ORGANIC FARM

Who we were, who we are, where we are going

Agriturismo Tuscany Vineyard Agriturismo Italy Vineyard Agriturismo Chianti Vineyard

The history of Poggiopiano

Tuscany has always been homeland of great wines and olive oil for centuries… “Chianti” is the spark that ignites passion into the souls of wine and food lovers all over the world. This passion for the land, fine wines and extra virgin olive oil inspired the Galardi brothers, Alberto and Carlo, descendants of a long line of Florentine traders, to acquire the estate of Poggiopiano back in 1935.

This marked a significant turning point in the history of the Family which has since then dedicated itself exclusively to the production of wines and olive oils and to the production of agricultural farm implements and machinery: mills, olive presses and systems for pressing grapes and extracting olive oil.

There are numerous documents, letters of correspondence and publications which make reference to the Galardi brothers’ ingenious innovations and mechanical inventions, which helped to improve not only the quality but also the hygiene conditions in the extraction process. Only the Second World War managed to halt developments.

After a tragic frost in 1985, which destroyed a large part of the olive trees and damaged many vineyards in Tuscany, Mauro Galardi- a young twenty-year old, with the same grit and determination as it occurred with his predecessors- decided to restart from scratch. He cut most of the olive trees, pulled up all those which had been ruined, re-planted new vineyards and restored all the old farm buildings which were then let out for farm holidays. As an autodidact, he studied anything he could about agronomy and the art of olive oil and wine making, putting to professional use his great passion.

Agriturismo Tuscany Vineyard

Sharing

Today, Mauro holds on fiercely to the idea of family management and his desire to build on and preserve traditions, while at the same time giving measured consideration to developments being made in the fields of wine-making and extra virgin olive oil production.

His concept is about involving others in his passion for the land and its products – wine and extra virgin olive oil – and to let them enjoy the peace and stillness of the countryside. Hospitality at Poggiopiano therefore becomes an opportunity for exchange, learning and sharing of the passion and respect for the Environment, too.

Mauro is supported by his wife Elisabetta, who dedicates herself with passion and commitment to the hospitality of the Guests at the Agriturismo, and his daughter Martina, young winemaker graduated in 2016 in viticulture and oenology in Florence, having completed her formation working first in France, then in New Zealand and later in France again. Mauro, Elisabetta and Martina are proud of the family management of the estate, constantly supported by Employees and Consultants who give an important contribution to realize high quality productions.

Quest for quality

A firm belief

The same firm belief of his predecessors guides Mauro through his project: the quest for quality. Like them, he is constantly researching and updating his knowledge for technical innovations. The handed down family passion for mechanics and inventions is an integral, indispensable part of his ideas for the future.

Believing that great wine needs to be thought and reaped first from the plants and their roots, the vineyards have been totally renewed using selected varieties and clones in order to achieve the highest quality of the final products. The choice of selected cultivars and the optimal ripening of grapes and olives sets the development of a polyphenolic and aromatic patrimony that represents both in wine and in olive oil the most important component as far as the olfactory and gustatory qualities are concerned.

The olive groves have been replanted with particular care, selecting the typical Tuscan cultivars that notoriously produce the best olive oils in the world: Leccino, Moraiolo and Frantoio, with a clear prevalence of the last one. All the equipment has been renewed, focusing on the respect of the environment, on the achievement of quality and on the guarantee of hygiene during the transformation and preservation of the products.

The vineyards and olive groves are nowadays spread over 17 hectares, 150 metres high up on gravely chalky soil, which contributes to the limited productive quantity but, more importantly, to the high quality of grapes and olives. All the products from Fattoria di Poggiopiano are organically farmed since 1995.

Organic Production: Wines and Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Sustainability

Mauro Galardi, great supporter and promoter of organic production since almost 30 years now, is one of the co-founders of the Associazione del Distretto Biologico di Fiesole (Fiesole Organic District Association), and firmly convinced that this is the main point for a healthy and forward-looking life-style. Organic farmers, the Local Administration, Cultural Organisations, Citizens, University Professors, Experts and Associations like Slow Food are now part of Distretto Biologico di Fiesole. The goal of the Association is to spread and promote organic production as a premise of a healthy and conscious lifestyle based on consumer awareness, quality of life and value of the territory we live on.

Being eco-friendly represents one of the main focuses at Poggiopiano and we make it possible thanks to:

Wine and extra virgin olive oil production, certified organic since 1999;
A careful waste sorting and recycling;
Minimum use of single use packaging;
Compost of the organic and vegetable waste;
Use of energy saving lamps;
Use of biodegradable products for the cleaning;
Hot water production thanks to solar panels;
Energy production through photovoltaic system;
Heating of the winery and the farmhouse with pruning’s wood;
Use of local and organic products for tastings and breakfast.