23 ноября 2018 г. в 16:24

Villa Spoiano, between Florence and Siena

Spoiano - panorama Barberino Val d'Elsa
Spoiano - panorama Barberino Val d'Elsa
Villa Spoiano
Villa Spoiano

In the center of Tuscany, in the famous Chianti district between Florence and Siena, you will find the Fattoria Villa Spoiano farm.

This farm is spread over 80 hectares, 25 of which consist of vineyards and 20 olive groves, while the rest are occupied by fields, meadows and forests. The purpose of the farm is to produce high-quality and environmentally friendly products, so they are 100% organic and certified.

During the 17th century, the property was owned by the De Nobili Family. 1934 the villa was purchased at an auction by the Tinti Puccioni family. During the second world war, General Kesselring and his German soldiers occupied the villa that was later on bombed by the Allies destroying part of the lookout tower and many statues of the garden.

Spoiano (terrace) - panorama San-Gimignano
Spoiano (terrace) - panorama San-Gimignano
Spoiano - North facade
Spoiano - North facade

After the unusually cold winter of 1984/1985, most of the olive trees were frozen and many farms had to b. e sold. At that time, the Swiss oenologist Jan Karel Waspi had visited 43 Farms located in France, Spain and Italy until he found Spoiano and fell in love with Tuscany. December 1985, at the age of 29, he bought the farm and has been working passionately ever since.

The vineyards are at an altitude of about 350 meters above sea level. The land is predominantly of morainic origins and consist of Pliocene sand formation. The climate and the favorable exposures, along with the organic farming practices such as natural fertilization with the dung of the farms own dexter cows and cinta senese pigs, allow the production of pure wines that are a true expression of the terroir.

Most oft he vineyards are Sangiovese grapes, the typical red-grape variety of Tuscany, but Fattoria Villa Spoiano has planted 8 different varieties and produces 9 different labels.

Now here on the farm, you can rent rooms and holiday apartments in the villa as well as in the 4 surrounding typical Tuscan houses which have been carefully renovated to retain their original character but outfitted with all modern conveniences. The rooms and holiday apartments are fully furnished, have a private bathroom and most of them have an independent kitchen. The spacious terrace of the Villa offers a spectacular view of the Tuscan countryside from Barberino Val d'Elsa (Florence) until San Gimignano ( Siena).

And for those who like not only to taste the wine but also to eat, the restaurant is open. Delicious dishes of typical Tuscan cuisine, well cooked and made from own organic products.

Four times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday), the cook prepares a four-course dinner with homemade vegetables and meat from Cinta Senese pigs and Dexter cows.

The restaurant is open from April to October ...

Jan Waspi
Jan Waspi

Answers to the questions of "Yellow Road" Jara Waspi, representative of the dynasty Waspi.

Jara Waspi
Jara Waspi

1 - You have a vineyard, there is wine, apartments, what would you like to add to this picture? Expand the vineyard, improve the wine, increase sales? If it is not a secret, what are your plans for the future?

We are expanding our vineyards in fact we recently planted Vermentino, an Italian white-grape variety. The vines are young and this year (2018) we were able to harvest some grapes for the first time. We are excited about it because the wine looks very promising. We are really looking forward to the coming years, when the vineyard will enter in full production and we will be able to introduce this new wine to clients and wine lovers.

2 - Do you prefer (it's important for you) the colour of the wine?

The colour of the wine is very important, it captures your attention and can tell you something about the wine before you even smell or taste it.

3 - History of the creation of your white wines?

When Jan Waspi took over the farm in 1985, almost all the vineyards were Sangiovese. He had studied in Switzerland and had lot of experience with white wines; he wanted to use his knowledge and decided to plant Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, with great results.

Fattoria Spoiano wines
Fattoria Spoiano wines

4 - List, if possible, a set (gift box) of four or six own wines (red and white), which, in your opinion, can be worthy of representing your farm.

As a gift box representing our farm we would choose the following wines:

Chardonnay Toscano: an intense and colourful 100% Chardonnay.

Chianti Colli Fiorentini: A typical Chianti with 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot+Cabernet Sauvignon.

Chianti Classico: our 100% Sangiovese.

Sotto la Villa: a blend of 60% Sangiovese and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24 months in Oak barrels.

Cabernet Toscano: a wonderful 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24 months in Oak barrels.

Vin Santo del Chianti: a sweet dessert wine typical for Tuscany, this is best to be enjoyed with some cantuccini cookies.

5 - And where, besides the winery, you can try your wine?

Besides our winery, you can find our wines in some restaurants and wine bars in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and France.

Chardonnay Spoiano
Chardonnay Spoiano
Barberino Church
Barberino Church

6 - Your choice for the "Yellow Road" of white (yellow) wine? Chardonnay Toscano?

Our choice for the yellow road is our Chardonnay Toscano because it is the most colourful white wine we produce. For this wine we do an extended maceration with the skins to extract more colour and aromas.

7 - It takes 10 minutes by foot to reach Tavarnelle Val di Pesa and Barberino Val d'Elsa... What can we see there?

Barberino Val d’Elsa is a typical small medieval town with wonderful views over the Tuscan countryside and a beautiful church.

Tavarnelle Val di Pesa also has some beautiful churches (especially the Badia a Passignano) but is mostly known in the area for the weekly market that takes place every Thursday morning on the big central square.

8 - Florence: 30, Sienna: 38, Volterra: 30, San Gimignano: 20, Monteriggioni: 25, Greve in Chianti: 20, Certaldo: 15, Colle Val d'Elsa: 18, Pisa: 75, Arezzo: 100, Lucca: 100 km...

And how to get to these cities from Villa Spoiano?

You can easily reach these places by car and most of them by bus or train. If it is nice weather, you can rent scooters or bikes as well to reach the close by towns.

Sparkling wine Fattoria Spoiano - Barberino
Sparkling wine Fattoria Spoiano - Barberino
In the kitchen of the restaurant
In the kitchen of the restaurant

9 - Imagine that your guests are two people who like to drink and have a snack ...

So, arrival, breakfast. Then a tasting tour for two and in the evening a grill with wine and a lodging for the night. How much should they pay?

We rent double rooms from 70€/night to 110€/night, depending on the room and the length of the stay. Every Friday at 10 we do a free farm and cellar tour+tasting for the guests of our agriturismo and 4 times a week we organise social dinners with home-grown products for 25€/person. Besides wine we also produce olive oil, vegetables and have Cinta Senese pigs and Dexter cows.

Still life with Cabernet
Still life with Cabernet
the continuation of Still life
the continuation of Still life

10 - Can you offer the most impressive view (favourite point) on vineyards or the surrounding landscape?

Barberino town
Barberino town
Vineyards Spoiano
Vineyards Spoiano

11 - What kind of platform can you offer for the cultural program "Yellow Road": exhibition space, cinema hall, etc. Or do you have your own cultural projects?

Our breakfast and dinner room serves as exhibition space. Every year we have an artist change exhibition. We regularly host groups of painters, artists and sculptors who come to get inspired by the beauty of our countryside.

12 - Which white wine producer (from Italy or another country) would you recommend for the "Yellow Road"?

We would recommend Weinbau Schwarzenbach wines, from Switzerland

Sergey Evtuhov, author of the project "Yellow Road". With the participation of Jara Waspi.

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23 ноября 2018 г. в 16:24
Yellow Road
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Сергей
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