The Wines of Tenuta Torciano in the Chianti Region in Italy: Tasting at the American Wine Society (John Marshall Chapter, Chair: Douglas Beakes), led by Tommaso Saltarelli (March 2024)

Tenuta Torciani, a wine producer based in the Chianti region in Italy, presented its wines at the March 2024 meeting of the of the John Marshall Chapter of the American Wine Society. Tommaso Saltarelli led the tasting. 

The John Marshall Chapter meets at Pearmund Cellars in Virginia. Douglas Beakes is the Chapter Chair.

Tenuta Torciani uses an unusual sales concept to sell its wines by only selling directly to the consumer. Thus, you will not find Tenuta Torciani wines at retail stores nor at restaurants or wine bars. 

80% of the production goes to the US market.

Tenuta Torciani

It was founded in 1720 by Bartolomeo Giachi, who left Florence to move to San Gimignano in the locality of Ulignano, settling in a property which included land with a very high wine vocation. Including the strategic importance of the territory, he erected the first walls here close to the Via Francigena ; the place where to lay the first stone was baptized by him "Tenuta Torciano" since it is located on the lands bathed by the ancient torrent "Borro di Torciano" .

Tenuta Torciano develops also thanks to its proximity to the Magione di Torre, the La Scala hospital and the Cistercian monks' monastery. Its wines, chianti and vernaccia, together with the appreciated hospitality, made so that the company became known throughout the region for the production and sale of wine and oil.

The 13 Generations and the Company Today

The production is is handed down from father to son for 13 generations and, still today, is all made in Tuscany . The company counts more of 125 employees, working in wineries, wine bars, shops, hotels and warehouses with offices in America.

The development of the last few years has is concentrated on foreign markets: 80% of sales are recorded in the North America area, where is rented our company of Northbrook, owner of over 42 licenses for the distribution of wine to private consumers in the US.

Next, 5% of sales in Brazil, 2% in Asian countries - in particular South Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong - 2% in Europe and 1% in the Middle East .

In Tuscany our wines and oils of the highest quality are born and is here are the vineyards and olive groves of the Estate , which cover many hectares of land; Although still a small number compared to the cultivations of the great wine giants - such as Marchesi Antinori and Marchesi Frescobaldi - but which certainly distinguishes a production focused on the qualitative aspect of the product.

Wine searcher/ Tenuat Torciano

Tenuta Torciano Winery is located in Tuscany, close to the famous medieval village of San Gimignano. It produces a range of both red and white wines, covering many well-known Tuscan denominations.

The list includes a Vernaccia di San Gimignano white wine, as well as the classic red Chianti and Chianti Classico (normale and riserva) offerings. Other wines include a Rosso and Brunello di Montalcino; Rosso and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano; wines from Bolgheri; and several other Tuscan blends.

At the pinnacle is a collection of Super Tuscans: Bartolomeo, Cavaliere and Baldassarre; all three are Sangiovese-based. The luxury Gioiello collection, meanwhile, features very distinctive leather labels.

Owners the Giachi family have been involved in wine production since 1720, when Bartolomeo Giachi moved to the area from Florence. In 2020 Pierluigi Giachi and his family celebrated the 300th anniversary of the business.

Forbes (2017) Artisans Of Business: A Look At The Tuscan Way Of Winemaking

...To kick off the series, I had the pleasure of meeting Pierluigi Giachi, the owner of Tenuta Torciano Winery, at his home in San Gimignano, Italy. The winery was founded in 1720 and has been in the Giachi family for 15 generations. Since he took over the business, Giachi has taken the company from producing 5,000 bottles of wine per year with five employees to producing more than 700,000 bottles of wine per year with 50 employees. He grew the business by taking a leap into a direct-to-consumer business model. An American businessman encouraged him to cut out the middleman and ship his product to the consumer the fastest way possible. Thirty years ago, it was a quite a risk. This was before the Internet made such business models easier to navigate. But Giachi took the plunge and became the first winemaker in Italy to sell wine directly to the consumer. That decision helped him grow the business while still staying true to the traditions and quality of the past. Giachi shares his business philosophy, offers insight into how he balances tradition with new technology and explains how the Tuscan way of life is embedded into his business.

Family is at the heart of the Tenuta Torciano Winery and it’s one of the reasons that the business is so successful. There are approximately 25 immediate family members who are employed by the winery and Giachi works in tandem with his wife (Luciana) and son (Emanuele). “Were it not for my relatives 15 generations ago taking it upon themselves to create this legacy, we would not be where we are today,” says Giachi. “It’s the fact that this winery is engrained in my family’s blood that drives my passion and desire to share our magical property and products with the world.”

However, a lot has changed since the winery opened 300 years ago. Giachi now has access to machinery and supplies that aid in the production of winemaking like streamlining the fermentation process. But he has not lost sight of the value and quality of traditional winemaking. In fact, the overall methodology of the winery is still the same as it was when it first opened, notes Giachi. For instance, they still carefully pick each grape by hand and make sure the grapes have ample time to ferment in the cellar. “The ancient art is still deeply rooted in the same historic process,” he says.

Those traditions help the winery blend luxury with an artisanal product that you can only find in Tuscany. Its products embody exclusivity, originality and excellence. They can create handmade wine labels to suit any occasion and offer guests the opportunity to truly experience Tuscany through a variety of activities, such as a traditional truffle hunt, horseback riding through the countryside or a stroll through the vineyards. The idea is to help guests breathe in Tuscany and enjoy the views, tastes, sounds and smells. “Our love and passion for wine—truly experiencing wine and focusing on the moment in which it’s enjoyed—is what really sets us apart,” says Giachi.

Meeting at Pearmund Cellars in Virginia

Tasting with Tommaso Saltarelli

The Wines

Amerigo

We had a discussion about the Amerigo wine. I quote from the producer's web site: The Amerigo wine are transported from Italy in tanks, and bottled at the Bellavini winery in Ukiah, California. This is an effort to be more environmentally sustainable. By transporting the wine in bulk, and to not ship glass, boxes or corks, the carbon emission rate is much reduced. The larger volume in the tanks also means that the quality of the wine remains intact, and aromas and flavors are just as fresh as when the day it left Tuscany.