La Croce Farm

The origins of “La Croce” estate date back to the 1960s, when the Zari family, farmers for generations, took over its ownership and continued the agricultural activity. Today it is run by the families of Renzo, Ademaro, Ivo and Sergio Zari who, with their families, cultivate the land and manage the wine and olive oil production.

The estate is situated between Castellina in Chianti and Poggibonsi (Siena), near the Sant’Agnese Nature Reserve, the only Italian example of a natural cypress grove featured by spontaneous renewal, dating back to about 10 centuries ago and considered to be an authentic historical monument of considerable landscape-related value. The average altitude of the estate is approximately 350 metres above sea level and the soil is stony and mixed consistency, excellent for vines cultivation and particularly for high quality wines production; it occupies an overall area of 160 hectares, divided among vineyards, olive groves, seed crops and woodland.

The vineyard stretches for 70 hectares, 15 are listed in the Chianti Classico register, 40 are listed in the Chianti register and the remaining 15 are classified as Indicazione Geografica Tipica Toscana (Tuscan Typical Geographic Indication). Approximately 15 hectares are planted with 4500 olive trees of the classic varieties, known as Frantoio, Moraiolo, Leccino and Pendolino; the estate layout is completed by lands cultivated with seed crops (60 hectares) and woods (15 hectares).

The grape harvest is carried out strictly by hand and the grapes are immediately transported to our cellar – a modern structure where technology combines with the high quality required for all the vinification and ageing processes.
About 4500 hectoliters of wine come out of the cellar every year: Chianti Classico DOCG, Chianti DOCG, IGT Toscano, and Red and White Table Wine. The olive grove produces about 7 tons of extra virgin olive oil, part of which is classified as Denomination of Protected Origin (DOP) “Chianti Classico”.
The estate has an outstanding production capacity and, despite the dimensions reached over the years, continues to be a family run farm.