Tenuta di Capezzana - Toscana

Toscana

Tenuta di Capezzana

Wine has been made on this beautiful Tuscan estate for more than 1200 years. The estate is now owned by the Conti Contini Bonacossi family and all seven children work in the business. The younger generation of the family is now firmly in charge with daughter Benedetta Contini Bonacossi installed as winemaker. She is advised by the highly talented wine consultant, Stefano Chioccioli. Capezzana is situated in northern Tuscany, in the commune of Carmignano in the province of Prato, 20 km from Florence, on the slopes of Monte Albano and close to the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines.

History
Wine jars and tasting cups found in Etruscan tombs dating to approximately 1000 BC show that vines have been cultivated in Carmignano since pre-Roman times. More specifically, a parchment rent contract conserved in the Florence State Archives, dated 804 AD, reveals that vines and olives were already being cultivated at Capezzana for the production of oil and wine 1200 years ago.

Carmignano was designated by Grand Duke Cosimo III de' Medici (in 1716) as one of the four best areas for wine growing in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. The 'Motu proprio' Decree and 'Bando' laid down precise rules for production, set out geographical boundaries and regulated trade in the wines from these areas, thereby making up the first 'D.O.C.' (denomination of controlled origin) in the world.

In the 1920s Count Alessandro Contini Bonacossi bought Capezzana, enlarging it by acquiring two neighbouring estates. After the war and with a University degree in farm management, son Ugo joined his father in reconstructing the winemaking business at Capezzana and gradually took over.

Today
From the very start, Ugo Contini Bonacossi (top right, with his wife) was a firm believer in the quality of the wines produced in this region and set out to improve his wines at a time when the majority of producers still sold their wines by weight. Today Ugo’s children run Capezzana: Filippo (2nd right) deals with agricultural issues, Benedetta (3rd right) works in the cellars with the estate enologist Stefano Chioccioli and Beatrice heads the marketing and business sectors assisted by her niece Serena (both pictured right).

Vineyards
The estate has 670 hectares of which approximately 100ha are vineyards and 140ha olive groves. Capezzana is situated in northern Tuscany, in the commune of Carmignano in the province of Prato, 20 km from Florence, on the slopes of Monte Albano and close to the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines.

The location explains the uniqueness of its climate: the altitude (approximately 200m above sea level) is such that daytime temperatures in summer are high whereas nights are cool on account of the winds off the Apennines. These conditions ensure good ripening of the grapes, which are generally one to two weeks ahead of other Tuscan wine-growing regions. Rainfall is well-distributed throughout the year because the mountains, which are over 2000m high, cause condensation activity that generally provides some rainfall in June and July, interrupting the dry season. Furthermore Mount Albano protects the vineyards from storms and the Capezzana spur projects over the extensive Florence-Prato-Pistoia plain like a peninsular, enjoying optimal exposure and good ventilation.