Brancaia

Brancaia is a Tuscan estate known for its wines both from the Chianti Classico zone and from the Maremma region on the Tuscan coast. It was founded in 1981 and has since become a critically acclaimed producer, known for the high quality of its wines as well as its distinctive modern labels.

Three vineyards make up the Brancaia estate: two in Chianti Classico planted mostly to Sangiovese, and one in Maremma at Grosseto planted mostly to Bordeaux varieties (with around a quarter planted to Sangiovese). Together, these total around 80 hectares (200 acres). There are two wineries, in Chianti and Maremma, both built over three storeys to allow for gravity-fed processes. Individual varieties and vineyard parcels are vinified separately, and fermentation is carried out in temperature-controlled cone-shaped steel tanks with gentle punch downs. All of the wines are aged in French oak barrels and casks for 12 to 20 months, and are then blended and bottled.

Brancaia's flagship wine is Il Blu, an IGT Toscana wine made from vineyards in the heart of Chianti Classico. The wine is a blend of Sangiovese and Merlot with a dash of Cabernet Sauvignon, and is aged for 20 months in French barriques before bottling. The top wine from the Maremma vineyard is the Ilatraia, also IGT Toscana but made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. The 2012 vintage was included in the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines in 2015 – a feat achieved three times since 2005.

The lineup also includes three other red wines: a Chianti Classico Riserva, a Chianti Classico, and Tre, a Sangiovese-dominant blend with some Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot sourced from all Brancaia's vineyards. There is also a merlot-based rosé and Il Bianco, a white blend of Sauvignon Blanc with Gewürtztraminer, Semillon and Viognier.