Harvest and Transformation into Olive Oil
Laudemio Oil
In Medieval Europe, “Laudemio” was the best part of the harvest set aside for the feudal lord. Marchesi Antinori’s “Laudemio” is true to what its name implies: the finest part of the harvest from the olive groves on the Chianti estates, grown and produced exclusively to achieve high quality without making any compromises. Laudemio is a traditional extra virgin olive oil that possesses unique organoleptic qualities and an unmistakable character.
Climate
A winter, with below average temperatures and rains preceded a cool springtime characterized by frequent precipitation. The summer season was marked by reasonably warm and dry weather and the rains of September, along with the positive climate of October, assisted in the growth and expansion of the olives and a fine ripening. The picking of the olives began during the month of October, ahead of the normal schedule, and terminated during the first ten days of the month of November.
Olive Sources
The production zone of Laudemio olive oil is particularly noted for the realization of high-quality oil thanks to the nature of the soil, the exposure of the groves, and the climate, one characterized by an important temperature swing from daytime warmth to evening and nighttime coolness. The average altitude of the olive plants is situated between 930 and 1085 feet (300-350 meters) above sea level.
Historical Data
The Consortium for the control and promotion of central Tuscan olive oil was founded in 1990 to regulate, through severe rules, the production of Laudemio oil and differs in its work in the sector of olive oil production in the following fundamental rules: olives sourced entirely from the zone of the hills of central Tuscany as defined by a ministerial decree of the Tuscan regional government; the classification of the olive groves on the basis of the soil, the olive variety, the period and criteria of the planting of the groves and their cultivation and their inscription to a precise, official register; a control of the production cycle and the methods of the working of the groves, from the cultivation practices all the way up to the bottling of the “Laudemio” oil.
Harvest and Transformation into Olive Oil
The olives, grown in carefully selected groves, were harvested exclusively by hand just before reaching peak ripeness and milled, without exception, within twelve hours from picking at the estate’s olive mill. The production cycle began with a vacuum-suction leaf removal and with milling by hammers; the olive paste was then broken up and worked for a period of ten to fifteen minutes at temperatures between 68-72 °Fahrenheit (20 and 22 °Centigrade), a phase in which the particles of oil began to coagulate and separate from the olive paste. The extraction phase, which operates with a decanter, then followed: the process was carried out at low temperatures and without the use of water in order to bring out all of the aromas and flavors of the “Laudemio” oil. The conservation and storage before bottling of the Laudemio olive oil took place in small stainless-steel containers under the protection of an inert gas and only after the approval of an expert commission selected just for this purpose. Finally, the “Laudemio” olive oil produced with this method went through a rigorous in-house selection aimed at guaranteeing the highest possible quality standards before being bottled at the firm’s olive mill in special and typical 500-millimeter bottles.
Tasting Characteristics of the Olive Oil
The 2019 Laudemio offers a brilliant and intense green color to the eye. The deep and persistent nose recalls olive which have just been crushed. The palate is elegant and fruity with a notable piquant note which tends to diminish over time.
Laudemio Oil
In Medieval Europe, “Laudemio” was the best part of the harvest set aside for the feudal lord. Marchesi Antinori’s “Laudemio” is true to what its name implies: the finest part of the harvest from the olive groves on the Chianti estates, grown and produced exclusively to achieve high quality without making any compromises. Laudemio is a traditional extra virgin olive oil that possesses unique organoleptic qualities and an unmistakable character.
The History
Back in 1928, Niccolò Antinori decided to christen this wine Villa Antinori, in honor of the family’s eponymous villa; it was a reflection of his own personal interpretation of Chianti Classico’s and Tuscany’s unique identity.
The Style
Villa Antinori was first crafted in 1928 by Marchese Niccolò Antinori, Piero Antinori’s father, as the Antinori family’s signature wine; an exceptional wine that can represent the family’s history, identity and continuity like no other. “Villa Antinori is a full-blooded Tuscan red […] which grapes are grown, mature and are harvested from our Tuscan estates and then fermented and aged in the Antinori family estates.” Piero Antinori.
The design
The label’s design represents our concept of home, our territory and Tuscany. “The French have châteaux, but we have Villas!” Niccolò Antinori cheerfully explained his choice for the illustration on the front label, an innovative design that broke with more traditional packaging conventions of that time.
In Honor of the Monaldeschi della Cervara Family
The wine’s name honors the Monaldeschi della Cervara family who was the historic owner of Castello della Sala in the XVI century.
An old railway station
The Vignaferrovia vineyard takes its name from a characteristic old nineteenth century railway station still located a short distance from the vines.
