Toscana Bianco Sangiovese, Duca di Saragnano

Barbanera is an Italian wine estate in south Tuscany, close to the Umbria border. In 1938 Altero and Maria Franceschini started a small business in the wine industry. Italy was a fascist country in this period and they remember arduous journeys to Rome when communication and transport elsewhere was limited. Luigi, their son, learned as much as he could in this period and passed on his experience to his sons Marco and Paolo who are now directors of the company, inheriting it in 1978.

From the start they were passionate, tenacious and dedicated. Their vision and ability to overcome many challenges led them down a more commercial route outside Italy. A consolidation with Germany in 1982 forged a new path for Barbanera who are situated at the foot of Cetona, a vineyard area renowned globally for exceptional grapes. Passion, ambition and tradition are central and act as guiding principles within the company; legacy motivates them, but innovation preserves them. Barbanera are now on their fourth generation.

On the vineyard they have south-west facing slopes, the soil is constituted of calcareous clay which is beneficial for water retention and acidity preservation. In 2008, Barbanera stretched its primary Tuscan vineyards and extended to the Vecciano Estate on the slopes of Monte Cetona, covering 9 hectares and within the Chianti DOCG region. A combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese are planted creating their flagship Toscana IGT wine. In present times, Barbanera produces an impressive portfolio that include Toscana IGT, as well as Sicilian and Puglian products.

The Barbanera range has three core wine labels: Duca di Saragnano, The Blackbeard Family Collection and Barbanera. The three are influenced heavily by Tuscan classics including Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Barbanera have received various awards for their outstanding contribution in the wine industry. A particular success for them was the Toscana Rosso IGT “Vecciano” 2008, first showcased as “Best Red Wine of Italy” in the well-known “Yearbook of the Best Italian Wines” and winner of the sought-after “Grosses Berliner Gold Medal”.

Barbanera is steeped in history and resolute in their taking inspiration from the past, pleasantly reassured by their impressive journey and transition from 1938.