“We must live in balance with the nature that surrounds us.”
Revitalizations, classic anecdotes and new discoveries; all can be central themes when discussing the wonder of Tuscan wines and Fattoria Pomona is no exception. Tucked into a bucolic corner of Tuscany where Castellina meets Castelnuovo, Fattoria Pomona crafts wonderful Sangiovese from 6 small hectares. It’s art.
It began in 1890 when the current owner’s great grandfather purchased what would ultimately become the estate with the intention of turning it into a grain farm. In 1982, the farm fell into the hands of the owner’s parents who restored 2 vineyards on the property and began producing wine in limited quantities for local consumption. But the estate’s turning point didn’t occur until 2007.
~ The current owner of the Pomona estate, Monica Raspi, was a Veterinarian until 2007 ~
As Monica relates the story, “In 2007 I decided to close my veterinary clinic, pick up an enology manual and get on a tractor! Today, Pomona is my passion. It remains one of the craziest and most wonderful decisions I have ever made.” The results have been impressive. After a suggestion from a consulting enologist to apply poisonous pest controls to the vineyards in 2008, Monica correctly ignored that advice and as a result, resolved to become certified organic; a designation she achieved in 2012. “We are fortunate to live in a unique land of wonderful beauty and we have the moral obligation to protect it.”
~ Old demi-johns in the Pomona farmhouse ~
“I make wines that I like and I am less and less willing to make compromises that hide the rough edges of an imperfect harvest.”
Recently we put Monica’s craftsmanship to the test. The 2016 Pomona Chianti Classico Riserva is 100% Sangiovese. Sourced from vineyards that are east facing at approximately 350 meters above sea level, the soil is composed mostly of Albarese; a powdery rocky form of soil that contributes dusty character to the wine’s tannins.
On the nose, this wine exhibits wonderful aromas of crushed berry and wild cherry. As it opens, tobacco, warmed terra cotta and cypress like herb notes become noticeable. On the palate, this is full bodied and juicy with bright acidity and freshness. An overall display of elegance is the central tenet of this flowery Sangiovese. Aged exclusively in large botte, this Riserva marks a stylistic hybrid from two of my favorite Commune: Castellina and Castelnuovo. Paired with spatchcock grilled chicken and grilled marinated portabello mushrooms, the match was perfectly made. 93 points. Find this wine. This is a link to the importer as Wine Searcher shows only outdated wines for this producer.
~ This is an impressive effort in a beautiful vintage. Very well done. ~
Salute! More new releases, recipes and interesting wines to come. Stay tuned!
Hi John,
Great article. I look forward to trying one of their wines. I went to their website and Monica’s story is very interesting. In the future I will plan on a visit (need to remain positive about future trips to Italy).
Joe D
Hey joe, we booked a trip to southern Italy this July. I hope it pans out.
Thanks John, I’ve added Pomona to my list of wineries to visit in our planned September visit to Italy, like Joe above I think you’ve got to remain positive.
FWIW and I digress a bit: perhaps now is the time to contact our favorite producers and directly order some wine. They need the business I think and what would make a ‘lockdown’ (that’s pretty much what some of us here in Colorado are dealing with) more tolerable than waiting for a delivery. I worry that trying to place an order with some producers will create an unwanted headache for them, but Castello dela Paneratta and Querceto di Castellina have both issued marketing emails looking for orders. Querceto di Castellina is offering free shipping, a not insignificant discount. Soooooo………maybe there is story idea in there for you. I apologize if I’ve veered to far off topic.
Not at all Steve. I think it’s a great idea for small producers. Though one of my faves that I do this with was just informed by his shipper that they won’t be shipping any more until further notice. They need to concentrate on cleaning and medical shipping….
Again FWIW, Querceto di Castellina’s website accepted my order and took payment; Castello della Paneretta indicated that they are unable to ship to households in the U.S. We will see what happens with shipment from Querceto di Castellina. Thanks to your lead I was able to find a US retailer of Piemaggio wines and placed an order, Grazie!, and stay safe and healthy, everybody.
Excellente!
Great write up, Giovanni; the food pairing sounds ideal. Stay well.
You too Rolando! Let us try to inspire each other with cooking. I have a great recipe coming up. It’s not new to you I’m sure but it was one of the best things I’ve made in a while. You comment on it when it’s done and suggest a pairing!
John
Nice article.
We aren’t on Winesearcher but if you want to advise your readers where they can find Pomona – we have it at http://www.vdltwine.com
No worries, the link is now in the article. Thanks Greg – stay tuned as I go through some of the other wines the “other” Greg sent me………
I love the passion and the respect that the owner displays towards her vineyard and her wine. I look forward to one day trying her wine!
Hey Mark – good to hear from you and hope you’re staying well. The beauty of Italy is that her philosophy is clearly not the minority. While there are larger corporations that make wine, there are still many family owned businesses throughout the country. Their passion is their livelihood and my job is to give that passion a voice! Salute.