Villa Petriolo celebrates Life and Wine
Welcome to the first in our series spotlighting the sustainable and organic vineyards and wineries of Italy that will be featured in the upcoming second edition of Healthy Vines, Pure Wines: Methods in Organic, Biodynamic, Natural, and Sustainable Viticulture
“Villa Petriolo wants to offer an inclusive reconnection with nature without losing luxury and comfort. At the same time we want to transform what the Earth has given us, without being transgressive, but on the contrary, to be sustainable and make everything part of the cycle while respecting the balance of nature.”
Villa Petriolo is a 170 hectare sustainable and organic farm-villa system with 14 hectares devoted to vineyards located in the Tuscan countryside near Florence, Italy. The main building dates from the sixteenth century, a time principally known as the period of the Rinascimento, an era famous for its artists and the joy of living in the moment. That spirit of rebirth and celebration of life is present today, thanks to the efforts of Daniele Nannetti, CEO and founder.
Recently, our good friend and colleague Cristina Mascanzoni Kaiser spoke with Daniele about the choices Villa Petriolo makes to bring this vision of regenerative agriculture and hospitality to fruition.
A contemporary Renaissance
The Italian Renaissance drew inspiration from the classical period and its vitality rooted in humanity’s bond with the natural, physical world. Like the sixteenth scholars and artists before her, Daniele believes that the rich history of her region provides a model to help restore a synergistic relationship between man and nature.
“When we discovered the villa and studied its history, we realized how important it would be to go back to its roots. Those times were full of knowledge and expertise regarding regenerative agriculture and sustainable living. A contemporary Renaissance, following the model of regenerative agriculture was exactly what we envisioned for Villa Petriolo. We use ancient knowledge about regenerative farming and combine it with state-of-the-art technology to achieve our high sustainability and quality standards. At Villa Petriolo we have found a perfect marriage between the historical heritage and modern achievements.”
It starts with the climate
“Our project was born out of the necessity of climate change mitigation which means we had a holistic climate strategy since the very beginning. For us being not only sustainable, but even carbon neutral was a priority. Since Day One we have done everything possible to not only offer organic, high-quality wines that are in line with our general philosophy of a sustainable luxury farm in the heart of Tuscany.”
Daniele is passionate in her commitment to this philosophy. “Sustainability is and should not be a trend or a marketing strategy, but rather a necessity to encounter the climate change. We want to show that being sustainable is possible and be a role model for others to be inspired.”
She believes that sustainable strategies should start with a logistical and structural planning that allows the business to combine eco-sustainable management with economic profit. The goal is a win-win situation that combines environmental protection management with a sustainable financial return that also allows investment in human resources at 0 km. Employing young people who live in the area where your business is located will be rewarded by their desire and ability to be that added value to such an operation.
Furthermore, Villa Petriolo aims to provide inspiration for others to follow. “We would prefer not to be seen as something particularly special, as the only way we can face the future is to have many places like this,” Daniele told us. “We don’t want to be unique anymore, we want to help others choosing the same path and are therefore also offering our knowledge to interested structures on a consultancy basis. Only working together we can move away from the pure vision of a sustainable world, creating it instead.”
Sustainable farming & hospitality
At Villa Petriolo, farming principles are based on the guidelines of organic farming within the European Union. The vineyards, olive groves and gardens utilize only insecticides specifically allowed by those guidelines and only if absolutely necessary. Limited use of fertilizers and a practice of crop rotation ensure a nutrient rich and healthy soil.
Hospitality at Villa Petriolo plays a role as well. Guests are feted with a menu rich in ancient grain varieties grown on the property and known for their health benefits and high digestibility. Wastewater from the hotel, restaurants, and pools are purified in a closed, circular water system for use for irrigation in agriculture and also provides a small ecological oasis with fish and waterfowl.
Guests can connect with the regenerative spirit of Villa Petriolo for themselves through a Wellness Center, which offers experiences, treatments, and massages that are closely linked to nature and the raw materials of the region. The two swimming pools utilize modern systems that reduce the environmental impact with the least waste of water. Horseback and e-bike tours of the Tuscan hills are available as well.
The Wines of Villa Petriolo
Villa Petriolo offers its guests wines for any taste including not only the traditional Italian Chianti grapes such as Sangiovese, Canaiolo and Colorino, but also the more international ones like Merlot, Carmenere, Barbera, and Petit Verdot. White varietals offered are Vermentino, Trebbiano and Viognier.
“We produce Chianti DOCG and Chianti Riserva DOCG , a blend of Sangiovese and Merlot named Golpaja IGT , a Supertuscan named Poggiarello IGT with Sangiovese , Barbera , Carmenere and Petit Verdot ; an Sangiovese Rosé called I Greti IGT and last but not least a white wine named Due Mulini IGT with Vermentino, Trebbiano and Viognier.”
From 2020 vintage onward, all Villa Petriolo wines produced are organic.
Discover Villa Petriolo
Villa Petriolo is a restored villa and estate in the heart of Tuscany. It was awarded Best Sustainable Place 2021 by Save the Planet. Villa Petriolo is also certified as follows:
ISO 21401 Tourism and related services —. Sustainability management system for accommodation establishments
ISO 14067 - "Greenhouse gases - Carbon footprint of products - Requirements and guidelines for quantification and Communication”
ISO 14046, “Environmental management – Water Footprint – Principles, requirements and guidelines”
Visit Villa Petriolo at Via di Petriolo , 7 – 50053 – Cerreto Guidi ( Firenze ) – Toscana
Learn more online at www.villapetriolotuscany.com