Isole e Olena

The name of the winery comes from the two agricultural villages where it is located, in the municipality of Barberino Val d'Elsa. The purchase of the farms dates back to 1956 by the father of Paolo De Marchi, founder and current owner. 120 people lived and worked in the two villages: after the abolition of sharecropping in 1964, only 14 remained. Paolo is very attached to this land, but he has not forgotten his Piedmontese origins, so much so that several years ago he took over the historic Sperino property of his ancestors, in Lessona, in the Novara area, and entrusted it to his son. In the early 1970s, De Marchi gained experience in California, during his studies in agronomy, and was among the first to discover cabernet and chardonnay which in those years favored the winemaking fame of the Napa Valley. In 1976 he began his adventure in Tuscany. At the beginning the project was to thoroughly evaluate the company's land to evaluate its vocations and the most suitable grapes; then a selection of Sangiovese begins; only later were cabernet sauvignon (directly from Bordeaux), syrah and chardonnay planted. It soon became clear that to enhance the value of Sangiovese it was necessary to vinify it in purity, at the cost of departing from the regulations which at the time provided for the obligation to also use white grapes for the production of Chianti. This is how, in 1980, following the example of other enlightened winemakers, primarily Sergio Manetti, creator of the very famous Pergole Torte, the company's flagship wine was born, namely Cepparello, 100% Sangiovese, aged for 18 months in barriques of various passages and then in glass for another year and a half. Chianti Classico, on the other hand, has for years now included a blend based mainly on Sangiovese (80%), Canaiolo and a small balance of Syrah (5%). The international grapes give life to three pure wines of the “Collezione Privata” line (until a few years ago “Collezione De Marchi”), which focus more on adherence to the terroir than on the varietal. Cellar of absolute importance and prestige.