Torre a Cona

San Donato in Collina, Toscana

Seven miles southeast of Florence, the magnificent structure at Torre a Cona has been destroyed and rebuilt many times since 1066, when it was known as Cuona Castle. In 1750, a sumptuous villa was crafted there by the Marquis Rinuccini. During World War II, the Germans took the property as their headquarters, and then in 1944 the British reclaimed it as a hospital. The knowledge that works by Michealangelo and Donatello were present in the cellars saved Torre a Cona from bombing. The Rossi di Montelera re-took possession of Torre a Cona in the 1950s and gradually restored the marvelous estate.

Niccolo’ Rossi di Montelera spearheaded the new winemaking project, releasing the first new vintages in 2013. He partnered with the Piemontese winemaking team Caviola and Curtaz, who craft Sangiovese of particular elegance and grace. Sustainably farmed on Alberese and limestone soil, the focus is on the native grapes of Toscana. Besides Sangiovese, they also produce a fascinating Colorino del Valdarno. Unique among the Colorino group, the high quality Colorino del Valdarno is not red-fleshed, and it produces an intriguing wine from the oldest vineyards on the estate.