BADIA A COLTIBUONO

It’s not hard to see why the storied Badia a Coltibuono Winery – with its 11th-century Romanesque monastery, exclusive on-site restaurant and immaculately lush botanical garden – is a highlight of any Chianti wine tour. But this proud family winery is famed for more than its history and romantic atmosphere. Badia a Coltibuono make premium wines with estate-grown, organically produced grapes. Their wines are considered to be some of the most iconic Chianti Classico wines.

The Badia a Coltibuono estate (which translates to “Abbey of the Good Harvest”, an apt nomenclature if there ever was one) was founded by Vallombrosan monks in the 11th century and immediately became a centre for wine production. Over the centuries, the monks amassed hundreds of hectares of land, but when the monastery was secularised in 1810, the government seized all the monks’ holdings and auctioned them off.

Since 1846, the Stucchi Prinetti family has been master of the estate, balancing history and innovation to create one of Chianti Classico’s best-loved wineries. “Through tradition we have acquired a know how and a culture which allow us to remain a leader in Chianti, while following a respectful continuity,” the family says. Now the sixth generation has taken over the reigns. Emanuela (the first woman ever elected president of the Marchio Storico del Chianti Classico) manages the winery with the help of her three brothers: Roberto, who is head winemaker; Paolo, who oversees the well-regarded Coltibuono restaurant; and Guido, who runs hospitality.