Half an hour away from Montalcino, known for its characteristic Brunello di Montalcio wines, we find poderi Bakkanali. Not just your average Tuscan winery but located on the Monte Amiata, an old volcano that has been inactive for at least 180,000 years. Previously, the mountain only functioned as a certain wall of protection against bad weather conditions, to which the hills of Montalcino owe their microclimate. Nowadays, the mountain is finally getting the attention and appreciation it deserves. Thanks to the high altitude (600-850 meters), the cooler climate and the special geological properties, Sebastian Nasello and Ugo Fabbri know how to create beautiful wines here with great respect for nature and the environment.
The two are still young but already have a wealth of experience and are therefore thoroughly motivated. Their love for wines from cold climates is almost tangible in the Sangiovese and not so long ago even Savagnin vines were planted. Savoie meets Tosacana, we are curious. For now we will stay on the red.
Tuscan wines are known to be very robust, high in alcohol and always matured in oak. Sebastian and Ugo, however, mature all their wines in stainless steel or concrete, with a relatively short maceration time and partly whole-cluster fermentation. Together with a soil consisting of limestone, marl, schist, volcanic silicates and quartz, the area is not only a wet dream for many a geologist, but certainly also for many wine lovers.
Striking point, the beautiful labels. Chosen from exorbitant famous Baroque paintings, from Titian to Rubens, all in the sign of Bacchus, the bachanaal, Bakkanali reaches out.