Gagliole is renowned as one of the most beautiful estates in Tuscany, the region of the world most famous for the beauty of its wine estates. Located in Castellina in Chianti, near Siena, the property has a long and illustrious history: a manuscript in the State Archives in Siena reveals that the son of the Langobard King Berengarius, who had fallen in love with the Tuscan countryside, bequeathed the Gagliole Estate to his wife in 994 A.D.

Since 1990 the estate has been the property of Thomas and Monica Bar, a Swiss couple who had also fallen in love with the Tuscan countryside: it became their passionate dream to become the owners of Gagliole. They are deeply committed to the preservation of the local ecology and the ancient tradition of farming in harmony with nature. They have recently extended their commitment to Tuscan agriculture, having purchased a property in Radda.

Gagliole's wines are made by Stefano Chioccioli, the highly respected Oenologist also associated with Tua Rita and Fanti. Gagliole's elegant wines are an expression of his devotion to the ideal of 'Dolcessa' - mellowness, softness, gentleness. The vineyards are planted at an altitude of 1640 feet (very high for Tuscany), with ideal South/Southeast exposure . The impoverished mineral-poor yellow/brown argillaceous soil - light, well-drained, full of humus - combines with the mild climate to produce wines of a very round and generous character -that is, full of 'Dolcessa'.

Rubiolo Chianti is made from sangiovese and a little merlot. The grapes are hand-picked and fermented in a combination of 70% oak (vats and barrels) and 30% stainless steel. The wine is elegant, refined, soft, and smooth - perfect for early drinking, with sangiovese's classic raspberry, cherry, and plum aromas and flavours. It has a luscious texture combined with the classic Tuscan structure provided by fresh acidity and ripe (present but not astringent) tannins - a modern, forward expression of a lovely old property.