Arillo in Terrabianca, Chianti, Italy
In the heart of the legendary Chianti Classico zone, the winery of Arillo in Terrabianca nurtures a special parcel: the Vigna Terrabianca vineyard, situated at their main Tenuta Terrabianca in Radda in Chianti. Across its three estates – Terrabianca in Chianti Classico, Il Tesoro in Maremma, and Colle Brezza in Val d’Orcia – the winery owns a total of 60 hectares of vineyards.
This particular vineyard covers just one hectare, planted with Sangiovese (clone T19) over 51 years ago. Trained to cordone speronato, these venerable vines combine age, naturally low yields, and the aromatic intensity of the T19 clone to create a wine of unique character and refinement.
The soils are a classic Chianti mix of alberese and galestro, and the site benefits from a well-exposed, ventilated slope, perfectly suited to expressing the full potential of the clone’s slow, even ripening and aromatic depth. The team immediately recognised the viticultural value and identity-defining potential of these old vines, one of the very reasons Terrabianca was chosen as the core of a renewed family project.
This heritage vineyard embodies a triple legacy: the old Sangiovese vines themselves, over five decades old; the genetic integrity of clone T19 and its adaptation to the local terroir; and the vineyard’s deep-rooted ecosystem, which allows the vines to manage water and nutrient stress with remarkable resilience – an invaluable trait in the face of climate change, drought, and extreme weather events.
From this cherished block, the estate produces its flagship wine, the Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione Vigna Terrabianca (first vintage 2019), with production ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 bottles, depending on the year.
The vineyard’s management is designed to preserve and enhance its character. Pruning is light, respecting each vine’s physiology and sap flow; fruit load is balanced through thoughtful shoot selection according to the season, exposure, and individual vine condition. Every decision is made with careful attention to the parcel’s identity – not to maximise yield, but to protect the heritage and terroir expression that old vines convey.
Biodiversity and sustainability lie at the heart of the estate’s philosophy. Arillo in Terrabianca is fully organic certified and follows a minimal-intervention approach rooted in deep respect for the land as the foundation of excellence. The vineyard’s old vines are part of a mature, self-sustaining ecosystem: their roots delve deep into the soil, ensuring resilience to changing conditions, while the surrounding woodland and natural vegetation enhance biodiversity and stabilise the microclimate.
The vineyard tells a compelling story: a single hectare of venerable Sangiovese, planted with the historic T19 clone, in the white-tinged soils (terra bianca), cultivated with care and restraint to yield a wine that speaks eloquently of its place, age, and vintage. As the owners express it:
“For us, Terrabianca is more than a name: it is an identity that unites the tradition of Radda in Chianti with our vision of conscious and contemporary viticulture.”
In essence, Vigna Terrabianca is both a guardian of heritage and a forward-looking expression of terroir: old vines deeply rooted in their land, nurtured with respect, thriving in biodiversity, and yielding wines of elegance, depth, and provenance.
