural Cork

Tasting Note: Deep ruby red in colour, this wine is rich and spicy on the nose, with wild berry and floral notes. The palate is framed by tight knit tannins with opulent ripe berry fruit on a long, spicy finish.

It was 1966 when Domenico Poggialini bought the property of Felsina in the Berardenga area in the far south of the Chianti Classico appellation.

At that time the company existed mainly for the production of oil, cereals and other crops. There were just 2.5 hectares of vineyards and while Domenico and his son Beppe worked hard to expand the vineyards and the winery during the early years, it was only with the arrival of Giuseppe Mazzacolin following his marriage to Domenico’s daughter. , Gloria, that Felsina took flight.

With Mazzacolin, Bernabei’s wine consultancy and the need to focus on Sangiovese as the company’s main grape also came, as opposed to the fashion of the period which saw the reliance on Bordeaux vines.

The wines of Felsina are children of their terroir which is very varied. The soils can be clayey-sandy with marine deposits or stony (alberese) and poor.

The result is an exciting palette of Chianti Classico that have in common a generous body, great complexity and notes of fruit and undergrowth that are always clearly perceptible.

Rancia is first of all a vineyard owned by Fèlsina located in one of the most suitable areas of Castelnuovo Berardenga. The Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is a historic Chianti reserve, the first vintage dates back to 1983.

The vineyard has limestone soils, mainly characterized by alberese (typical of the Chiantigiano area), and galestro. Altitude between 350 and 400 meters above sea level

After the crushing and destemming of the selected grapes, fermentation begins between 28 ° C and 30 ° C. The entire maceration process takes place in steel tanks for 16-20 days with automatic punching down and daily pumping over. In March-April the new wine is transferred to new French oak barrels and after 18-20 months of maturation it follows the assembly and bottling. In glass, refinement is guaranteed for at least 6-8 months before being marketed.