Brancaia

Brancaia is one of the top wine producers in Tuscany. The winery is located in Radda, a small town between Florence and Siena. The story of Brancaia began in 1981 when the Swiss couple Bruno and Brigitte Widmer fell in love with the Tuscan countryside and decided to buy a holiday home including the vineyards that surrounded it. They started making wine as a hobby when they were in Tuscany. But after only two years of ‘’hobby wine production’’ they managed to win the first place at a major Chianti Classico tasting organized by Vinum, a Swiss magazine. 

In 1998 their daughter, Barbara Widmer became the owner of the winery and runs the business together with a team of 35 people. Barbara wanted to become an architect in the first place but then decided to study oenology. Environmental protection is a priority at Brancaia. The vineyards are treated with sustainable care, and individual sick or dead vines are manually replanted and nurtured until the roots are strong enough. Since 2019 their wineries in Castellina Radda and the Maremma
became officially organic.

The wines are always at the top of the list at tastings and are highly praised by international wine critics. The elegant wines are matured in two cellars, Chianti Classico and Maremma. 

The first wine in Maremma was produced in 2015, the 100% Cabernet Sauvignon ‘’No.2’’. Also, the ilatraia is produced at their winery in the Maremma coast. Their flag ship wine ‘il Blu’, the ‘Tre’ and their Chianti Classico (Riserva & Gran Selezione) are produced at their estate in Radda.

If you ever get the chance to visit the winery, it's definitely worth it! You taste the wines in the top floor of the winery with a breathtaking view over the vineyards while tasty snacks from the Osteria kitchen are served.

Top Brancaia vintages are: 1997, 1999, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2020.

FACTS

Year Founded: 1981
Owner: Family Widmer
Annual production: approx. 700,000 bottles
Vineyard: approx. 80 hectares
Sustainable company with organic farming