Description

Donna Laura Alteo Chianti Riserva D.O.C.G.

The story of Donna Laura Wines is a nomadic discovery of heritage and matriarchal devotion as linear as the winding roads that weave through the hillsides and vineyards of Tuscany. The history follows vintner Lia Tolaini Banville from her birthplace in Canada to her ancestral home outside the city of Lucca, where at the age of six on her family’s annual summer holiday, Lia met her Aunt Laura who would become a driving force in in her life. Laura was mother to three rough-and-tumble boys and immediately bonded with Lia. Thus began the tradition of yearly visits where during the warm summer days and nights Laura would instill in Lia an appreciation for Italian culture, history, music and most of all art. Laura’s presence in Lia’s life would inspire her as a mother, cook, vintner and businessperson and after graduating with degrees in art and economics and starting a family of her own, Lia would continue to visit her Aunt Laura with her own children growing this family bond.

In 2004 an opportunity arose to write a new chapter in the story, this time in Castelnuovo Berardenga with the production of the Chianti wine label Donna Laura. A loving tribute to the woman whose lessons of family, tradition and honor would share double billing with Lia’s own heritage. Roman gods Venus, Bacchus and Cupid personifying Lia’s children adorn the labels of Donna Laura Wines, celebrating this legacy of devotion to family and affirming the adage ‘Chi si volta, a chi si gira, sempre a casa va finire’ – no matter where you go or turn you will always end up at home.

Sangiovese grapes are selected in Donna Laura’s vineyards in Castelnuovo Berardenga and then carefully destemmed in the winery and put immediately into steel vats without crushing. Alteo undergoes a temperature-controlled fermentation. The must is kept in contact with the skins for about 20 days with pumping over performed every 10 hours and 1 délestage a week. The wine matures for one year in 25HL barrels and 6 months in stainless steel with another 6 months in bottle.
The name Alteo is a combination of the names of owner Lia Tolaini-Banville’s sons, Alessandro and Matteo. The painting is a detail of Bacchus from artist Rik Olsen’s Bramosia painting.

Donna Laura Alteo Chianti Riserva D.O.C.G. features a clear, ruby-red color. Clean aromas of wild rose, black currant and sour black cherry. Persistent flavors of red berries with soft tannins and an overall fine structure.

Donna Laura Alteo Chianti Riserva D.O.C.G. Notes To Your Senses:

• APPEARANCE: Ruby red
• AROMA: Wild rose, black currant and sour black cherry
• TASTE: Persistent flavors of red berries with soft tannins
• FINISH: Lingering and well balanced
• ABV: 13.5%