Querciabella was founded in 1974 by Sebastiano Cossia Castiglioni, an accomplished industrial designer and creator of a multinational business network who also had a love for fine wine. His passion for great winemaking combined with his uncompromising vision has meant that Querciabella has quickly established itself as one of the leading wineries in Italy, earning acclaim of the world’s most discriminating critics.

Querciabella has vineyards located throughout Tuscany’s Chianti Classico and Meremma regions. Sebastiano’s strong commitment to the environment inspired him to convert the winery to biodynamics in 2000, and all of the wines are 100% vegan. Indeed Querciabella has one of the largest biodynamic vineyard holdings in all of Italy. The full range consists of seven different wines, reflecting the diversity of Tuscan terroir.

Interview with Manfred Ing, Winemaker

What would you say have been the most important moments in the history of Querciabella?

Founded in 1974 by avid wine collector Giuseppe ‘Pepito’ Castiglioni, at the beginning of what can be considered the ‘Supertuscan revolution’, Querciabella quickly rose to prominence with its elegant and beautifully crafted wines. Camartina (first vintage 1981) is still considered one of the benchmark supertuscans, while our Batàr is deemed by many to be the first and still the definitive ‘white supertuscan’. Under the stewardship of Sebastiano Cossia Castiglioni, Pepito’s son, it was one of the first wineries to become fully organic in 1988 and became biodynamic in 2000, well before this practice became fashionable. In 1995, Querciabella purchased 32 hectares in Tuscan Maremma, in addition to those owned in Chianti Classico.

How would you describe the 2014 vintage in Tuscany?

Given the challenges of the ’14 vintage, it was patience and experience that allowed our fruit to fully benefit from the perfect ripening conditions at the end of September right through until the middle of October. While most were picking, we waited and those few weeks turned out to be the difference between average and excellent quality fruit. This has resulted in some terrific wines with a fine balance of fruit depth, tension and finesse (Manfred Ing, winemaker, about the 2014 vintage).

Toscana IGT is a wine appellation located in the central region of Italy, known for producing some of the finest wines in the world. The history of winemaking in Toscana dates back to the Etruscan era, and the region has been producing wine for over 3,000 years. The appellation is home to some of the most famous wine regions in Italy, including Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.

The style of production in Toscana IGT is heavily influenced by the region's climate and soil. The appellation is characterized by a Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and mild winters. The soil is predominantly clay and limestone, which provides excellent drainage and mineral content for the vines. The grapes grown in Toscana IGT include Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah, among others.

The typical wines produced in Toscana IGT are red wines, with Sangiovese being the most widely planted grape variety. The wines are known for their rich, full-bodied flavors, with notes of cherry, plum, and spice. The tannins are firm and well-structured, providing a long, lingering finish. The wines are often aged in oak barrels, which adds complexity and depth to the flavor profile.

One of the most famous wines from Toscana IGT is Chianti, which is made from Sangiovese grapes. Chianti is known for its bright, fruity flavors, with notes of cherry, raspberry, and violet. The wine is typically aged in oak barrels, which adds a subtle vanilla and spice flavor to the wine. Another famous wine from Toscana IGT is Brunello di Montalcino, which is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes. Brunello di Montalcino is known for its rich, full-bodied flavors, with notes of black cherry, leather, and tobacco. The wine is aged for at least four years, which gives it a complex, layered flavor profile.

In conclusion, Toscana IGT is a wine appellation that has a rich history of winemaking and produces some of the finest wines in the world. The style of production is heavily influenced by the region's climate and soil, and the grapes grown in Toscana IGT include Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah, among others. The typical wines produced in Toscana IGT are red wines, with Sangiovese being the most widely planted grape variety. The wines are known for their rich, full-bodied flavors, with notes of cherry, plum, and spice, and are often aged in oak barrels, which adds complexity and depth to the flavor profile.