Footprint
In the wake of the Genius
Passion, knowledge, the spirit of observation and exploration, natural exclusivity, innate curiosity, and a propensity for excellence: everything we have inherited from the Genius is brought back to life every day in the earth, the actions and the work of the women and men in our company. We travel in the wake of the Genius. His mark is unmistakeable. His mark is unique.
Curious like Leonardo
We are based in Vinci, and for years we have been committed to rediscovering, recovering and continuing all the scientific research started by Da Vinci in winemaking, with the aim of creating a modern, updated version of his winemaking method, now used for the production of excellent wines under the brand of Cantine Leonardo da Vinci. We are a union of Italian wineries with the mission of promoting the history and winemaking excellence of every territory, through a modern combination of winemaking projects, culture and enogastronomy, to tell the story of the Genius of wine every day.
The treatment of time
This centuries-old footprint nourishes the vineyards of Villa da Vinci, which have always been considered among the best in the area of Vinci and Montalbano in terms of exposition, soil type and attention to viticulture. The terrain is an important ally in attaining excellent fruits: indeed, 4 million years ago the area where our vineyards are was underwater. It is still possible to find beautiful fossils, walking in the hills through the rows of vines. The terrain is therefore rich in minerals, substances that have a positive effect on the growth of the main vine variety in the area: Sangiovese. The programme to plant highly specialised vineyards was launched by Cantine Leonardo da Vinci in Villa da Vinci in 1995, with the first three hectares, and it has continued every year.
A research work that draws inspiration from Leonardo's studies on enology.
In natural evolution
Da Vinci’s observations and objectives, reclaimed by our technical, agricultural and winemaking staff, have never been static or definitive. The continuous search for perfection and new viticulture methods has led us to reinterpret and add to the Genius’s treatises, continuing da Vinci’s work in order to obtain the most “Divine grape liquor”.
Vinification
In the vinification phase, we make use of decades of experience. Hyperoxygenation, concentration, cryo/thermo-maceration: our experts rely on cutting-edge science to bring out the flavour and charm of the wine, always faithful to the teachings of Leonardo, following in the footsteps of the Genius.
Technology at the service of nature, and never the other way around: appreciation of the origin is what inspires every action. It is our vocation.
In the words of Leonardo:
“Furthermore, in our times we do the worst thing: we ferment the wine in open vessels, so the essence dissipates into the air, and all that remains is a flavourless liquid, coloured by the skins and flesh of the grapes; and then we do not decant as we should, and for this reason the result is a turbid wine, heavy on the stomach.”
Ageing
Clear, rigorous choices lead us to the creation of a wine that fills us with pride: the use of natural polyphenols, accurate, analytical control of standards, harmonisation of the balance between sugars and acids, and the absence or very low level of sulfites. The perfection of the final product comes out of a refusal to compromise.
From the origins of the land to the heart of the people: our wine is created to inspire absolute pleasure, leaving an unforgettable memory.
In the words of Leonardo:
“Furthermore, in our times we do the worst thing: we ferment the wine in open vessels, so the essence dissipates into the air, and all that remains is a flavourless liquid, coloured by the skins and flesh of the grapes; and then we do not decant as we should, and for this reason the result is a turbid wine, heavy on the stomach.”
The vineyard
From dawn to dusk, we enrich and protect the earth with the natural fertilisation of compost. We are standard-bearers for the correct nutrition of the earth, respecting the balance between vegetation and production that allows us to limit human intervention.
The everyday result is a low environmental impact, with tangible benefits for the health of those who choose our wines, and for the planet that hosts us.
In the words of Leonardo:
“You know that I have also said that one should fertilise the rows of vines when they are planted in sandstone, with rubble and mortar from demolished walls, and this will dry out the roots and the trunks, so that the leaves attract from the air all of the substances useful for the perfection of the grapes.”
The harvest
An exciting moment, picking the best grapes when they are perfectly ripe, and selecting them on sorting belts. We move straight onto processing without any delay, following the rhythm and pace of nature, maintaining the correct temperature in every phase, in order to bring out the richness and fragrance of every single fruit.
In the words of Leonardo:
“The vines in Fiesole, cultivated at their best, should give Italy the most excellent wine, such as that of Ser Ottaviano.”