Chiara Condello
Summary
Chiara Condello operates a boutique Sangiovese-focused winery in Predappio, Romagna, where her small 3-hectare estate at 250-350 meters elevation features distinctive calcareous clay soils with marine fossil deposits. Her minimalist approach employs native yeast fermentation in open-top wooden vats, extended macerations, and aging in neutral Slavonian oak, establishing her as an important voice in the rediscovery of Romagna's winemaking potential.
Heritage & Leadership
Chiara Condello established her eponymous winery in 2015 in Predappio, within Italy's Emilia-Romagna region. Born into a winemaking family, Chiara represents a new generation of producers in Romagna focused on terroir expression. After completing her education, including studies in economics, she returned to her family's estate, Condé, where she gained practical experience before launching her independent project. While maintaining her role as the commercial manager at her family's winery, she simultaneously developed her personal label with a dedicated focus on Sangiovese from specific vineyard sites. Her project began with approximately 3 hectares of vineyards, allowing her to pursue a highly focused production philosophy centered on site-specific wines.
Vineyards & Wines
Chiara Condello's vineyards are located in Predappio, within the Romagna DOC zone of Emilia-Romagna. Her parcels sit at elevations between 250-350 meters above sea level on predominantly calcareous clay soils with marine fossil deposits, a distinctive terroir feature of this subregion. The vineyards face east and southeast, providing optimal sun exposure while maintaining cooling influences from elevation. Chiara works exclusively with Sangiovese, the traditional grape of Romagna, with particular attention to older vines that produce lower yields and more concentrated fruit. Her portfolio includes a Romagna Sangiovese DOC and a single-vineyard expression called "Le Lucciole," produced from a specific 1-hectare plot with 50+ year-old vines growing on particularly calcareous soils. Annual production remains deliberately small, typically under 10,000 bottles total.
Philosophy & Practice
Chiara Condello employs traditional winemaking methods with minimal intervention in both vineyard and cellar. In the vineyard, she practices manual harvesting and rigorous selection, with all vineyard work performed by hand. Her approach emphasizes natural balance in the vines, with careful canopy management and yield control. In the cellar, fermentation occurs with native yeasts in open-top wooden vats, with gentle extraction through manual punch-downs. Her wines undergo extended maceration, typically 3-4 weeks, to develop structure and complexity. Aging takes place in large neutral oak casks (primarily 25-35 hectoliter Slavonian oak) for 12-24 months depending on the wine, followed by additional bottle aging before release. Chiara avoids filtration and uses minimal sulfur additions, focusing on purity of fruit expression and the distinctive mineral character imparted by Predappio's calcareous soils. Her winemaking philosophy centers on transparency—allowing the unique characteristics of Sangiovese from this specific terroir to be expressed with clarity and precision.