Tenuta Villa Trasqua

The Wines of Villa Trasqua

Tenuta Villa Trasqua is situated in the locality of Trasqua in the very heart of the Chianti region, just a few kilometres to the south-west of the famous small city of Castellina in Chianti. From the estate one can see the historic, walled, medieval, hilltop village of San Gimignano.  They produce a range of terroir-driven Chianti Classico, Chianti Classico Riserva and IGT wines. The estate covers some 120 hectares of which 50 hectares are planted to vine and 10 hectares are planted with 3000 olive trees (they also make a very fine extra virgin olive oil). Wines from the Chianti Classico sub-region are generally considered to be where the most premium Chianti wines come from. The wines from the Castellina region tend to have very delicate aromas and flavours, there are exceptions, of course.

The vineyards of Villa Trasqua are located on the slopes of a very large natural amphitheatre called Trasqua (hence the name) which has its own microclimate – the south-facing aspect allows the vines full exposure to the sun in the daytime and allows for a cooling affect as the breezes roll down the surrounding hill during the night. 95% of the vines are planted within this natural amphitheatre which has a mixture of sandy and clayey soils. The main red grape varieties grown at the Villa Trasqua are Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Alicante Bouschet (unusually), Colorino and Malvasia Nera. For the white wines there is some Vermentino and there is is also a rosé wine made from Sangiovese grapes. Chianti Classico wines must be made from at least 80% Sangiovese and, from 2006, no white grape varieties are permitted to be used in red wine production. One can read the full rules and regs at the Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico website, the regulatory body for Chianti Classico who use the famous Black Rooster as their logo.

Tenuta Villa Trasqua was originally founded and the first vines planted in 1965. Most recently, the estate was purchased by its current owner, Dutch industrialist Hans Hulsbergen in 2001 and there has been considerable investment in the vineyards, winery and cellars. Within 2 years of the new ownership, the winery has won a coveted 2 bicchieri (glasses) in the famous Gambero Rosso Italian wine guide. All wines are fermented in 50 hectolitre wooden vats with minimal intervention. The company philiosphy, “wine is made in the vineyard”, is based on attention to detail in the vineyard, the production of fully ripe and aromatic grapes and traditional wine-making techniques. The current oenologist and wine director at Villa Trasqua is Swiss-born Andreas Stossel who joined the company in 2005 from another famous Chianti estate, Fattoria Valtellina.

In October 2014 Tony & Daria Kenefeck took a wine tour to Tuscany including a visit to Villa Trasqua. The photos of the vineyards you find in this article are taken by local photographer Rick Medley who has given me permission to reproduce them here, please have a look at his website if you have a moment.

 At Fareham Wine Cellar we stock the following Villa Trasqua wines

Villa Trasqua Chianti Classico DOCG Evoluto

This Chianti Classico is a blend of 95% Sangiovese and the remaining 5% Colorino and Malvasia Nera. Chianti Classico must have an abv. of at least 12% and at least 7 months aging in oak. This wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks and then aged in large Slavonian oak barrels for 18 months and 3 months in bottle prior to release.

Villa Trasqua Evoluto has an intense ruby red colour with lighter garnet highlights. The nose is fruity and delicate with aromas of dark berries, black cherries and some toasty oak, spicy clove and liquorice notes. The palate is smooth, well-structured and medium-bodied with balanced acidity and youthful tannins.

Villa Trasqua Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva Fanatico

100% Sangiovese. Chianti Classico Riserva must be at least 12.5% abv. and has to be matured for at least 24 months in oak and a further 3 months in the bottle prior to release.  In this case the wine is fermented in cone-shaped wooden barrels and aged for 24 months in French oak barrels and 3 months in bottle prior to release.

Villa Trasqua Fanatico has an intense ruby red colour.  The nose combine delicate, fruity notes of dark berry, black cherry with hints of wood, spice and chocolate. The palate is full-bodied, smooth with more cherry, berry and chocolate flavours. Well-structured with a long dry finish and good tannins.

Villa Trasqua Trasgaia IGT

This is the estate’s “Super-Tuscan”, a blend of 50% Sangiovese, 35% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. The term was first coined to describe a new wave of wines (led by Antinori’s Tignanello) that were made using no indigenous grapes and wine-making techniques not allowed under the restrictive Chianti DOC regulations. Fermentation is in cone-shaped wooden barrels and the wine is aged for 18 months in new French oak barrels, and 6 months in bottle prior to release.

Villa Trasqua Trasgaia has a deep, ruby red colour. The nose has aromas of coffee, cocoa, blackberry, cassis, ripe plums, toasty oak, vanilla and hints of smoke and spice. The palate is full and well structured with velvety tannins. There are fruit flavours, more hints of cherry, dark berries, spice, cigar-box and oak and it has a long, persistent and well-balanced finish with good acidity.