THE COMPANIES

At the beginning of the 70s, Sergio Dionisio (father of Fabrizio) bought Il Castagno, a small estate situated on the slope of the high ground facing Cortona; the property was comprised of an olive grove and a vineyard. The dream was to preserve that corner of paradise by realising a wine-growing company that would enhance the natural vocation of the land for the growing of vines. Following the purchase (in 1992) of a second appreciation of land, not far away, the company reached its present size and, today, is made up of two farms, both situated on the hills of Chiuso della Valdichiana around Cortona (approximately 300 m average altitude) and are approximately 5 km distant from each other; in total 15 hectares of vineyards.

The first wine produced by Fabrizio Dionisio (Podere il Castagno Cortona Syrah DOC 2003) is also the result of the first absolute harvest.

The People of Reference
Fabrizio Dionisio, owner; Federico Curtaz, agronomist and responsible for the running of the vineyards; Attilio Pagli, enologist and responsible for the cellar.

The Vineyards
In the second half of the 90s the uprooting of old vines began and then, starting in 2000, their gradual replantation has commenced on both farms, with completely different material and technical criteria.  It is aimed, exclusively, at the varieties of red berries: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and, most of all, Syrah (the latter probably bequeathed to the ampelographic patrimony of Cortona from the French occupation during the time of Napoleon).  These varietals, in fact, present in the area for approximately two centuries, have demonstrated to be perfectly able to acclimatise themselves to the hills of Cortona and give excellent results when grown with appropriate care.

The first, Il Castagno, having a sandy loam ground rich in skeletal limestone (marl and clayey shale), today, has vineyards of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon (plants of 2001) covering a surface area of approximately two and a half hectares, while the second, Poggio del Sole (in the same locality) is characterised by a medium mixture of clayey loam with an important presence of silt, where vineyards have been planted (in 2000 and 2003) on a total surface area of approximately twelve and a half hectares, predominantly with Syrah and a lesser proportion of Merlot.

The density of the plants – considered to be optimal given the characteristics of the terroir  - is of 5,000 plants per hectare and the production of grapes approximately 1 kilo per plant (50 quintals per hectare), after accurate selection of the bunches.

The vineyards are maintained by strictly limiting the use of chemical substances.  Every cultivation process is rigorously carried out manually with the exception of the spring trimming of branches.  Harvesting is also carried out manually and the grapes are gathered exclusively in small crates, pressed softly and vinified in steel containers at controlled temperatures.

The company’s project (from the onset elaborated in strict collaboration with Federico Curtaz and Attilio Pagli), undoubtedly, is to make ‘artisan’ wine (at present, it is necessary to concentrate on only one wine, with a basis of Syrah, which will possibly be placed alongside a second), in the best and most noble meaning of the word, without renouncing to availing itself of the most modern technologies, but always working exclusively manually in every phase of production, in the vineyard as well as in the cellar.

On the firm belief that concentrating on small amounts and working with assiduous care and great rigour, both on the vineyard and in the cellar (and obviously using grapes solely of own production), it is possible to obtain extreme quality.

The Products

   - "Il Castagno" Cortona Syrah DOC
   - "Rosa del Castagno" IGT Toscana
   - "Castagnino" Cortona Syrah DOC
   - "Cuculaia" Cortona Syrah DOC

Direct Sales from the Company
On request.

Onsite visits
By appointment.

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Fabrizio, Isotta, Lavinia Dionisio