In a previous life, Silvio Messana was a New Yorker. There had always been this beautiful farm in Tuscany outside of Florence where Silvio’s mother and father lived, and his father had planted vineyards there in the early 1970’s. In the mid 1990’s, after the passing of his father, Silvio’s mother became ill and his family decided to move back to be near her. By this time, Silvio had already developed a passion for wine in the United States. With the certain impossibility of finding an affordable rent in New York with three growing sons, Silvio and his wife Catalina decided to stay on after his mother’s death, turning the Chianti Classico farm into their home with a portion of the farm converted as a half-year bed-and-breakfast. His first vintage was bottled in 2000, and at the spurring of his wife, Silvio began farming biodynamically, and never looked back. His Chianti Classico—a true Classico crafted in the style of the old ways— is produced by a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Colorino-Canaiuolo. Grapes are hand-harvested and fermented with up to 30% whole-clusters, and matured in concrete for up to 1.5 years. Expressive and layered, but perhaps needing some time in the glass to breathe, the wine shows black cherry and raspberry, with verbena, rose petal, lavender and spice. 13.0% ABV