Grown in an area with Great Potential
Poggio alle Nane comes from a winegrowing area well known for its production of high quality wines, an area in which both Cabernet and Carménère best express their characteristics.
A red amidst whites
At Castello della Sala, an area historically important for white wines, Pinot Nero offers an authentic and typical expression of its variety with a strong territorial character.
An ancient grape variety
Aleatico, an old and traditional Tuscan grape variety grown since Etruscan times, is able to give a modern expression of itself in this unique territory.
Villa del Cigliano
Villa del Cigliano, located in the gently rolling hillsides of San Casciano Val di Pesa, in the province of Florence, has always been a symbol of strong family relationships; the villa has watched over the lives of generations of Antinori family members since 1546, the year Alessandro di Niccolò Antinori became the owner of the property.
The Design
The label was designed by Silvio Coppola in 1974 for the release of Tignanello 1971. The idea to commission this artist was discussed at an event at Castello della Sala in 1973. Silvio Coppola was an important Italian graphic and interior designer who was famous for his minimalist lighting fixtures and austere furniture but also for book cover designs for Italian publishing company Feltrinelli. Silvio Coppola was the perfect match for the job.
The Bolgheri Amphitheater
The Guado al Tasso estate’s most characteristic geographic feature is the Bolgheri Amphitheater, a beautiful plain encircled by rolling hillsides that faces the Tyrrhenian Sea. The shape of the territory creates a unique microclimate with beneficial temperature fluctuations. The estate’s vineyards are located at the foot of the amphitheater, an optimal position as cold nocturnal breezes cool down the vines. These particular climatic conditions give the grapes pronounced aromas and guarantee a perfect ripening of the berries.
The Barrique
Cervaro della Sala was one of the first Italian white wines to have malolactic fermentation and aging take place in barriques.
The Name
Poggio alle Nane’s name comes from the area where its vines grow. Duck breeding farms once existed and the name “Nane” is local dialect for duck. The vineyards extend from the hillside to the lake that are still part of the property.
Rocky soils
The Vignaferrovia vineyard grows on rocky, gravelly soils, a condition that naturally limits the grapevine’s growth rate and enhances the quality of the berries.
Winding vineyards
The 4 hectares (10 acres) of Pinot Nero grow along the hillsides shaping the landscape into a series of sinuous terraced vineyards.
A single letter symbol
“A” represents in one single letter the combination of the estate’s initials, Fattoria Aldobrandesca, and the grape’s variety, Aleatico.
The Signature
Marchese Piero Antinori, the current Honorary President, decided to have his father, Niccolò Antinori, sign the label as a sign of recognition for his father’s confidence in him.
Te Duce Proficio
Guado al Tasso added the Antinori family’s historic family crest on the capsules.
The Concept
The idea behind Cervaro della Sala was to craft a white wine able to age over time.
Sea breezes
Southwestern vineyard exposure allows sea breezes to mitigate hot summer temperatures and limit heat spikes.
Understanding nature
The particularly hot climate of Castello della Sala has forced agronomists to invent new ways to protect the grapes from the hot summer sun. The vines’ shoots are allowed to grow in length and are then folded over the plant so its leaves can shade the Pinot Nero grape clusters.
A Pursuit for Balance
“A” was crafted following the family’s pursuit for exceptional balance between Aleatico’s pronounced character and the unique qualities of the estate’s volcanic soils.
Te Duce Proficio
The historic family crest of the Antinori family
A Tribute to the Della Gherardesca Family
Guado al Tasso designed a label with the Della Gherardesca family crest and the initials DG as a tribute to the former estate owners.
The Enologist
In 1985, Renzo Cotarella, who was chief enologist at Castello della Sala at that time, made the first vintage of Cervaro della Sala.
A personal interpretation
The Antinori family wanted to give their own deeply personal interpretation of the historic wine, Brunello di Montalcino.
The Sun
Tignanello’s stylized “Sun” by Silvio Coppola
The Specialties Of The Chianti Region
Chianti Classico is the heart of Tuscany not only from a geographical perspective but also due to its historical and cultural importance, its traditions and for its strikingly beautiful territory. Chianti Classico is home to Marchesi Antinori’s historic estates, a family of winemakers since 1385 who have always been passionate about their ancestral territory. The specialty products produced by Antinori, brandy, grappa, Vinsanto, extra virgin olive oil and vinegar, are all remarkable tributes to Chianti Classico’s rich, generous countryside and its authentic production perfected through centuries of agricultural and viticultural traditions.
Antinori Estates
Estates in Italy
