The Wines of TuttoToscana 2018: Azienda La Lastra
By Caroline Horan, Isabella Daguanno, and Jillian Love
Photo by Donald Blair
Tuscany and its Wines students teach us about winery La Lastra and its fabulous wines.
La Lastra is a vineyard and farm that specializes in creating red and white wines. Two types that they are notorious for are their DOCG Chianti Colli Senesi and DOCG Vernaccia di San Gimignano. La Lastra has two farm locations, one that is near San Gimignano (7 hectares) and another near Siena (23 hectares). The company only uses organic methods to grow their grapes and olive trees. The vinification process for their red grapes occurs in their wine cellar in Marciano. The Vernaccia di San Gimignano grapes are made in San Gimignano and is turned into wine by the guidelines of Italian wine law. Nadia Betti, Renato Spanu, Christian Betti, Enrico Paternoster and Valerio Zorzi founded La Lastra in 1994. The team has devoted their work to sustainable and organic wine production. La Lestra’s philosophy is “putting order into the scale of values connected to life is the only way to give a future to our planet…. On the strength of this creed, here are the principles that guide our sustainable activities: Environment before business, People before brand, Substance before shape. Scientific Research, Respect, Empathy and Ethics are the basic principles of all our managing actions, for either small or big, short or long-term projects.” (Betti,Nadia).
The areas where Chianti Colli Senesi are produced are San Gimignano and Siena. This wine is 95% Sangiovese, 3% of Canaiolo nero, and 2% of Malvasia Bianca and Trebbiano.
Chianti Colli Senesi is an organic wine with an alcohol content of 13.0%.The last time this grape was harvested was in 2015 and created 30,000 bottles. The average altitude of where the grapes are grown is 280 mt a.s.l and the type of soil is needed in order for the grapes to produce properly is Pliocene clayey soil with intrusion of calcareous sand. The thickness of the plants is 2800 to 5000 vinestocks/HA. The growing system that is used is guyot and spur-pruning system. Chianti Colli Senesi time harvesting is the first decade of October and the harvesting is done in selection of bunches only picked by hands while handling 300 kg tanks. The type of fermentation tanks is stainless steel of small capacity; the fermentation temperature is 26 degrees Celsius and the duration take 14 days. The time of bottling of this wine is from October after harvesting and the refinement period is at least 2 months. Chianti Colli Senesi capacity of aging is 3 to 6 years after harvesting. Chianti Colli Senesi is deep ruby red with medium complexity. This wine has hints of red fruits, flowers, spices and minerals. Chianti Colli Senesi is of medium structure, well balanced, fresh and persistent. Chianti Colli Senesi should be served at 18 degrees Celsius. This wine pairs nicely with pasta dishes, red meats, cold cuts and medium-aged cheeses.
Image source: lalastra.it
Throughout the Tuscan region, there are many popular wines created, both white and red. A very common, well known white wine produced is Vernaccia di San Gimignano which is created in San Gimignano. It consists of a medium deep straw yellow color with a taste full of structure that is sapid, mineral, fresh and persistent also giving a pleasant floral and slightly fruity scent and a slightly bitter aftertaste. It was last harvested in 2016 typically during mid to the end of September. This wine consists of 98% Vernaccia di San Gimignano, and 2% Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia Bianca Lunga del Chianti grapes. During the harvesting process, grapes are picked by hand and are only picked by the bunches in 300kg tanks. They are then placed in steel tanks to begin the fermentation process in 16 degrees’ Celsius temperature for 15 days. This wine is enjoyed all over the world. It is primarily accompanied with a light fish dish or with white meat. It can also be served as aperitivo and with antipasti.( Bette, Natti)
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