Fattoria Pietrafitta

The Rich History of the Fattoria Pietrafitta Estate

In the area that is now ​​the Pietrafitta estate, historical evidence indicates the presence of an agricultural community as early as 961 A.D. These were groups of fortified farmhouses belonging to the Castello dei Fosci, feudal property of the Marquis Ugo Salico of Tuscany.

Ever since those times, among alternating vicissitudes, noble families have dwelled in this enchanting estate.  Over the centuries these families have accompanied the estate towards its acquisition, at the end of the nineteenth century, by the Italian royal household of the SAVOIA-AOSTA. Following World War II, and the flight of the monarchs, the royal estate became the property of Countess Alba Balbi Valier.

In 1966, the work of this strong-willed noblewoman, guided by a deep passion for the wine world, enabled Pietrafitta to produce the very first Italian D.O.C. wines, i.e. wines with a designated controlled origin, with a white D.O.C. wine, the Vernaccia, as well as a red D.O.C. wine, the Chianti. The original  D.O.C. plants are still alive today, and they continue to adorn the farmhouses of this great estate with their precious genetic heritage.

Where Italian Wines Began

To date, the estate continues to carry on the historical winemaking tradition, and it is extensively cultivated in full respect of the territory, which it has been part of for centuries, and of all its natural resources.

The picking of the grapes, at the time of harvest, continues to be done manually: this allows for the product to be carefully selected and for the quality to be maximized. The sixteenth-century processing cellar carved into the side of the tuff hill is where the winemaking process is still carried out in its entirety, the same tuff hill where the imposing villa, that was once a royal residence, is situated.

The diversity of Pietrafitta’s vineyards also allows for the production of excellent quality red wines, which proudly complement the range of white wines. These are red wines that are balanced and decisive to the palate and possess aromatic notes of great depth. Drinking these wines slowly allows one to fully savor their structure.