Italy: Fèlsina

In 1966, Domenico Poggiali Fèlsina took a leap of faith, and bought the estate now known as Fèlsina at a time when Italian wine-making was struggling. In the late 1970s, Giuseppe Mazzocolin joined the winery, and is credited with Fèlsina‘s rising international recognition. What makes Fèlsina stand out is its ability to deliver wines at very competitive prices, offering tremendous value for money, and an opportunity for all wine enthusiasts to sample some of the finest wines in the Chianti region.

Tall trees line the driveway leading to the beautiful Fèlsina estate.

Olive groves are one of several different forms of agriculture at the estate, which is committed to biodiversity.

The architecture at the estate is evidence of its long history, extending over a thousand years.

When the estate was purchased in 1966, the cellar was used as a warehouse.

Chiara Leonini leads the way to the wine cellars.

We were fortunate to meet winemaker Giuseppe Mazzocolin during our visit, who is credited with Fèlsina's great success.

Jeremy and Giuseppe Mazzocolin.

Fèlsina's traditional dessert wine, Vin Santo, ages in small barrels for 7 years.

When the traps on the tops of the fermentation barrels are empty, it's time to top up.

A tractor brings in freshly harvested grapes.

There is 1 tonne of grapes in the tray of the tractor, ready to be sorted and de-stemmed.

The name "Fèlsina" has Tuscan origins, and can be loosely translated to "place of assistance" or "meeting point".

Fèlsina wines being bottled and labeled.

Before our wine tasting, we enjoyed 3 different olive oils produced by Giuseppe Mazzocolin at the winery.

Giuseppe Mazzocolin and Jeremy preparing for the tasting.

Giuseppe Mazzocolin has applied his winemaking expertise to olive oil, producing oils that reflect the complex terroir of the region.

Fèlsina has earned international recognition by revealing the true essence of the Sangiovese grape and the Chianti terroir.

The remains of a memorable Tuscan lunch and wine tasting.

Fèlsina takes great care to preserve the delicate balance of their soils.