La Gerla
- Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
Fattoria La Gerla, named for the large conical wood baskets that grape harvesters used to carry on their backs, was founded in 1976 by the late Sergio Rossi. Originally from Milan, in 1975 Mr. Rossi purchased the property, originally called Podere Colombaio Santi, from Tedina Biondi-Santi, the daughter of Tancredi Biondi-Santi, who had inherited the property after her father’s passing. It included an ancient farmhouse and 6.5 hectare of vineyards, planted to the Biondi-Santi clone of Sangiovese Grosso. Mr. Rossi, who by then had been managing the Altesino-Caparzo estate for several years, renamed the property La Gerla and set about restoring the estate and replanting the vines using selection massale. His first vintage was 1976, making La Gerla one of the first 35 bottlers of Brunello di Montalcino; these days, there are 280.
Today, La Gerla consists of 14 hectares, divided between the original 6.5 hectare vineyard in Canalicchio and an additional 5 hectares in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, where Mr. Rossi was presciently the first to plant vines in earnest in the late 1970s. La Gerla takes advantage of these very different sites, giving them the “best of both worlds,” with the north-facing, higher-altitude, Gli Angeli vineyard in Canalicchio with more clay in the topsoil; and the south-facing, warmer, drier, and more free-draining sandy/galestro parcels in Castelnuovo.
The estate, run by vineyard manager/director Alberto Passeri and winemaker Vittorio Fiore, makes six wines, all made entirely from Sangiovese Grosso, the only grape planted on the property. Farming is organic, without certification for now. Alberto has nearly thirty years of experience with these vineyards, and his timing of the harvest is an invaluable asset. The style is traditional, all the while encapulating pristine, high-toned fruit aromas of Sangiovese. La Gerla has recently been part of a joint study combatting the vine disease Esca, with encouraging results.