Podere Le Ripi
Founded by Francesco Illy in 1997, Podere Le Ripi is a biodynamic estate in Montalcino, Tuscany, built around the idea of treating the vineyard and the surrounding farm as one living ecosystem. What began as Illy's search for an untouched piece of land eventually became a 35-hectare estate dedicated primarily to Sangiovese, with vineyards spread across both the eastern and western sides of Montalcino.
Since 2012, the estate has been farmed according to biodynamic principles and is Demeter certified, with a strong emphasis on biodiversity, healthy soils and self-sufficiency. The estate goes beyond the vineyards, incorporating vegetable gardens, orchards, olive trees, beehives and animals into one agricultural ecosystem. Their philosophy is simple: “by doing less, we can achieve more,” allowing the climate, vintage, geology and vineyard to define the character of each wine.
The winery is particularly focused on expressing the diversity of Montalcino through Sangiovese. Their vineyards on opposite sides of the appellation experience noticeably different climates and soils, resulting in wines with distinct personalities. In the cellar, fermentation relies on indigenous yeasts, while extended ageing in large oak and concrete allows the wines to develop naturally without masking their sense of place.
Beyond its classic Brunello di Montalcino, Podere Le Ripi is also known for its experimental spirit, most famously the Bonsai vineyard, planted at an exceptionally high density of 62,500 vines per hectare. This combination of traditional Montalcino heritage, biodynamic agriculture and continuous experimentation has made Le Ripi one of the more distinctive modern producers in the region.
Type: Orange Wine (Skin-Contact / Amphora / Biodynamic / Natural)
Region: Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy — Toscana Bianco IGT
Grapes: 50% Malvasia, 50% Trebbiano
Alcohol ABV: 12%
Tasting Profile and Key Notes
Aroma:
Bright yet complex, with yellow apple, ripe pear, peach, grapefruit, mandarin and citrus peel. There are delicate floral notes alongside honey, dried herbs, chamomile and a subtle waxy character. With air, the wine develops more savoury and mineral notes, giving it considerably more depth than a typical Tuscan white.
Palate:
Dry, fresh and textural, with a noticeable but fine tannic grip from the skin contact. Fresh apple, lemon, grapefruit and orchard fruit are balanced by lively acidity and a savoury, mineral character. The finish is dry and slightly bitter, with citrus peel, herbs and subtle nutty notes. It has the unusual combination of white-wine freshness with the structure and tactile grip of a light red.
Winemaking
The grapes are organically grown and harvested by hand. The 2023 vintage is made with indigenous yeasts and fermentation/maceration in terracotta amphorae, giving the wine its amber colour, texture and gentle tannic structure. Sources differ on the exact maceration duration, but the producer's technical information confirms amphora fermentation and subsequent maturation; specialist listings describe approximately 12 months of ageing in terracotta and/or concrete.
Farming
Podere Le Ripi is a biodynamic estate in Montalcino, founded by Francesco Illy, with a strong focus on biodiversity, soil health and low-intervention viticulture. The 2023 Canna Torta uses organically grown grapes, with vineyards planted at around 6,000 vines/hectare and harvested manually.
Type: Rosé Wine (Dry / Biodynamic / Natural / Textural)
Region: Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy — Toscana Rosato IGT
Grapes: 100% Sangiovese
Alcohol ABV: 12.5%
Tasting Profile and Key Notes
Aroma:
Bright and expressive, with fresh raspberry, redcurrant, wild strawberry, blood orange and orange zest. Floral notes of rose, jasmine and wild flowers add elegance, while a subtle herbal note reminiscent of sage gives the nose a savoury Tuscan character.
Palate:
Dry, fresh and surprisingly structured for a rosé. Juicy red berries and citrus are supported by vibrant acidity, a pleasant saline character, and very fine tannins. The finish is clean, savoury and slightly bitter-citrusy, giving it considerably more gastronomic character than a simple fruit-driven rosé.
Winemaking
The 2023 vintage is made from a dedicated Sangiovese vineyard, harvested specifically for rosé production. The grapes undergo spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts and approximately 24 hours of skin maceration, followed by gentle pressing. The wine is then aged for around 11 months between stainless steel and concrete, allowing the wine to retain freshness while developing additional texture and depth.
Farming
Podere Le Ripi is a biodynamic estate in Montalcino, founded by Francesco Illy, with a strong focus on biodiversity and regenerative viticulture. The Cappuccetto Rosa vineyard is planted at approximately 6,000 vines per hectare, on relatively young sedimentary alluvial soils containing a mixture of galestro, alberese and granitic material. The grapes are harvested manually, helping preserve freshness and fruit purity.
Type: Red Wine (Brunello di Montalcino / Biodynamic / Traditional / Structured)
Region: Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy — Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
Grapes: 100% Sangiovese
Alcohol ABV: 14.5% according to Podere Le Ripi's 2020 technical sheet.
Tasting Profile and Key Notes
Aroma:
Complex and refined, with red cherry, wild strawberry, raspberry and blackberry, followed by violet, dried flowers and forest-floor aromas. The 2020 vintage also shows more savoury and mineral nuances of cold smoke, graphite, flint, mint and subtle balsamic herbs, giving the wine considerable depth.
Palate:
Medium to full-bodied, powerful but still fresh, with vibrant acidity and fine yet distinctly grippy tannins. Red and dark berries lead into earthy, graphite and balsamic flavours, with a subtle saline/mineral character. The finish is long and elegant, although the 2020 is still quite youthful and structured, with plenty of capacity to develop further in bottle.
Winemaking
The 2020 Cielo d'Ulisse is fermented with indigenous yeasts, with approximately 20 days of fermentation and maceration. The wine is then matured for around 36 months in large oak casks, allowing the Sangiovese to develop complexity while avoiding excessive new-oak character. It subsequently receives extended bottle ageing before release.
Cielo d'Ulisse comes from Podere Le Ripi's western slope, a naturally cooler part of the estate surrounded by forest. The site's alluvial soils contain clay and sand together with fragments of alberese, galestro and macigno toscano, contributing freshness and elegance to the wine.
Farming
Podere Le Ripi farms biodynamically, with a strong emphasis on biodiversity and soil health. The Cielo d'Ulisse vineyards are planted at approximately 4,800 vines per hectare and harvested by hand. The western exposure and surrounding woodland create a cooler microclimate, helping the Sangiovese retain acidity and aromatic freshness even in warmer vintages.