Collection: Alessandro Tofanari

Alessandro Tofanari and his wife Simona Orsini farm a small collection of vineyards around San Gimignano in Tuscany, with a particular focus on the region’s historic white variety, Vernaccia. 

Alessandro began the project in 2001 at Podere La Castellaccia, and today works with a number of old vineyards, including Vernaccia vines between 40 and 70 years old planted around 400 metres above sea level. The vineyards are certified organic, with biodiversity and traditional farming central to their approach, and Alessandro has also worked to revive neglected old vineyards and historic practices such as vigna maritata, where vines are grown alongside fruit trees. 

In the cellar the approach is similarly hands-off, with spontaneous fermentation, varying periods of skin contact and ageing largely in stainless steel or concrete. The wines are bottled without fining or filtration and with minimal intervention, producing distinctly Tuscan wines that feel savoury, textured and rustic, while retaining plenty of freshness and energy.