Wines
Summary
The Corzano e Paterno estate is incredibly beautiful with an amazing history. After falling in love with the area, Wendel Gelpke, a reputable Swiss architect, purchased the Corzano property back in 1969. He then purchased the neighboring property of Paterno in 1974.
The estate is located in the Colli Fiorentini, just 14 km south of Florence in the village of San Casciano, in the Val di Pesa. It covers 140 hectares and extends over two slopes with a narrow valley running in between these slopes. Eighteen hectares are planted to vines in clay and limestone soils, and these vineyards lie 300 meters above sea level on steep, stony slopes. The vineyards face south-southwest to form a natural amphitheater, at the foot of which is the Via Cassia (the road parallel to the river Pesa), which separates the Corzano e Paterno estate from the Chianti Classico sub-zone.
Farming on the estate has always been organic, and their Sardinian sheep herd roams the rows to naturally fertilize the vines. The winemaker is Arianna Gelpke (Wendel's daughter) and the vineyards are managed by Aljoscha Goldschmidt (Wendel's nephew). Both Arianna and Aljoscha grew up at Corzano e Paterno and worked the harvests since they can remember. The estate produces mainly red wines from Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot; and two white wines (one dry and one sweet) made from Malvasia, Trebbiano, and Chardonnay. The wines are terroir-driven and made very naturally with minimal amounts of sulphur; using only indigenous yeasts, and are unfiltered.
