Vallepicciola: Tourism and winemaking in the Chianti hills

Hospitality and winemaking have gone hand-in-hand since the 1990s, when the Bolfo family breathed fresh life into the ruins of an ancient homestead dating back to the 13th century, in the picturesque hills of Castelnuovo Berardenga, north-east of Siena.

After moving to the Chianti region in the 1970s, the family went on to open Hotel Le Fontanelle in 2006, the Vallepicciola winery in 2016, and added a second hotel – The Club House, with its Michelin-star Visibilio restaurant – in 2022.

At each step on the journey, the family has worked with architect Margherita Gozzi to weave Tuscan heritage with modern luxury, bringing old buildings back into use, while caring for the 256ha that make up the Fontanelle Estate, and which include centuries-old woods, over 4,000 olive trees and 109ha of vineyards.

What’s next for Vallepicciola and the Fontanelle Estate?

The Bolfo family is expanding: Nicola Vercellotti is following in the footsteps of his great-aunt and the estate’s founder, Giuseppina Bolfo, by leading the family business.

He’s been joined by two talented general managers – Phoebe Farolfi, who has overseen operations at Hotel Le Fontanelle and The Club House since 2017, and Gaia Cinnirella, who took the reins of the Vallepicciola winery in June 2026.

A taste for excellence

Cinnirella brings a wealth of experience gained as cellar master and winemaker at world-renowned Italian wineries, including Ornellaia and Masseto, to the wines of Vallepicciola.

As she further forges Vallepicciola’s international reputation, her mission as winemaker is to capture the unique characteristics of the grapes grown across Vallepicciola’s nine vineyards, highlighting the contribution made by each specific site.

Sangiovese forms the backbone of the winery’s Chianti range, with Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and even Chardonnay also finding fruitful homes on the estate.

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Discover the Fontanelle Estate

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