Capannelle
Capannelle is a Chianti Classico estate with no long-standing aristocratic lineage. In the 1970s, vineyards were first planted around a 16th-century villa located on the Gaiole hill in Chianti, Since then, the estate has been shaped by two visionary figures, the entrepreneur who built it from the ground up and the hotelier who later acquired it. Although production is limited, the wines are sold in dozens of countries, and the same winemaker has been responsible for every vintage since 1984. Along with Chianti Classico Riserva, Capannelle is also famous for its 50&50 blend, produced in collaboration with a winery in Montepulciano, as well as for its red wines produced outside the appellation regulations. In addition, there is a wine resort on the estate, which clearly illustrates how the property is managed.
The history
The history of Capannelle dates back to 1974. At that time, businessman Raffaele Rossetti moved into a 16th-century villa located in Gaiole, Chianti, and decided to plant grapevines. After carefully surveying the land and soil, he planted local varieties such as Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Colorino, and Malvasia. He also planted olive trees.
The bountiful harvest of 1988 marked the beginning of this winery's most frequently told story. Rossetti wanted to blend Capannelle Sangiovese and Tuscan Merlot, so he sought out Avignonesi, a historic winery located in Montepulciano, as a partner. As a result, the two wineries collaborated to create 50&50, a 50-50 blend.
Later, in 1990, Giorgio Pinchiorri from Enoteca Pinchiorri, located in Florence, joined the project, leading to the creation of Solare. This wine wasn't released until 1996, which gives you an idea of just how much patience the process required.
In 1997, the winery changed ownership. James B. Sherwood, the founder of Orient Express Hotels, Trains, and Cruises (now Belmond), acquired Capannelle and set a goal to transform it into a world-class brand. He purchased vineyards, expanded the wine cellar, and subsequently spearheaded a redesign of the label. Thanks to Sherwood's ownership, Capannelle feels less like a farm and more like a small luxury enterprise.
Sixteen hectares at Gaiole in Chianti
The land Rossetti initially owned covered 10.5 hectares; of that, 3.5 hectares were planted with grapevines and 2 hectares with olive trees.
The estate expanded during the Sherwood era with the acquisition of two additional vineyards: the 7-hectare Il Trebbio and the 3-hectare Vertine. As a result, the total vineyard area of Capannelle has reached its current size of 16 hectares. While figures for the total site area vary widely, ranging from approximately 20 hectares to a maximum of 35 hectares, depending on the source, the vineyard area is consistently recorded as the same.
All of this land is located in the Gaiole area, which belongs to Chianti in the province of Siena, situated in the heart of the Chianti Classico district. The villa is surrounded by vineyards, olive trees, and cypress trees.
The grape varieties
The Capannelle vineyard is planted mainly with Sangiovese, which still makes up the bulk of the crop. Chianti Classico Riserva is made exclusively from Sangiovese.
- Sangiovese: The most widely cultivated variety in the entire vineyard
- Canaiolo and Colorino: Both varieties were first planted in the 1970s
- Malvasia: A variety planted since the vineyard's inception
- Merlot: Makes up the other half of the 50/50 blend and comes from Avignonesi in Montepulciano
These are the grape varieties selected through soil analysis, not because of following trends. This was the decision made at the time of the vineyard's founding, and of the Bordeaux varieties, which had swept the market alongside Tuscany during that period, only merlot is present in the 50&50 blend.
One winemaker, more than forty vintages
What sets Capannelle apart is its continuity. Simone Monciatti has managed every vintage since 1984, which means he had already established himself during the Rossetti era and has continued to work there even after the change in ownership. Five different wines are produced under his supervision.
Sherwood expanded the wine cellar from its original 600 square meters to the current 1,050 square meters, nearly doubling its size. This additional space is crucial for a winery that ages its wines for a considerable amount of time before release. Solare, created in 1990, was not released to the market until 1996.
The entire production process takes place on the Località Capannelle estate. It is a small-scale operation that has been personally led by the same person for 40 years.
The wines
Chianti Classico Riserva is a pure Sangiovese produced from Gaiole. Next to it is a red wine called Vino di Tavola, which falls under the Italian table wine classification, applied to wines outside the appellation's regulations, and follows the same path as the first Super Tuscans did in the 1960s.
In addition, Capannelle produces Solare and 50&50; the latter is a joint project with Avignonesi and is the only product from this winery whose label design has never changed, featuring a copper-colored label. There are also Chardonnay, Rosato Toscana IGT, and grappa.
Speaking of label redesigns, the labels remained unchanged from 1975 until the winery hired Massimo Vignelli, the designer behind brands such as American Airlines and Lancia. He redesigned the packaging for four wines, Rosato, Chianti Classico Riserva, Chardonnay, and Solare, and introduced a new bottle shape called Golia. Now, each wine has its own distinctive color, and the vintage year is prominently displayed on the label. This project took over a year to complete.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit Capannelle?
Yes. Capannelle runs guided winery tours and tastings, held in a tasting room built around a six-metre 16th century table, and the villa operates as a wine resort year-round with four rooms and a suite, a panoramic pool and an English-style garden.
How much wine does Capannelle produce?
Around 80,000 bottles a year, sold in 35 countries, with luxury hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants and specialist wine shops among the buyers.
Why is one Capannelle red labelled Vino di Tavola?
Vino di Tavola is Italy's table-wine category. Producers use it for wines that sit outside the appellation rules on grapes or method, a path Tuscan estates have taken since the 1960s rather than change the wine to fit the regulations.
Who owns Capannelle today?
James B. Sherwood, founder of Orient Express Hotels, Trains & Cruises, now Belmond, bought the estate in 1997 and set the expansion in motion.
