Riecine
Summary
Riecine is a 20-hectare Chianti Classico estate in Gaiole's high-elevation hills (450-500m), focusing primarily on Sangiovese grown in galestro and alberese soils under certified organic management. Their traditional approach includes hand harvesting, indigenous yeast fermentation, and judicious oak aging, while their pioneering work with 100% Sangiovese wines helped elevate the region's quality standards.
Heritage & Leadership
Riecine was established in 1971 by John Dunkley, an Englishman, and his Italian wife Palmina Abbagnano. The couple purchased the original property from the local Badia a Coltibuono monastery, beginning with just 1.5 hectares of land in the hills of Gaiole in Chianti, Tuscany. Under their guidance, Riecine became one of the first producers in Chianti Classico to create a 100% Sangiovese wine at a time when regulations still required the inclusion of white grape varieties.
In 1991, following John Dunkley's death, the estate passed to his wife Palmina, who later sold it to American Gary Baumann and Italian Carlo Gardini. The property changed hands again in 2011 when Russian entrepreneur Alexander Chepurnoy acquired the estate. Since then, Alessandro Campatelli has served as the winemaker, maintaining continuity in Riecine's winemaking approach while implementing refinements to vineyard management and cellar practices.
Vineyards & Wines
Riecine's vineyards now encompass 20 hectares spread across the hills of Gaiole in Chianti, one of the highest and coolest zones within the Chianti Classico denomination. The vineyards sit at elevations between 450 and 500 meters above sea level, with soils predominantly composed of galestro (a schistous clay) and alberese (limestone), providing excellent drainage and mineral complexity.
Sangiovese dominates the plantings, accounting for approximately 90% of the vineyard area, with small amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon completing the portfolio. The estate received organic certification in 2011, with all vineyards now managed according to certified organic protocols.
The winery produces several distinct bottlings, including their flagship Chianti Classico, Chianti Classico Riserva, and the single-vineyard "Riecine di Riecine" made exclusively from Sangiovese. Their Super Tuscan "La Gioia" incorporates small percentages of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon alongside Sangiovese. Annual production averages 80,000 bottles across all wines.
Philosophy & Practice
Riecine's winemaking philosophy centers on expressing the distinctive terroir of their Gaiole vineyards through minimal intervention practices. Harvest is conducted entirely by hand, with grapes sorted both in the vineyard and again at the winery. Fermentation occurs in a combination of concrete tanks and wooden vats, using indigenous yeasts to maintain site expression.
The aging program varies by wine: their Chianti Classico spends 12 months in a combination of large Slavonian oak casks and used French barriques, while the Riserva and single-vineyard bottlings receive extended aging of 18-24 months in predominantly used French oak. The winery avoids excessive new oak to preserve the purity of fruit and site character.
In the vineyards, organic practices include cover cropping, natural composting, and the elimination of synthetic chemicals. The estate maintains biodiversity through the preservation of surrounding forest land and olive groves that create natural buffers between vineyard blocks. This comprehensive approach to sustainability extends to the cellar, where solar panels provide a portion of the winery's energy needs.