London, the 1970s. A British advertising executive abandons everything and relocates to Tuscany with his Italian wife. A movie script? No. It is the beginning of Riecine, one of the most cherished wineries in the Chianti Classico region.
It all began in 1971, when John Dunkley and Palmina discovered a dilapidated estate in the hills of Gaiole in Chianti. It was merely a partially collapsed farm named "Riecine" and one and a half hectares of neglected vineyards. But where others saw rubble, they envisioned a future (and wine, naturally).
The land belonged to the monks of Badia a Coltibuono, and according to ancient documents, wine had been produced there since the 12th century. So, rather than starting from scratch, they were reviving a dormant history. In 1973, they bottled their first wine under the Riecine label. It hit the market two years later... and was a triumph! The secret? A style of Chianti Classico that was sober, straightforward, and unpretentious. A wine with soul.
Fifty years and several relocations later, Riecine returned to Italian hands. From 2024, the winemaker Alessandro Campatelli has been at the helm, preserving the original spirit: honest wines, well-crafted and with character.
Riecine Chianti Classico is a pure expression of sangiovese. The grapes come from old vineyards, aged between 30 and 40 years, cultivated at altitude on limestone soils. Everything is done by hand, from the harvest to the selection of the bunches. Fermentation takes place in cement tanks, without embellishments, and the ageing lasts two years in large oak barrels, plus a few months in the bottle.
The result is an elegant Chianti, with vibrancy, freshness, and depth. Riecine Chianti Classico does not seek to impress with power. Its hallmark is the subtlety and elegant tension of a fine sangiovese.