Lilliano

With its origins dating back to at least the 13th century, the magnificent 461 ha/ 1,140 acre Lilliano Estate sits in the commune of Castellina, north of Siena in the Chianti Classico zone of Tuscany. It is not only a source of several excellent Chianti Classico wines, but also of some sensational olive oils and other agricultural products. In 1920, the wealthy and aristocratic Berlingieri family bought this property, which included a villa, farm, underground wine cellars, and the church of Santa Cristina. The legacy begins in medieval times when the Lilliano estate formed part of the holdings of an ecclesiastical order.

The first to recognize the estate’s excellent winemaking potential was Princess Eleonora Ruspoli Berlingieri, who set about selling Lilliano wines in 1958. Her son Prince Giulio Ruspoli, who shares ownership of the property with his brother, Pietro, continues her work today. Reflecting this partnership, Lilliano bottle labels feature the combined coats of arms of both the Ruspoli and Berlingieri families. At Lilliano, 49 ha/ 121 acres are planted with vines and a further 1.6 ha/ 4 acres are planted with vines interspersed with olive trees. There are more than 9,000 olive trees that flourish on the estate.

Giulio Ruspoli, an architect with wide-ranging agrarian expertise (including overseeing irrigation projects in Africa), takes a hands-on approach at Lilliano. Working closely with the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Ruspoli is also deeply involved in the research and development of experimental viticultural techniques covering fourteen different estates throughout the Chianti region. He was also assisted by consulting winemaker Giulio Gambelli. Giulio was a legend in the Tuscan Confederation of Farmers and a board member of the Consortium of Chianti Classico estates. Guilio Gambelli was a famous Master Taster. He was the master of many young Tuscan enologists as well as serving as the consulting enologist to such famous wineries as Montevertine, Cacchiano, Rodano, and Case Basse. Moreover, Stefano Porcinai oversaw the Chianti Classico Project 2000, a ten-year study of the Sangiovese grape to determine the best clones for the Chianti Classico region.

Lilliano includes the Le Piagge vineyard which, with its southern exposure and elevation of 330 mt/ 1082 ft, grows Sangiovese grapes. A Ripa produces Colorino grapes at an elevation of 290 mt/ 951 ft and with a south-eastern exposure. Vignacatena which faces to the South-West, produces Merlot grapes. The estate’s Alberese soils consist of compacted calcareous rock. The Galestro soils are made up of stratified limestone and compacted sand.