Podere Ventolaio Archivi — Enoteca di Piazza

Poggio alla Croce was born around the 2000s thanks to the passion and will of Enzo and Rossella Butini, who still today represent the common threads between past and present. They were, in fact, responsible and passionate farmers who have always strongly believed in organic and natural viticulture, respecting seasonality and preserving the fertility of the land. In their children Alessandro, Riccardo and Lorenzo, this same passion and tenacity relives. Pursuing the dream of responsible cultivation, the company obtained organic certification in 2010.Poggio alla Croce is a small company with a distinctly traditional mold. It is a relatively young company that has made the tradition of organic culture its flagship. It is located in Radda in Chianti, one of the historic towns of Chianti Classico, in a very sunny hilly area between 500 and 600 meters above sea level. The wines of Poggio alla Croce show all the energy of the brothers constantly in search of stylistic elegance, which can already be guessed from the label: a geometric stylization of the hills with cypresses. The three children, following the path already traced by their parents, took the reins of the company, becoming part of the tradition of the Gallo Nero area and always allowing themselves the pleasure of experimenting. The new generation manages the cellar and the vineyard with the aim of enhancing the wine and its terroir through an unmistakable style that is as consistent as possible with the single grape variety.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Podere Ventolaio winery located and in what part of Montalcino does it produce?

Podere Ventolaio is located along the road that leads from Montalcino to the Abbey of Sant'Antimo, in one of the municipality's most scenic areas called 'Poggio d'Arna', at about 400 meters of altitude facing south/southeast. The estate includes 14 hectares under vine.

Who founded the Podere Ventolaio winery? Is it a family business?

Yes: in 1988 Luigi Fanti inherited the estate, with its vineyards and olive groves, from his father. Together with his wife Maria Assunta he began restoring the farmhouse and expanding the vineyards in the 1990s, reaching the first commercial release of Rosso and Brunello under his own label in 2000. Today his sons Manuele and Baldassarre carry on the family tradition.

Does the Podere Ventolaio winery produce organic wines?

The winery is in the process of converting to organic farming and follows natural winemaking processes, favoring the native yeasts present on the grapes to give the wine a precise sense of place. Aging takes place in 30-hectoliter Slavonian and French oak casks, followed by about six months of bottle aging.

What wines does Podere Ventolaio produce?

Production includes about 40,000 bottles of Brunello di Montalcino, 18,000 of Rosso di Montalcino and 10,000 of IGT wines, a balance among the different wines that reflects the Fanti family's approach, in which cellar practice remains fundamental to achieving a product worthy of Montalcino's tradition.