The origins
The history of Panzanello begins way back in 1427, a year which also represents the beginning of a constant search for improvement. In 1436 Franciesco Ciucci D'Ugolino had the brilliant idea of selecting grapes from upstream and reusing the seeds of the best grapes to ensure that the land continued to produce ever better fruit. Near Panzano in Chianti, a small village of farmers dedicated to vineyards and olives.
The Sommaruga
In 1964 the Panzanello property was purchased by Anna Maria Sommaruga who decided to spend six months of the year in her country house.
The current villa was born from the transformation of a large farmhouse, consisting of the stable, the home of the peasant family and the granary. Anna Maria Sommaruga decided to transform it as it currently is in order to welcome her children and grandchildren.
In 1965 the work on the house and in the vineyards was finished.
Andrea Sommaruga, the nephew, moved to Panzanello in 1994.
His adventure as a winemaker began.
Andrea Sommaruga
Andrea worked hard in the fields learning from Luigi and his son-in-law Vasco. They taught him to know the vine, to prune it, to tie it, to harvest the grapes, to prune and remove olive trees, to drive tractors and everything he knows today is thanks to them.
He made his first bottling of wine in 1995 and it wasn't a bad start. He started with 900 bottles and now the Panzanello company produces more than 50 thousand every year .
Panzanello was a company of thirty hectares, today it is around 90 .
Ioletta and Andrea
In 1997 Andrea married Ioletta and she too, having moved from Rome to Panzanello, abandoned the idea of being an architect. Thus she began to follow her husband's work but was more fascinated by the people who come from all over the world to taste their wines and therefore today she follows public relations and the Panzanello agritourism.
The farm
...and the estate
The care of the vineyards
From the beginning, Andrea Sommaruga continued to take care of and educate his vineyards, as Francesco Ciucci D'Ugolino had done in 1436, continuously selecting the best grapes , in order to give life, year after year, to quality wines.
The staff
Over the years Andrea and his staff have perfected every single phase of the winemaking process so that the wines can satisfy and conquer even the most expert of his customers.
But his most severe customer is himself, which is why Andrea has invested all his efforts in ensuring that every single bottle can convey its uniqueness.
There are two secrets to true success with wine: Patience and respect.
Patience in waiting for everything to be ripe enough to have a quality product. Respect for nature made us become an organic company in 1998.
...Andrea and Ioletta's children, Giorgio and Carlo, will tell you the rest of the story.