VILLA LA RIPA
The Land
At Villa La Ripa, the art of the vineyard has been handed down for centuries. The old renaissance farmhouse, built around a tower from the year 1000, and the fine wine cellar are nestled on the gentle hills of the Chianti area of Arezzo near Siena and Florence, in the heart of Tuscany. Seasons, years, and centuries go by but the first goal at Villa La Ripa has always been to obtain wines of great quality and elegance, an authentic expression of the Tuscan territory.
The People
Saverio Luzzi is a renowned neuroscientist who bought Villa La Ripa as his week-ends and holiday retreat, with no intention whatsoever of producing wine. However, while he was restoring the house he discovered antique artefacts of Roman times including jars for the storage of olive oil and wine of the first recorded owner of Villa La Ripa: Marcus Peconio, a noble Roman from the 2nd century! After that discovery Doctor Saverio couldn’t excuse himself from continuing the millennial tradition so he decided against cutting the vineyards to make a garden as originally planned
The Wines
Sangiovese “Peconio” IGT Toscana : Named after the first recorded owner of the farm, Marco Peconio, a Roman of about 200 aD. 100% Sangiovese from the nearby vineyard; 60% is aged in French oak barrels for 6 months while 40% is vinified in steel. A Sangiovese with soft tannins that fully reflects Tuscany and the territory of Arezzo
Gambero Rosso: 2 Bicchieri, Veronelli: 91 points, Luca Maroni: 91 points, Vini Buoni Espresso: 17/20, Selection: 87,5 points – 3 stars Meran Wine Festival: 89,99 pts, Guida Vitae: 2 clusters
SuperTuscan “Psyco” IGT Toscana: The name is a tongue-in-cheek dedication by Dr.Saverio to his profession (neurologist). Psyco is Villa La Ripa take on the “SuperTuscan” concept, where the Cabernet Sauvignon completes and integrates with its structure the elegance and finesse of Sangiovese.The best Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are vinified separately and aged in French barriques for 12 months, before marry in equal parts and bottle-aged for another 2 years.
Decanter: SILVER MEDAL, Gambero Rosso: 2 Bicchieri, Veronelli: 91 pts., Luca Maroni: 90 pts. IWSC: SILVER MEDAL, Selection: 87 pts. – 3 stars, AWC Wien: 89,7 pts., Meran WineFestival: 89.99 pts., Mundus Vini: 86,5 pts, Guida Vitae: 3 stars, Gusto dei Guidi: Best IGT Toscana red
