The inimitable terroirs of Chianti Classico, multifaceted and complex, have been the driving force behind Tenuta di Arceno's winemaking for over five hundred years. Armed with a detailed understanding of the area's soils and a passion for ‘micro-cru vinification’, this dynamic producer has won the hearts of connoisseurs and collectors worldwide.
Key to understanding this historic estate is diversity. Situated between Florence and Siena, Chianti Classico remains one of the most iconic destinations in Europe today; every Instagram feed worth its salt has at least one image of the Chianti region's rolling hills interspersed with vines and olive groves. Does that sound predictable? It is anything but.
In Tuscany, altitude, terrain and climate vary enormously: Tenuta di Arceno's vineyards encompass ten distinct mesoclimates that reveal clay, galestro, sandstone, calcareous and basalt-based soils. Higher elevation (350-600 metres above sea level), meanwhile, helps to maintain essential freshness in the wines; an important consequence of diurnal temperature variation.
Moreover, founding winemaker Pierre Seillan further subdivides each parcel into a network of 63 individual climats, forging a union between terroir and grape variety.
Managing 220 hectares of vines in the commune of Castelnuovo Berardenga, resident winemaker Lawrence Cronin and vineyard manager Michele Pezzicoli harness the unique qualities of each site to produce bottled magic.
Tenuta di Arceno
Unique expressions of
Chianti’s Classico’s terroir
A diverse landscape
Chianti Classico's most important red grape has long been Sangiovese; however, Tenuta di Arceno is equally dedicated to the cultivation of international varieties – Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon, as well as Merlot and Petit Verdot thrive here. With nuance and determination, Pierre Seillan works alongside Lawrence Cronin to fashion wines that are complex, structured, and terroir-driven. The Chianti Classico Annata (vintage) and Riserva labels already have many admirers, and the estate has also introduced a new Gran Selezione wine named Campolupi or ‘field of wolves’, in deference to the beautiful creatures which occasionally meander through the vines.
‘Our limited-production Gran Selezione wines, Strada Al Sasso and Campolupi, express the unique spirit and energy of our signature crus (vineyard sites) planted on the estates,’ says Lawrence Cronin. ‘Strada Al Sasso shows a distinct elegant character with unparalleled brightness, while Campolupi, our newest release, further showcases Sangiovese’s grandeur and power with depth and balance. Both expressions offer wine enthusiasts distinct characteristics to explore.’
Precision winemaking
Another major story currently unfolding is the promotion of biodiversity on the estate, coupled with viticultural innovations: up-and-coming grape varieties are being tested and new sites are being explored. At Tenuta di Arceno, venerable traditions are overlaid with unrestrained creativity.
Biodiversity and innovation
In partnership with TENUTA DI ARCENO
Gran Selezione Campolupi
95% Sangiovese, 5% Colorino
A majestic and elegant expression of Sangiovese that owes much to the calcareous soils and high elevation (550m) of the Campolupi vineyard blocks. With just a dash of the native Colorino, this top-tier wine showcases beautiful freshness allied to notes of black cherry, plum, and garrigue.
The wines
Discover more: www.tenutadiarceno.com
The historic Tuscan winery that’s harnessing the diversity of its vineyards to create distinctive, expressive wines.
Tenuta di Arceno's resident winemaker Lawrence Cronin
Chianti Classico Riserva
90% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
According to Lawrence Cronin, ‘The Chianti Classico Riserva is a blend of several blocks in our estate – an attempt to showcase the incredible versatility of Sangiovese grown in different elevations and soil profiles, adding multiple layers of complexity and flavours.’ Maturation in French barrique adds nuance and depth to this exceptional blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Gran Selezione Strada al Sasso
100% Sangiovese
This flagship red harnesses fruit exclusively grown in the Strada al Sasso vineyard, with commanding views of the walled town of San Gusmè. A powerful and concentrated wine – Sangiovese at its most profound and exotic.