Ghizzano is a small hillside hamlet situated at 650 feet above sea level in the northwestern part of the Tuscany, halfway between Florence and Pisa.
We are in the Colline Pisane production zone, a group of hills to the southeast of Pisa. None of these undulating hills is higher than 650 feet, the landscape is a soft and gentle one, and the climate is mild, tempered by the sea breezes which protect the area from extreme temperatures and from spring frosts as well. The soil is a complex and interesting one: once upon a time, the zone was covered by the sea and the terrain is still rich in marine fossils. There is sand and clay, iron and other minerals.
My family arrived at Ghizzano towards the end of the 14th century. The wine and the olive were, from the very beginning, the center of the agriculture of the various farms which composed the estate. For centuries production went forward with a deep respect for tradition. In these last fifteen years we have tried hard to combine tradition and innovation and technology.
We have gradually replanted 85% of the Ghizzano vineyards, replacing the old spacing of 1000 vines per acre with new and more tightly spaced training systems, passing first to 1800 vines per acre in 1989 to over 2600 vines per acre in 1999 and 2002.
The estate currently extends over approximately 865 acres with 48 acres of vineyards, 75 acres of olive groves, 370 acres of cereals, and 370 acres of woods and poplar groves. Our goal is to continue to invest in vineyards in order to push the total surface under vines to 60-65 acres and produce a limited quantity of truly high level bottles for the market, respecting the character which the territory gives to the wines, maintaining and reinforcing the elegance and aromatic richness which these gently rolling hills give to the grapes.
Few bottles, but choice ones. Investing all that we have in terms of energy and commitment to our wines, believing in them to the maximum possible degree.
The other two principal activities of our property now under development are the production olive oil and country tourism at the estate. We have restored and renovated with taste and care several old stone farm houses, decorating them with our family's own furniture in order to offer hospitality of real quality. And we have begun a biological cultivation of the 75 acres of olive groves which give the olives for our extra-virgin olive oil.
The Holiday Farmhouse
Just a few hundred metres from the little hamlet of Ghizzano, we will be delighted to welcome you to our Holiday Farm, characterised by farmhouses which we have lovingly and meticulously restored, respecting and preserving a rural spirit while offering every comfort and the latest equipment to allow guests to really enjoy the most relaxing holidays.
They are all just a few hundred metres from the centre of the little hamlet of Ghizzano, where you'll experience the courtesy and warm welcome of locals and you'll find a small general store which stocks essentials.
Every house has its own green garden and swimming pool. You'll feel like you're immersed in the Tuscan countryside, characterised by gently rolling hills, olive groves and vineyards. Each farmhouse has its own name, assigned by our ancestors when they built them.
IL MONTE
SAN PROSPERO
SANTA GIULIA
GORGO
CASA GUARDIA
We will be delighted to lead you through a tasting of oil, wine and typical produce in our historical cellars, to give you the chance to sample our production, completely inspired by natural and local farming techniques.
Visit our website, entirely dedicated to hospitality, where you will find a range of helpful information with a view to coming to visit us in person. Click the following banner to enter the website.