Tenuta di Bibbiano is located in the municipality of Castellina in Chianti, in the UGA (Additional Geographic Unit) of Castellina, on the west border of the Chianti Classico appellation, close to the castle of Monteriggioni. Its territory represents one of the most romantic and iconic landscapes of Tuscany, a combination of soft hills of reaching 200-300 meters, separated by small valleys, with vineyards and olive groves fragmented by open fields of grain and small woods.
Tenuta di Bibbiano is known as one of the most traditional and authentic producers in Chianti Classico. Originally a cellar in the Middle Ages, the Marzi family has run the estate since the mid-1800s. Today’s owners are the fifth generation: brothers Tommaso and Federico Marrocchesi Marzi. Bibbiano shares its history with a legend of the ‘modern’ Chianti Classico: Mr. Giulio Gambelli. Gambelli was an oenologist who dedicated his life to improve the Sangiovese grape, combining science and art, experience and intuition, vision and experimentation. Starting in 1942 and for almost sixty harvests, Giulio Gambelli created Bibbiano’ wines. Today, his heritage is part of Bibbiano’s identity.
Today the estate extends over more 200 hectares of land with 37 hectares of vineyards, all certified organic and majority Sangiovese. There is also a small quantity of indigenous grapes grown, like Canaiolo, Malvasia Nera, and Colorino as well as some white vines of Trebbiano and Malvasia Bianca del Chianti. The vineyards are located on the two slopes of Bibbiano’s hill, two different terroirs for exposition, microclimate and soil: Capannino, looking to south-west, soil with clay and limestone-schistose rock and planted with the Capannino monoclone of Sangiovese Grosso; Montornello looking to north-east, soil with calcareous-clay and round stones plus some chalk and planted with Sangiovese del Chianti. These are the two ‘souls’ of Bibbiano.
Gran Selezione Vigna del Capannino and Gran Selezione Vigne di Montornello are the two most representative wines of Bibbiano, the two flagships that embody Bibbiano’s philosophy and vision. This philosophy can be summarized in the motto “consistency of the tradition,” which speaks to Bibbiano’s commitment to pure Sangiovese that reflects their distinct terroir and the generations of human dedication and experience that have created the estate today. The hallmarks of these two wines are: authenticity, balance, elegance, and personality.
Chianti Classico Riserva and Chianti Classico Annata complete the range: all made with only Sangiovese and using majority concrete vats, contributing finesse to the wines. Total production of all Chianti Classico wines is about 150,000 bottles.