Tuscany's Buried Treasure

At Fontodi, Giovanni Manetti has brought a historic vineyard back to life

Mitch Frank

From the Oct 31, 2013, issue

For 45 years, first vintner Dino Manetti and then his son Giovanni labored to restore the Tenuta di Fontodi property. Today, Giovanni produces an average of 26,000 cases a year divided among seven wines, everything from Chianti Classico to a Syrah, a Sauvignon Blanc and a sweet Vin Santo. But Fontodi is best known for a pure Sangiovese originally made from the vineyard where the Lombard stone was found. Their Flaccianello della Pieve wine routinely earns some of the strongest reviews of any Italian wine. Wine Spectator's Mitch Frank explains.

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