Felsina
Summary
Fèlsina is a family-owned estate in southern Chianti Classico's Castelnuovo Berardenga with 95 hectares of predominantly Sangiovese vineyards planted on galestro and alberese soils at 320-420 meters elevation. Their winemaking balances tradition with precision through hand-harvesting, careful sorting, and thoughtful aging in Slavonian oak casks and French barriques, producing terroir-driven wines that authentically express the warmer microclimate of Chianti Classico's southern edge.
Heritage & Leadership
Fèlsina was established in 1966 when businessman Domenico Poggiali purchased the historic estate near Castelnuovo Berardenga in the southernmost part of Chianti Classico. The property itself dates back centuries, with records of agricultural activity at the site since the 7th century. Under the Poggiali family's stewardship, Fèlsina has maintained continuity of ownership for over five decades, with leadership passing to subsequent generations. Domenico's son-in-law, Giuseppe Mazzocolin, joined the estate in the 1970s and played a significant role in developing Fèlsina's winemaking identity. Today, Giovanni Poggiali, grandson of the founder, leads the estate, maintaining the family's commitment to the terroir of southern Chianti Classico. The transition between generations has allowed Fèlsina to balance respect for tradition with necessary innovations in vineyard management and winemaking.
Vineyards & Wines
Fèlsina encompasses approximately 600 hectares of total land, with 95 hectares dedicated to vineyards. The estate is situated in the commune of Castelnuovo Berardenga, at the southern edge of the Chianti Classico zone where it borders Colli Senesi. This location provides a warmer microclimate than northern Chianti Classico areas. The vineyards range in elevation from 320 to 420 meters above sea level, planted primarily on galestro and alberese soils—a mix of limestone, clay, and schist that contributes to wine structure and minerality. Sangiovese dominates the plantings, comprising approximately 85% of the vineyard area, with the remainder dedicated to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and small amounts of traditional varieties like Colorino.
The estate's flagship vineyards include Rancia, a 6-hectare plot that produces their single-vineyard Chianti Classico Riserva, and the sites that contribute to Fontalloro, a 100% Sangiovese IGT that draws from vineyards straddling the Chianti Classico and Colli Senesi denominations. Fèlsina's wine portfolio includes their Chianti Classico, Chianti Classico Riserva, the single-vineyard Rancia Riserva, Fontalloro, Maestro Raro (Cabernet Sauvignon), and I Sistri (Chardonnay). The estate also produces olive oil from 5,000 trees on the property.
Philosophy & Practice
Fèlsina's winemaking philosophy centers on expressing the distinctive character of southern Chianti Classico terroir through minimal intervention. The estate practices traditional viticulture with modern refinements, focusing on canopy management techniques that optimize sun exposure in their hillside vineyards. All grapes are harvested by hand, with careful selection both in the vineyard and at sorting tables before fermentation.
For their Sangiovese-based wines, fermentation occurs in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, followed by aging that varies by wine: their Chianti Classico ages for 12 months in Slavonian oak casks, while the Riserva and Rancia see 18-24 months in a combination of Slavonian oak and French barriques. Fontalloro typically ages for 18-22 months in French oak. The estate employs a consistent protocol of bottle aging before release, with top wines receiving at least 6-8 additional months of refinement.
Fèlsina maintains a strong commitment to preserving biodiversity on the estate, implementing cover crops between vine rows and maintaining woodland areas that surround the vineyards. Their approach balances respect for traditional Chianti winemaking methods with precise technical execution, resulting in wines that reflect both place and vintage with clarity and definition.