Vineyards Magazine

An icon does not emerge out of the blue. Rather, it is the fruit of a unique hic et nunc: an extraordinary vineyard, a one-of-a-kind wine, and the spark of an intuition that unexpectedly takes flight. All of this is Siepi.

“Siepi is the quintessential union between our family’s winemaking traditions and the revolution unleashed by our father’s vision”, explained Filippo and Francesco Mazzei. “We have proudly made his far-seeing gift our own, and today we are delighted to celebrate the 30 vintages of a wine that is like our own brother: we have watched it grow and evolve, and we have had the honour of being at its side on the path that has led to its becoming the ambassador to the world of Tuscan winemaking”.

1992 saw the selection of Sangiovese and Merlot as the protagonists of the Siepi cuvée. The marriage of these two varieties achieves a perfect equilibrium between firm structure and stylish elegance, while ensuring that the blend speaks with an authentic Chianti voice.

“The vineyard has been in the family’s hands since 1435 and was mentioned by name in Madonna Esmeralda’s dowry. And yet it has always enjoyed independent status, like some precious jewel”, commented Filippo and Francesco. “There had to be a reason for its standing out so clearly. There was, and still is”.

Siepi is above all the concentrated expression in a bottle of a breathtakingly beautiful corner of earth. This vineyard-island, lying at elevations ranging between 220-310 metres in Castellina in Chianti, is surrounded by protecting woodlands. Its complex soils, a combination of limestone, local Alberese marl, and Pliocene clays, all lying on a thick bed of rock, make possible a capillary drainage providing the vines with a perfectly-balanced water supply. The Galestro allows the grapes to achieve incredibly nuanced aromatics and an impressive, firm structure, delivering a blend of unexpected delicacy and surprising longevity.   

“The 2022 growing season, Siepi’s 30th, started off with a mild winter and little rainfall”, explained Gionata Pulignani, Castello di Fonterutoli agronomist and winemaker. “Temperatures in the spring rose gradually, encouraging consistent canopy growth, while the hot conditions in the summer caused the skins to thicken considerably, which in turn provided what the grapes required to complete the ripening process”.  

“Siepi has taught us to look beyond the obvious, to dare, to experiment, and to launch ourselves confidently into the future”, concluded Filippo and Francesco.

Adorned with a label that commemorates its 30^th anniversary, Siepi 2022 will be available in the finest wine shops and on the wine lists of top international restaurants starting from September.