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Balzini farm was established in 1977 when Vincenzo and Antonella D’Isanto – two freelancer passionate winemakers – bought this estate in the Tuscan countryside (in Barberino Val d’Elsa, in the province of Florence). This place has always been called “I Balzini” which, in Tuscan dialect, means “small slopes of the land or crags” – and that’s exactly where the vineyards were planted.

In 1980, Vincenzo planted the first vineyard and produced an IGT red wine called “I Balzini”, with the help of Giulio Giambelli. The company now covers about 32 acres, 20 of which are planted with vineyards, while the rest features olive groves; the whole area is surrounded by a small forest and there’s also a pond that gives a natural appearance to the farm which fits in absolute harmony with the landscape.

The management of the vineyards is aimed at limiting the impact of cultivation as much as possible, thus seriously respecting the surrounding environment; for this reason, the spaces between the rows are in most cases grassed, in order to reduce soil erosion and, at the same time, increase both plant and animal biodiversity. In the remaining spaces in the vineyards, weeding is regularly carried out to reduce the competition with unwanted plant species.

The vineyards are located at a height of 820 ft above sea level and are exposed to the south-west; the rows face north-south to capture as much light as possible – sunlight is already abundant given the excellent exposure of the crops.

Some of the soils are of Pliocene origin: a sedimentary formation featuring silty yellow sands alternated with layers of clay, in which marine fossils have been often found.
“Cabernet Souvignon” and “Merlot” vines have been planted right there.
“Sangiovese” vines were instead planted in a soil of Eocene origin, that is, originated from the disintegration of a local rock called “alberese” – ideal for the conservation of the Tuscan grape.

The microclimate features a dramatic temperature range between day and night, particularly intense during the harvesting.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)