2022 Corzano e Paterno Chianti Terre di Corzano, Tuscany

The estate’s core wine is the Chianti Terre di Corzano, which translates as ‘soils of Corzano’. It’s 90% Sangiovese co-fermented with 10% Canaiolo, all hand-harvested from Corzano’s rocky, south-facing slopes. The soils here are what the Italians call alberese—compact clay/limestone littered with pebbles—which tends to yield particularly aromatic reds. 

Incorporating 15% bunches, the wine fermented naturally and matured in a combination of 25- and 40-hectolitre botti, a traditional maturation that has become rare in today’s barrique-obsessed Tuscany. Arianna Gelpke enjoys the softening impact of large-format wood on Sangiovese tannins, and we can only agree. 

Once again, Corzano’s transparent style, emphasising purity of fruit, is in full flight. It’s bursting with the essence of hillside Sangiovese, with layers of mulberry, black cherry and strawberry pip woven together by succulent acidity and ripe, supple tannins. These bring vibrancy and texture, building to a juicy finish. The Canaiolo adds a dab of sweet spice and anise to Sangiovese’s palette of cherry, blue fruits and grilled-herb complexity. A fantastic drink, even better when served alongside smoky red meats, roast pork or deep-flavoured lasagne. 

Corzano e Paterno Chianti Terre di Corzano is a soulful, hand-crafted expression of Tuscan tradition, hailing from the rolling hills between Florence and Siena. This small organic estate, run by the Gelpke family, is as much a working farm as it is a historic winery—complete with olive groves, sheep for pecorino, and vines that stretch across limestone-rich soils with optimal sun exposure. It’s classic Tuscany with a fiercely artisanal heart.

The Terre di Corzano bottling is a true Chianti, rooted in Sangiovese with a dash of native varieties like Canaiolo and Colorino, depending on the vintage. The vineyards sit at around 300 meters elevation, giving the grapes cool nights and warm, breezy days that preserve acidity and ripen tannins slowly. Everything is grown organically, and the winemaking is hands-off—spontaneous fermentations in open-top tanks, minimal intervention, and maturation in large old oak barrels that respect the fruit and the terroir.

The result is a wine that hums with energy and rustic charm. Aromas of wild cherry, blood orange peel, dried herbs, and dusty terracotta lead into a palate full of juicy red fruit, firm tannins, and vibrant acidity. There’s a whisper of Tuscan sun-baked earth and old stone walls here—everything you want from a Chianti made with heart and heritage.

Corzano e Paterno may fly under the radar, but for lovers of honest, characterful Sangiovese, Terre di Corzano is a bottle that over-delivers every time.