Fabrizio Dionisio
Discover the enchanting world of Fabrizio Dionisio, who has almost exclusively dedicated his land to the cultivation of Syrah, which truly thrives in the hillsides of Cortana (sometimes referred to as the Italian Côtes-du-Rhône).
Indeed, the principal reason for visiting the vineyards of Italy, would undoubtedly primarily be to explore its wealth of inspiring indigenous varietals. However, with our affinity for the wines of the Rhone Valley, it was a quest for Syrah, which took me to the little-known area, of Cortona this summer. Located on the eastern side of Tuscany, close to Umbria, the ancient town of Cortona stands proudly on a hill at the base of the Appennine mountains. Lying on the surrounding hills and plains, the vineyards were given DOC and DOP status in 1999 and have gained particular recognition for their impressive Syrah wines, which make up the majority of the plantings here.
Having been pointed in the direction of the leading producers, I tasted an array of undeniably impressive Syrah wines, but it wasn’t until my final visit, to the charming estate of Fabrizio Dionisio, that I felt that I had truly discovered what I was looking for. Possessing incredible purity, and elegant complexity, all the wines here were truly beautiful.
The farm, Il Castagno, was purchased by Fabizio’s father in 1970, as the family’s holiday home. The property came with 7 ha of grounds, including woodland, olive groves and 3 ha of vine. There was also a lovely quaint cellar with a few small cement tanks, where his father enjoyed vinifying wines to be enjoyed by family and friends. Fabrizio loved spending his summers at the farm and along with his father, always shared the dream of producing a truly great, ‘genuine’ wine here that would really reflect the typicity of the region. In 1990, they he purchased a second, estate in the region, Poggio del Sole, increasing their vineyard holding to 15 ha, a sufficient quantity to make their vision a reality.
Both farms are located on the ancient hillsides around Cortona (at around 300 meters of average altitude) and the wines are vinified in the old cement tanks of the original winery at Il Castagno, although Fabrizio has added a few additions to the cellar over the years. This is certainly where the heart of the estate lies and why Fabrizio named the signature wine (Syrah Cortona DOC, 100% Syrah), first produced in 2003.
While the winemaking techniques embrace modernity, the essence remains emphatically artisanal. Almost exclusively reliant on manual labour, from the vineyard to the cellar, Fabrizio's dedication to organic and sustainable practices shines through. Every bottle is crafted with soul, aiming to rival the best Syrah wines in the world. The numerous accolades received, including recognition from Gambero Rosso and Veronelli, speak volumes about the success of this visionary endeavour.
Vinified and matured in tank, the 2022 Syrah ‘Castagnino’ is all about the wonderful purity and vibrancy of the Syrah. Perfectly balanced, this is an immediate joy! The Il Castagno, which spends some 18 months in used French oak, is a real revelation, with wonderful depth and complexity akin to a great Cornas. The Linfa Syrah, shows the influence of the clay amphora, persistent and direct, with distinctive minerality. Finally for the reds, the single vineyard Cuculaia is another entity! A sensational vin de garde. In addition to the glorious reds, Fabrizio produces a seriously stylish and elegant Syrah rose, an irresistibly delicious Pet Nat, styled sparkling Syrah and finally a remarkably fine Viognier, which like the Linfa Syrah, showcases the slightly saline minerality from the terroir here.
These are truly delightful and beautifully crafted wines. As Fabrizio himself says “Our winery is artisanal in nature; it’s a studio, a workshop, an atelier. And we have every intention of staying like this. Our existence, our reality, is based on quality over quantity
Indeed, the principal reason for visiting the vineyards of Italy, would undoubtedly primarily be to explore its wealth of inspiring indigenous varietals. However, with our affinity for the wines of the Rhone Valley, it was a quest for Syrah, which took me to the little-known area, of Cortona this summer. Located on the eastern side of Tuscany, close to Umbria, the ancient town of Cortona stands proudly on a hill at the base of the Appennine mountains. Lying on the surrounding hills and plains, the vineyards were given DOC and DOP status in 1999 and have gained particular recognition for their impressive Syrah wines, which make up the majority of the plantings here.
Having been pointed in the direction of the leading producers, I tasted an array of undeniably impressive Syrah wines, but it wasn’t until my final visit, to the charming estate of Fabrizio Dionisio, that I felt that I had truly discovered what I was looking for. Possessing incredible purity, and elegant complexity, all the wines here were truly beautiful.
The farm, Il Castagno, was purchased by Fabizio’s father in 1970, as the family’s holiday home. The property came with 7 ha of grounds, including woodland, olive groves and 3 ha of vine. There was also a lovely quaint cellar with a few small cement tanks, where his father enjoyed vinifying wines to be enjoyed by family and friends. Fabrizio loved spending his summers at the farm and along with his father, always shared the dream of producing a truly great, ‘genuine’ wine here that would really reflect the typicity of the region. In 1990, they he purchased a second, estate in the region, Poggio del Sole, increasing their vineyard holding to 15 ha, a sufficient quantity to make their vision a reality.
Both farms are located on the ancient hillsides around Cortona (at around 300 meters of average altitude) and the wines are vinified in the old cement tanks of the original winery at Il Castagno, although Fabrizio has added a few additions to the cellar over the years. This is certainly where the heart of the estate lies and why Fabrizio named the signature wine (Syrah Cortona DOC, 100% Syrah), first produced in 2003.
While the winemaking techniques embrace modernity, the essence remains emphatically artisanal. Almost exclusively reliant on manual labour, from the vineyard to the cellar, Fabrizio's dedication to organic and sustainable practices shines through. Every bottle is crafted with soul, aiming to rival the best Syrah wines in the world. The numerous accolades received, including recognition from Gambero Rosso and Veronelli, speak volumes about the success of this visionary endeavour.
Vinified and matured in tank, the 2022 Syrah ‘Castagnino’ is all about the wonderful purity and vibrancy of the Syrah. Perfectly balanced, this is an immediate joy! The Il Castagno, which spends some 18 months in used French oak, is a real revelation, with wonderful depth and complexity akin to a great Cornas. The Linfa Syrah, shows the influence of the clay amphora, persistent and direct, with distinctive minerality. Finally for the reds, the single vineyard Cuculaia is another entity! A sensational vin de garde. In addition to the glorious reds, Fabrizio produces a seriously stylish and elegant Syrah rose, an irresistibly delicious Pet Nat, styled sparkling Syrah and finally a remarkably fine Viognier, which like the Linfa Syrah, showcases the slightly saline minerality from the terroir here.
These are truly delightful and beautifully crafted wines. As Fabrizio himself says “Our winery is artisanal in nature; it’s a studio, a workshop, an atelier. And we have every intention of staying like this. Our existence, our reality, is based on quality over quantity
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