Colle Bereto literally means Bereto Hill, and sure enough, the vineyard stands on a hill! A small elevation where a farming factory rises. But it is such a sweet hill that it almost loses its geological definition, interposed between pleasant and quick growing vegetation. A run-up of paths, an unexpected cross of trees that enlivens the view, the eccentric rows of the vineyard, the sunnier olive grove behind the house, then the pointed outline of some cypress trees. A silent and hard-working Chianti. A paradigm of what it is and should be like. A house that is as beautiful as it is authentically restored. A house which in the eleventh century was donated by a land-owner of the Radda area to the Church of San Lorenzo a Coltibuono.
The caretaker of these remote stones is a young technician who takes care of the cellars and the vines, and here amongst the stone walls and scents of must and fresh grass, he has found the perfect place for his personal serenity.
Bernardo Bianchi talks to us about the choices made by this small and highly-regarded winery. Choices made by a great oenologist, supported by the passionate owners and followed daily by Bernardo’s diligence. But we will come back to that later. First there is a story that needs telling.
The story of two lovers that cycles from Florence into a Chianti which is very different from that of today. They were Lorenzo and Franca Pinzauti that were to grow up and go against all advice against mixing business and pleasure, and they joined together not only in matrimony but also in work.
They began a business in the fashion sector that over time has grown to such an extent to allow those two lovers that pedaled with their dreams, to return to the Chianti but this time with an eye to buy. And so in 1980 they found their niche in a vineyard, a farmhouse and a nice piece of land that today is Colle Bereto, with 50 hectares of land, on 10 of which there are vines that produce a wine of a medium-high quality.
Bernardo leads us through the vineyard and we taste the entire range of wines. The robust and intense Chianti Classico riserva, in which I seem to get a hint of fruits of the forest, especially blackberries. Immediately after opening, is it slightly held back, but a light and whirling turn around your glass is enough to bring it almost immediately to its best. A few seconds later, the fruity aroma is joined by a scent of toasted coffee which dries and exalts the palate and the taste buds. Completely different are their two IGT wines.
The choice was to use red berries that are not from the area. It was a decision that has paid off. The wines are registered under the following names: Tocco and Cenno di Colle Bereto.
These names instantly give an archaic air which reminds us of the fact that the Italian language was born here in Tuscany. I indulge on the Tocco (90% Merlot, 10% Sangiovese). On its first contact with the air, this red already has a complex aroma and important structure, and after a few minutes it exhibits a personality that is harmonic and sound, soft and slightly winy, typical of the majority of Merlot wines. What’s more difficult, perhaps more risky, is the experiment with Cenno, especially for its possibilities of growth. It is a full-bodied red made with the heretical Pinot Nero; that is, the main grape of the great wines from the Piedmont region of Italy. We have already said that the owners launched an entrepreneurial business in the world of fashion, more specifically in accessories. Their natural flair for design and the importance of image can be seen on the bottles of these two Bordeaux wines.
The labels that are set into the glass, have two beautify metal seals that show the wine’s vintage. It seems to be a completely original idea that aesthetically speaking, is very relevant.

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See also:

The Castle Of Gabbiano in Chianti, Antinori: Wine Makers for 800 Years, The Antinori Family Wine Producers, Mazzei of Fonterutoli Chianti Makers, Volpaia: a Wine, a Hamlet, Colle Bereto in Florence, The Great Montevertine: a Small Winegrower, Albola by Zonin, Castello Brolio of Ricasoli Firidolfi, Colombaio di Cencio Tech Wine, Ricasoli of Cacchiano, San Felice Chianti Hamlet

or go back to Chianti Wine Producing Estates