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| Ciliegiolo (named also Ciliegino) is
an AUTOCHTHONOUS TUSCAN VINE whose origins are not very clear: some
people say its presence in Tuscany dates back to 1870, when some pilgrims
coming back from the Spanish sanctuary of San Giacomo di Campostella
took it to Italy (that’s why it is also called Spanish Ciliegiolo).
On the contrary other experts are convinced that the grapes in question
are that scented “sweet Ciregiolo”, which was mentioned by the Florentine
writer Soderini in the seventeenth century and whose fragrance is
improved at best by hot climates. But we know for certain that they
were only used for wine-making and not much popular because only used
as blending grapes. |
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In fact, in case of wine-making in pureness, these grapes produced
an almost colourless wine, which was very fruity and alcoholic,
but often plain for its low acidity content. Moreover, due to their
early maturation, they were normally used as eating grapes or for
the production of not-aged table wines known as “novelli toscani”.
This vine is now present in Central Italy (Liguria, Umbria, Marches
and Tuscany) where falls under the following DOC grapes: Parrina,
Colli Lucchesi, Chianti, Chianti Classico, Colli di Luni.
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| But in the last few years this vine has
been rediscovered and rescued from extinction. According to some recent
studies carried out by Istituto San Michele all’Adige, Ciliegiolo
would be one of Sangiovese’s “parents” together with other two varieties
grown in Campania named Palummina Mirabella and Calabrese Montenuovo.
At our farm, before 2000, a small quantity of these grapes was normally
added to other red grapes for the production of Chianti Colli Senesi,
giving this wine colour, mellowness and a fresh cherry-flavoured aroma.
But since 2000, thanks to the precious advice of our oenologist Francesco
Bartoletti, the wine-making of these grapes has been carried out in
pureness. |
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| The result is an elegant wine whose most
important feature is, in addition to its deep ruby colour with violet
glints, the rich sweet cherry-flavoured taste that is enriched by
strong aromas of morello cherry, prune and redcurrant/bilberry jam
due to its ageing in wooden casks. Since the very beginning of its
production our Ciliegiolo has always obtained excellent acknowledgements
and in the last few years also important mentions at international
level. |
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| In July 2005 our farm officially
joined the ARSIA project (Improvement of Tuscan wine productions through
the development of minor autochthonous vines) in collaboration with
Dipartimento di Coltivazione e Difesa delle Specie Legnose (Department
of Cultivation and Defense of Wooden Species) of the University of
Pisa. |
Az.
Agricola Le Tre Stelle di Rubicini A. e D. soc. sempl.
Via Fonte di Campaino, 17/B 53037 San Gimignano (SI) Italia
Tel./ Fax +39 0577944406 CELL. 347 7043536 - 338 6714524
P.iva: 00953890522 e-mail : info@letrestelle.com
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