Tuscan soul
In the heart of Chianti Classico, at the dawn of the 1960s, seventeen growers came together, determined to give voice to the Tuscan countryside and breathe new life into the local economy. Under the shadow of a farmhouse, they launched an adventure that will write a chapter in the history of Tuscan wine: the Chianti Geografico.
Since its founding, the cooperative has been committed to preserving the ancient art of winemaking and celebrating the excellence of its land — a mission proudly reflected in the name “Geografico,” chosen to honor their deep-rooted connection to the hills of Gaiole, Radda, and Castellina, the historic cradle of Chianti Classico.
Today, the vinegrowers remain the beating heart of Geografico, infusing this storied Tuscan institution with their unwavering passion.
The taste of tradition
In 2018, the Piccini family acquired the historic Geografico brand. The new course, charted under their guidance, weaves through Tuscany’s most storied appellations, now also embracing the energy of the Super Tuscans, thanks to the passion of young technical director Alessandro Barabesi.
“Geografico is a brand rich in history,” Barabesi highlights. “It has long been a point of reference and a meeting ground for generations of winemakers — not only from Chianti Classico but from across all of Tuscany. My approach focuses on rediscovering ancient traditions and flavors, while applying modern techniques that meet the standards of today’s winemaking world. Our ambition is to honor the immense legacy of Geografico and carry it proudly into the third millennium.”
Through a careful process of renewal and enhancement, this historic Tuscan brand is now experiencing a vibrant renaissance, strengthened by innovation, yet firmly rooted in the authentic taste of its tradition.
A thousand-year history
Its name celebrates the thousand-year-old history of Chianti Classico, paying tribute to the illustrious Willa of Tuscany – a strong, courageous woman who held the destiny of the region through the turbulent 10th century, alongside her son Hugh, remembered by Dante in the Divine Comedy as the “Great Baron.”
In 968, Hugh wrote a decisive chapter in Tuscan history by moving the political capital from Lucca to Florence, setting the stage for the city’s rise. To seal and honor this pivotal move, Willa founded the Badia Fiorentina, the oldest Benedictine monastery in Florence, in 978, establishing a vital religious and cultural center for the new capital.
As a mark of her generosity, the noble countess gifted the monastery several lands in Chianti, including Radda, thus giving birth to the enduring legend of the “Countess of Radda.”
The Legacy of the Black Rooster
Tuscany, 12th century. At the time, Siena and Florence were battling for possession of Chianti.
What today is a fairytale landscape dotted with villages and hills was, for centuries, the bloody backdrop for disputes and border wars. It was not until the early 13th century that Florence seized a substantial area of Chianti, which was pacified and reorganized through the creation of a special institution: the Chianti League (Lega del Chianti, in Italian). Divided into the three Terzieri of Radda, Castellina and Gaiole, the League in 1383 endowed itself with a statute and a symbol destined to ride the centuries: the Black Rooster. Even today, the ancient perimeter of the League, bounded by the three communes, traces the boundaries of the cradle of Chianti Classico.
In memory of the ancient history of these lands, Chianti Geografico presents the new “I Terzieri” line-three wines that tell the story of the immense wine heritage of the three historic communes of the Chianti League, enhancing the nuances of Sangiovese from the three areas of origin.
The treasures of San Gimignano
Opened in the 1980s, the San Gimignano winery embodies the other soul of Geografico.
Nestled in lands renowned for producing Vernaccia di San Gimignano and Chianti Colli Senesi, it is here that the “Borgo alla Terra” line was born — with the goal of celebrating and sharing one of Tuscany’s most vocated, yet still largely undiscovered, wine territories.
In the shadow of San Gimignano’s medieval towers, a sea of rolling hills hides authentic treasures, waiting to be revealed to a wider audience.
“Borgo alla Terra” wines embrace immediacy and drinkability, offering a vibrant and approachable style that draws more and more wine lovers to this enchanting corner of Tuscany.
