Rome – Plan Hunt at Jackie O’ Wine Club

Hunting the Plan:

Tenuta Caccia al Piano is nestled in the enchanting Bolgheri area, where the perfect combination of Mediterranean microclimate and clay-limestone soils gives the ideal terroir for great wines. Here, along the picturesque Via Bolgherese, which runs between vineyards and olive trees, winemaker Franco Ziliani has begun a new adventure dedicating himself to the production of wines that leave their mark. Franco Ziliani, owner of Guido Berlucchi, pioneered the birth of Metodo Classico in Franciacorta in the 1960s. In the early 2000s, he decided to bet on an emerging territory like Bolgheri in Tuscany with the goal of making great red wines. The desire to patiently understand the Bolgheri terroir, respecting what has already been done by the great protagonists who have made the wine of these lands famous, has guided Franco Ziliani’s work from the beginning, now carried on by his children Cristina, Arturo and Paolo. The estate is located in Castagneto Carducci in the hamlet of Bolgheri and was created from the renovation of an ancient hunting estate owned by the noble Della Gherardesca family, dating from 1868. The farmhouse, thanks to a careful work of redevelopment in full respect of the surrounding territory, has been expanded and transformed into the current headquarters of the winery.

The Vineyards of Caccia al Piano:

The spark, which culminated in the purchase of the Caccia al Piano Estate in 2003, was sparked after visiting the San Biagio vineyard, a wonderful area that enjoys a privileged position in the Bolgheri area and a fascinating view of the sea. At 12 hectares, San Biagio is the estate’s largest vineyard. Lying 180 meters above sea level, it is planted in a “humpback” shape on the ridge of the hill overlooking the two slopes with a southeast and southwest exposure. Divided into 7 plots, it has very heterogeneous soils with a clay and limestone texture rich in skeleton. Constant ventilation and solar reflection from the sea give the grapes perfect healthiness. Over the years the winery spreads to other extraodinary soils. First we find Grottine, with an extension of 5 hectares and an East-West orientation, with a characteristic red-colored soil, optimal for growing Merlot. Next comes Cantina, a 3-hectare plot where Petit Verdot vines are grown, with an East-West orientation, and Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, towards the North-South. Finally Le Bozze, 3 hectares characterized by a flat profile in the lower parts near the sea, ideal for white grapes such as Vermentino and Suvignon Blanc.

Jackie O’ Wine Club’s schedule for Wednesday, Feb. 19

Chiara Giannotti will present the evening. With her will be Francesco Lippini, marketing manager of Tenuta Caccia al Piano. , supported by the venue’s sommelier Manuel Pompili. Together they will lead you to discover the extraordinary Bolgheri terroir. They will be tasting four exceptional wines paired with the menu created for the occasion by Chef Federico Sparaco of Jackie O’.