Petrolo

Nestled between Florence and Arezzo lies the Arno River, flanked by the historically significant Val d'Arno, renowned for its olives, wine, and forests, along with remnants of ancient castles and forts. Believed to have origins dating back to an Etruscan stronghold, the Tower of Galatrona now graces the labels of Fattoria Petrolo, integrated into its expansive lands.

Since 2011, the acclaimed winery has been included in the DOC Valdarno di Sopra, reclaiming the historical name of the region. Dating back to 1716, when Cosimo II de Medici designated Val d'Arno di Sopra among Tuscany's finest zones for olive and wine cultivation, this region was formerly known as Chianti Colli Aretini. However, the Bazzocchi-Sanjust family, who acquired the estate in the late 1940s, sought to elevate its standards, eventually departing from the Consorzio to prioritize quality. Despite this move, their wines, labeled as Rosso Toscana IGT, received acclaim, with the Galatrona 2015 being hailed as the second-best wine globally by James Suckling.

Situated at elevations ranging from 250 to 450 meters above sea level, Fattoria Petrolo encompasses 272 hectares of land, 26 hectares dedicated to vineyards. The oldest vines trace back to 1947, with extensive replanting undertaken in the 1990s under the guidance of Prof. Scienza from the University of Milan. With Galestro soils typical of the Apennine region, intermixed with slate, limestone, clay, and sandstone, the terroir imparts minerality to the wines.

In addition to Sangiovese, the primary variety, Fattoria Petrolo cultivates small quantities of old indigenous varietals alongside Merlot, the cornerstone of their highly acclaimed Galatrona. A mix of Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Petit Verdot also finds its place, with Cabernet Sauvignon planted in the highest reaches below the tower, employing the bush culture technique known as Albarello. Noteworthy is the Vin Santo produced from white grapes, and the collaboration with Lucien le Moine from Burgundy to craft the exceptional "Boggina B" white wine, showcasing innovation in Tuscany's winemaking landscape.

Under the leadership of Luca Sanjust, the winery embraces innovation, incorporating terracotta amphorae alongside modern equipment, cement tanks, and wooden barrels of varying sizes. With a dedicated team including oenologists Stefano Guidi and Simone Cuccoli, agronomist Carlo Nesterini, and consultant Carlo Ferrini, Fattoria Petrolo is committed to organic cultivation, aiming to pioneer the transition of the entire DOC Valdarno di Sopra to organic farming, a testament to their forward-thinking approach.

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


FACTS

Year Founded: 1947
Owner: Luca Sanjust di Teulada
Annual production: approx. 70,000 bottles
Vineyard: approx. 26 hectares
Natural/ organic cultivation