San Felice: Celebrating and preserving a unique heritage

Between Florence and Siena, the Chianti Classico vineyard area’s idyllic landscape of cypresses and olive trees, historic villages and hillside vineyards never fails to take visitors’ breath away. But though this may look like a timeless, unchanging scene, at its heart lies one of Italian wine’s greatest innovators.

The name of San Felice has been synonymous with a pioneering spirit – and a desire to push boundaries – since the mid-20th century. While its neighbours were producing Chianti Classico wines containing at least 10% white grapes – as required by the DOC regulations at the time – San Felice decided to pursue a different path. Recognising the quality and potential of the variety, San Felice chose to produce a varietal Sangiovese in 1968, unhindered by the DOC rules.

This game-changing wine was called Vigorello: a new, premium-quality Vino da Tavola that would celebrate the unique synergy between grape, soil and climate. Its release represented a change in attitude – and in philosophy – that would alter the face of Tuscan wine forever.

Rediscovering lost treasures

The success of Vigorello underlined the importance of protecting Tuscany’s viticultural heritage and forgotten indigenous varieties – Abrusco, Ciliegiolo, Mazzese and, above all, Pugnitello – before it was too late. In collaboration with the University of Florence, in 1987 San Felice created a 2.5ha experimental vineyard called the Vitiarium, dedicated entirely to traditional local varieties at risk of extinction: a place of experimentation, research and viticultural renewal.

Ancient varieties that might otherwise have been lost have been preserved in the Vitarium.

In the Vitiarium, analysis of more than 250 different grapes immediately revealed one with exceptional potential: Pugnitello, so called because of its fist-shaped bunches. Produced from vines planted in 1992, the Pugnitello Toscano IGT was restyled as the first wine in San Felice’s new Vitiarium line, and has since become one of the estate’s iconic labels. A velvety, rich red wine with blackcurrant and mulberry character and well-structured tannins, the Pugnitello Toscano IGT serves as a reminder of the foresight that rescued this ancient variety from extinction, and is a testament to the depth of San Felice’s research.

This has now been joined in the Vitiarium line by a second flagship wine, which honours the estate’s viticultural heritage by returning the rediscovered Pugnitello to arguably its rightful place: alongside Sangiovese in San Felice’s unique Chianti Classico DOCG Borgo. A fragrant, well balanced red, structured by elegant tannins and beautiful fresh acidity – an authentic expression of the high-density vineyards from which it is made.

In addition to Pugnitello and Borgo, the Vitiarium line boasts two further wines: Gran Selezione Chianti Classico La Pieve DOCG and In Avane. La Pieve showcases the aromatic complexity of Sangiovese (blended with a selection of native grape varieties) from the best soils of the San Felice Estate. In Avane, meanwhile, is San Felice’s best expression of Chardonnay, offering up a bouquet of citrus and white floral notes.

San Felice’s Vitiarium line of wines, including the flagship Chianti Classico DOCG Borgo and Pugnitello Toscano IGT.

Together, these four wines represent the beating heart of the San Felice portfolio. Authentic expressions of their terroir, the Vitiarium wines also showcase the estate’s commitment to sustainability and biodiversity.

The Modello San Felice

But as important as the wines themselves are the principles behind them. Ever since the 1960s, the estate has been guided by an approach it calls the ‘Modello San Felice.’ This philosophy values above all the synergy between rigorous scientific research, intimate knowledge of the land and understanding the wines’ final consumers. Even today, the Modello San Felice drives the estate to continue its work toward an ever deeper understanding of its ancient grape varieties and unique terroir.

An all-embracing understanding of sustainability

With this restless drive to improve guiding everything the estate does, it’s no surprise that San Felice is also leading the way in its focus on sustainability – in all senses of the word. For the last 15 years, San Felice has been self-sufficient in energy, using solar panels on its estate, and has reduced the weight of its bottles to minimise the carbon emissions generated from transportation. As well as implementing regenerative viticulture practices, it is currently in the second year of conversion to organic viticulture, and is already certified by Equalitas – the estate feels that adhering to both ensures a more well-rounded sustainable approach.

Already certified by Equalitas, San Felice is currently in the process of converting its vineyards to organic viticulture.

But San Felice sees sustainability in far broader terms, and stresses the importance of its social aspects. Through its L’Orto Felice and L’Aia Felice social inclusion projects, in collaboration with social responsibility initiative Fondazione Allianz Umana Mente, it works with people with disabilities and special needs as part of a cooperative, and retired employees return to the estate to pass on their skills to the next generation.

The estate shares its knowledge widely, admitting 25 students at a time to the San Felice ‘school’ in partnership with viticultural training company Simonit&Sirch. The school teaches key vineyard skills to all kinds of growers, from the local pharmacist with half a hectare to larger operations. In this way San Felice continues to strengthen its ties with its local community and preserve the knowledge and traditions of the profession.