Nestled among silvery olive trees, woodland forests, and manicured vineyards, Podere Ciona is a boutique winery owned and operated by the Gatteschi family.

The estate offers world-class wine and accommodations in an 18th century Tuscan farmhouse and cottage. Located near the historic town of Gaiole, the vineyards and accommodations sit high on a hilltop, between 1,600 and 2,050 feet (490 and 625 meters) above sea level, and overlook the lush, rolling hills of the spectacular Chianti Classico, the original and oldest part of Tuscany’s Chianti wine-growing region. From the estate, you can easily reach the cultural jewel of Tuscany, Renaissance Florence, and the medieval town of Siena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

After several years of working abroad, Franca and Franco Gatteschi were looking for a place to retire in the countryside. They stumbled upon a small, beautiful, albeit run-down property: 100 acres of land, mostly wooded with 10 acres set aside for cultivation, of which 2.5 acres already had vineyards; an 18th-century farmhouse, abandoned for more than 40 years; and a view of the rolling Chianti hills, with the towers of Siena standing proudly in the distance. They purchased the estate at the beginning of 1990 and immediately began reconstruction work on the main house, which took about three years. They set up a small but well-equipped cellar for making wine.

In 1996, they permanently moved full-time to the estate and the following year, the great 1997 vintage, saw the birth of the first official wine of Podere Ciona: a Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva. Between 2000 and 2003, the Gatteschis decided to replant all the available land with vines, build a new wine cellar necessary for increased production, and purchase another small property not far from their residence at Podere Ciona, destined to become their agriturismo, now called Le Diacce. Today the estate is humming with activity, as the guests stay throughout the tourist season; and our wine production has grown throughout the years and has been awarded many times in the United States, Europe, and Italy.

The estate comprises 13 acres (5.4 hectares) of vineyards, 2 acres (0.5 hectares) of olive groves – about 120 trees – and 100 acres (40 hectares) of woodland, primarily oak and chestnut. The plantings extend over an area of about 13 acres (5.4 hectares), oriented to the south-southwest. The soils are a mixture of quartz arenite (sandstone), clay schist and marl and have excellent drainage – ideal for high-quality winemaking. The varietals planted are Sangiovese, Merlot, Alicante Bouschet, and a little Cabernet Franc. The lower vineyards, about 10 acres (4 hectares), were replanted between 1999 and 2003, the rest in the winter of 2011/2012; the lower Cabernet Franc vineyard was re-grafted in 2018.

Podere Ciona purposely keeps their yields very low – on average one bottle per vine – in order to produce superior wine. Harvesting is done exclusively by hand, grapes are processed within 30 minutes of picking and a berry-by-berry selection is carried out before the fermentation vats are filled. Alcoholic fermentation takes place both in stainless steel and French oak vats (according to the grape selection), while aging is done exclusively in French oak of different sizes: barriques & tonneaux (a mix of Allier, Nievre, Tronçais and Vosges oaks) and large 15 to 30 hL casks.