Tolaini

The Tolaini project began in 1998 when Pier Luigi Tolaini purchased two estates - Montepulciano and San Giovanni - in the village of Castelnuovo Berardenga. The area was chosen for its historical reputation and its potential to produce powerful yet refined expressions of Sangiovese. The vineyards were replanted with a high-density model and modern trellising, and a state-of-the-art gravity-flow winery was constructed. From the first vintages in the early 2000s, Tolaini became known for for wines with structure, richness, and approachability. Over time, the estate refined its focus and pursued single-vineyard wines. The company continues to showcase Bordeaux varieties such as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Tolaini project began in 1998 when Pier Luigi Tolaini purchased two estates - Montepulciano and San Giovanni - in the village of Castelnuovo Berardenga. The area was chosen for its historical reputation and its potential to produce powerful yet refined expressions of Sangiovese. The vineyards were replanted with a high-density model and modern trellising, and a state-of-the-art gravity-flow winery was constructed. From the first vintages in the early 2000s, Tolaini became known for for wines with structure, richness, and approachability. Over time, the estate refined its focus and pursued single-vineyard wines. The company continues to showcase Bordeaux varieties such as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Tolaini is a wine estate in Castelnuovo Berardenga, in the southern part of the Chianti Classico region near Siena. The area is known for producing wines with good structure and ripe fruit, thanks to warm days, cool nights, and varied soils. The estate has about 50 hectares of vineyards planted between roughly 300 and 450 meters above sea level, with slopes and exposures that help the grapes ripen evenly. These vineyards were carefully planned to match grape varieties to each site, taking into account soil, drainage, and sun exposure. Tolaini’s plantings are mostly Sangiovese, along with smaller amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and other varieties. The combination of limestone, sandstone, and local sedimentary soils contributes to the wines’ texture and complexity.

Tolaini farms approximately 50 hectares of vines, with high-density plantings of up to 7,000 vines per hectare. The vineyards are planted mainly to Sangiovese, with smaller amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. Soils are a mix of limestone, sandstone, and marine sediments, ideal for Sangiovese. The estate practices sustainable viticulture, with cover cropping, manual harvesting, and a strict green harvest regime to maintain concentration and balance.

Tolaini’s winery is built for gravity-flow operations and minimal intervention. Grapes are hand-sorted and fermented in stainless steel or large oak casks, depending on the cuvée. The estate has evolved from early experimentation with Bordeaux blends toward a clearer expression of Sangiovese and the Chianti Classico terroir. Oak use is now more restrained, with larger casks playing a more important role than barrique. Wines are typically aged between 12 and 30 months, depending on the classification and style, with a focus on structure, aging potential, and site expression.

Tolaini’s flagship wines have long included Picconero, a 100 percent Merlot that demonstrates just how convincingly the variety can perform in Tuscany, and Valdisanti, which blends Sangiovese with Bordeaux varieties. Today, however, the estate’s center of gravity lies with its Chianti Classico and Chianti Classico Gran Selezione bottlings, increasingly defined by a focus on individual sites. Single-vineyard Gran Selezione wines such as Vigna Montebello Sette signal a decisive move toward site-specific expressions of Sangiovese, while Mello 700, a high-elevation expression of the grape, continues the estate's growing emphasis on freshness and nuance. Legit, a pure Cabernet Sauvignon, is also very good, and is recognised by its label featuring a photograph of Thelonious Monk.

Tolaini offers private tours and tastings by appointment at its winery in Castelnuovo Berardenga. Visitors can explore the estate’s vineyards, visit the modern gravity-flow winery, and taste wines in a dedicated hospitality space overlooking the vines. Tastings often include both current releases and older vintages, with a focus on vineyard expression and winemaking philosophy. The estate’s position near Siena makes it accessible for wine travellers exploring the southern reaches of Chianti Classico.