Best Italian Wine At 2020 London Wine Competition Is…

Villa Saletta Chianti 2015 has secured 96 points making it the best italian wine at the 2020 London Wine Competition.

The wine is brought to you by Villa Saletta. For centuries winemaking here has reflected the complete ecosystem of the estate, intrinsically connected to both the cultivated and natural environments around us, with every detail of that ecosystem playing its own crucial part. And as such, we fundamentally believe that truly great wines will only come from sympathetically and holistically caring for that environment as has always been the case. The role of innovation at Villa Saletta is to enhance that tradition: giving us a modern technical understanding of the landscape and allowing us to manage as many of the details of the estate as possible.

To recognise and control the impact of biodiversity and insect life, of soil type and terroir, of human process and natural elements. It allows us to understand precisely what our landscape is able to produce: which is why alongside the classic Tuscan variety of Sangiovese we are also experimenting with a range of varieties from further afield, including Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, all perfectly suited to our terroir.Villa Saletta has sat at the centre of Tuscan life for centuries. Its history can be traced back to 980AD, with the first written account of the estate’s winemaking. And whilst many things have changed since that era, each chapter of the estate’s history is captured within its walls and carved into its landscape.

Beyond wine we are determined to support biodiversity across the estate, therefore much of the landscape is given over to mixed agricultural use. Partly because we know that the more we can encourage biodiversity and balance in our environment, the bigger the impact on viticulture – and partly because it restores an incredible heritage as a working fattoria, producing the finest raw ingredients Tuscany offers.

By hand, by eye, by taste

Whilst many of the viticultural techniques and ideas we use have remained unchanged for centuries, we also use methods less typical of the region, as we continue to develop what we hope to be some of the finest wines in the world.

We only use perfect berries, using small new barrels of Allier French oak with integral fermentation. We also use perlè casks which create a ‘redox atmosphere’. This reduces the amount of oxygen the grapes are exposed to so that first drops of wine develop slowly on the skins. This maintains freshness and aroma whilst extracting colour and roundness for an elegant and supple soft tannin structure.

Villa Saletta Chianti 2015 has secured 96 points making it the best italian wine at the 2020 London Wine Competition

Once the wine has run off its skins, it goes through a complete malolactic fermentation in new French oak barrels. This converts tart or sharp tastes into softer, more buttery flavours. We are the only Italian producer to do this, the technique being more associated with the Bordelais. We think this gives our wines a finesse not usually associated with the region.

Our wines are then aged for at least 24 months in our ageing complex on the eastern slopes of the estate, with testing and tasting taking place throughout the ageing cycle.

Here are the highlights of the 2020 London Wine Competition.

●    Wine Of The Year - The Dead Arm Shiraz 2017, Australia, McLaren Vale

●    Winery Of The Year d'Arenberg, Australia, McLaren Vale

●    Best Wine By Quality - The Dead Arm Shiraz 2017, Australia, McLaren Vale

●    Best Wine By Value - Villa Saletta Chianti 2015, Toscana IGT, Italy

●    Best Wine By Packaging - Silverado Vineyards SOLO Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Napa Valley, United States

About London Wine Competition

The London Wine Competition is an international wine competition organized by Beverage Trade Network. The competition looks to recognise, reward and help promote wine brands that have successfully been created to identify with and target a specific wine drinker.

For any wine brand to earn its place on a retailer’s shelf or a restaurant’s wine list - and then vitally stay there - they need to be marketable and consumer-driven and not just produced in the general hope it can find enough people willing to sell and buy it. Learn more at www.londonwinecompetition.com