Toscana IGT "Lo Straniero" 2020

Lo Straniero is a Toscana IGT red wine produced by Val delle Corti winery in Radda in Chianti, a blend of Sangiovese and Merlot.

Lo Straniero is perhaps the wine with which Roberto "fights" the most. From my visit, I gathered that although his origins are Milanese, Roberto truly feels like a Chianti native, a pure "Sangiovese-lover." About fifteen years ago, he found himself planting Merlot, perhaps persuaded by a friend, and today he vinifies it, naturalizing it to Radda: a Merlot with a Sangiovese cut that sheds structures or frameworks from beyond the Alps, maximizing its nuances of fruit, spice, and acidity.

The Winery: Val Delle Corti

Originally from Milan, Giorgio Bianchi moved with his family to the Chianti region in 1974, specifically to Radda in Chianti, a wild area at the time, largely untouched by mass tourism but with a great winemaking tradition. Over time, Giorgio renovated the Val Delle Corti farm, building the winery and replanting the surrounding vineyards. Since 1999, the estate has been run by his son Roberto, who, assisted by his wife Lis, cultivates vineyards and olive groves organically, and has brought wine production to levels of excellence. The estate currently cultivates about 7 hectares of vineyards, with an annual production of approximately 40,000 bottles.