A LONG HISTORY OF INNOVATION 1
Agricola San Felice: aerial view 2
San Felice: the Borgo (hamlet) 3
San Felice: the origins Coat of arms of the Borgo San Felice featuring shin & hoof of ox. 4
San Felice: the origins Documents show the existence of the church of San Felice in Avane already in 714 A.D. Avane is a place name of Etruscan origin, which testifies to the antiquity of this territory. In the 15 th century, the church s lands were granted to the powerful Cerretani family. The following century saw them pass into the hands of the Del Taja, a noble Sienese family. In the first half of the 20th century San Felice wine and olive oil already achieved worldwide recognition. In the late 70s, during one of the deepest period of crisis of the entire Chianti Classico region, the Del Taja sold the property to new investors. 5
San Felice: studies of Tuscan varieties The history of San Felice is linked to the experiments undertaken and developed since 1968 under the then manager Enzo Morganti. *** 1968 - San Felice s strong belief in the inherent qualities of Sangiovese led to the introduction of Vigorello. 1970/1980 - Cuttings originally from Enzo Morganti s massal selection of Sangiovese were planted in the vineyard of Poggio Rosso. In 1974, with the first nucleus of what was destined to become the Vitiarium, San Felice began to systematically collect native varietals, at a time when the concept of native varietal was virtually unknown. 1981 - The beginning of a collaboration with the University of Florence, enabling an even more effective dedication to scientific programmes. 6
San Felice: the modern history 1978 San Felice is acquired by the present ownership which started the restructuring of the vineyards and the building of a new cellar, allowing the winery to develop ultra-premium viticulture. 1984 San Felice acquires Tenuta Campogiovanni in Montalcino, extending its line to include a prestigious Brunello. 1990 A section of the Borgo San Felice is restructured as a hotel. Its sober, elegant style wins it quick inclusion in the prestigious Relais & Chateaux guide. 1993 San Felice starts a new wine project at Tenuta Perolla in Maremma. 7
San Felice: today San Felice is today making wine in the following areas SAN FELICE Total vineyards: 210 Ha Tenuta San Felice Territory: Chianti Classico Total vineyards: 140 Ha Tenuta Campogiovanni Territory: Montalcino Total vineyards: 20 Ha Tenuta Perolla Territory: Maremma Total vineyards: 50 Ha 8
San Felice: the landscape 9
TUSCANY 10
TUSCANY wine zone map Chianti Classico Wine Zone is # 4. Brunello di Montalcino Wine Zone is # 1. We give credit for this wine zone map of Tuscany to http://www.lavinium.com 11
Chianti Classico communes Firenze San Casciano Val di Pesa 40 miles to San Felice Greve in Chianti Tavarnelle Val di Pesa Poggibonsi Radda in Chianti Barberino Val d Elsa Gaiole in Chianti Castellina in Chianti Siena 12 Miles to San Felice Castelnuovo Berardenga 12
San Felice 13
TUSCANY wine zone map Perolla is located in the Monteregio di Massa Marittima wine zone (#13), however San Felice uses the more known MAREMMA IGT denomination. We give credit for this wine zone map of TUSCANY to http://lavinium.com 14
San Felice Perolla Poggibano Campogiovanni 15
Agricola San Felice: vineyards, wines and olive groves Type of Denomination DOCG Vineyards (total hectares) 120 Products Chianti Classico Il Grigio Chianti Classico Riserva Poggio Rosso Chianti Classico Riserva DOC IGT Toscana 2 18 + Vin Santo Chianti Classico Vigorello Toscana Rosso Pugnitello Toscana Rosso Ancherona Toscana Bianco DOP (nª OLIVE TREES 16.000 Chianti Classico Olio Extra Vergine d Oliva 16
Campogiovanni: the landscape 17
Campogiovanni: vineyards, wines and olive groves Type of Denomination Vineyards (total hectares) Products DOCG 14 Brunello di Montalcino Il Quercione Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOC 6 Rosso di Montalcino + Nº OLIVE TREES 2.000 Extra Virgin Olive Oil 18
Perolla: the Chianina breeding 19
PEROLLA: breeding Chianina beef cattle Possente, this is his name, weighs 2,100 lbs and is 8 tall 20
Perolla: the landscape 21
Perolla: vineyards and wines Type of Denomination Igt Maremma Toscana Vineyards (total hectares) 50 Products Rosso Maremma Toscana Vermentino Maremma Toscana Poggibano Maremma Toscana 22
Statement SAN FELICE is a producer with a very innovative approach that, through research and experimentation, has always anticipated the trends of the wine market, but at the same time has maintained a strong link with the tradition and enhanced the value of region/terroir, stressing the identity of the territory. 23
Background This status is proved by our history: San Felice s original strong focus on the study and the improvement of Sangiovese for the production of very typical Chianti Classicos (nowadays only pure Sangiovese). 1968 San Felice releases Vigorello; the first Supertuscan, 3 years earlier than Antinori (Tignanello) and 10 years earlier than the beginning of Supertuscans mode. 1978 San Felice produces the first vintage of Poggio Rosso, at that time a rare example of crû of Chianti Classico, confirming its strong engagement in this appellation. 1981 San Felice starts the research activity on the native grape varieties in collaboration with the University of Florence and Pisa, totally in contrast with the other producers focussing more on international varieties. 2006 San Felice releases Pugnitello, the first wine made with one of the native varieties rediscovered and studied together with the University; the first concrete result of 20 years of research. 24
Research and experimentation In 1987 San Felice offered to plant these vines in an experimental vineyard on its property. This Preservation Vineyard became known as V I T I A R I U M 25
San Felice: a producer of excellence WINE PRODUCTION AND RESEARCH THE BORGO (HAMLET) SAN FELICE THE HOSPITALITY RELAIS & CHATEAUX EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL & THE CHIANINA BEEF BREEDING 26
San Felice: the aging cellar 27
Logo At first we have worked on a re-styling of our original logo as follows 28
The Tradition ACTUAL NEW 29
The Terroir ACTUAL NEW 30
Pugnitello vine The owner of the vineyard where it was growing had no information regarding its provenance. Its name is derived from the shape of the cluster. (fist shaped; fist=pugno, pugnitello) There were no written references found in recent or past ampelographical works. 31
San Felice new packaging 32
The Modernity ACTUAL NEW 33
Perolla new packaging 34
Campogiovanni 35
Actions: prestige - release of rare products to enhance the image of San Felice 36
Research in progress ENZO MORGANTI Center for Enological & Viticultural Studies Projects in progress: 1) Pruning school for apprentices 2) Global warming & Chianti 3) Experimentation of ancient varieties 37
3 distinctive characteristics of San Felice a) Experimentation & research in conjunction with Universities. b) Strong roots in the tradition and identity of the territory. c) Innovation at all possible levels. [Example: new machine sorting the berries by their quality according to their specific weight.] 38
the San Felice promise QUALITY at any cost! 39