Patrizia Cencioni’s awards’ update

Logo Patrizia Cencioni

Patrizia Cencioni ‘s awards’ update.
Kerin O’ Keefe rated their  beautiful Rosato Toscana 2023 with 93 Points while Brunello di Montalcino 2019  received 98 Pts by Doctor Wine.

ROSATO TOSCANA 2023

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“Made entirely with pre-harvsted Sangiovese destined to make Brunello, the fantastic 2024 Rosato from Patrizia Cencioni has an intense color recalling pink rose petal and intense floral aromas of lavender and rose that mix with small red berry and spice. Dry, savory and linear, the full-flavored palate delivers succulent red cherry, pomegranate and orange zest before a saline close. Bright acidity keeps it vibrant and balanced. Drink through 2027. Abv: 12.5%”
Kerin O’Keefe June 2025
©kerinokeefe.com

 

 

….and ther is more…..

With a ratings of 93 Points,
Patrizia Cenzioni’s Rosato Toscana 2023 reached the 8th place in the Top 25 Italian Rosato.

BRUNELLO MONTALCINO 2019

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Logo Patrizia Cencioni

THE WINERY:

Founded in 1989, the winery Patrizia Cencioni is now managed by three women who continue a tradition started by their grandfather, Giuseppe Cencioni, one of the founders of the Consorzio del Brunello di Montalcino.
The estate spans about 50 hectares, including 8 dedicated to Brunello di Montalcino vineyards and 7 to olive groves. 

Patrizia, Annalisa and Arianna

Last but not least, the winery offers tours and tastings at their location at Podere Capanna, 102 – 53024 Montalcino.

 

Don’t miss out on what’s coming next—follow their pages to stay in the loop

Slow Wine: Cantina LaSelva

Cantina LaSelva Rosa d'Oro e Gran Menzione points

Slow Wine: Cantina LaSelva, TOP WINE BEST BUY – SLOW WINE 2026 seal to the Morellino di Scansano Riserva Colli dell’ Uccellina 2022.

Grapes: Sangiovese, Merlot
Production area: Magliano in Toscana
Grape harvest: manual, in crates
Vinification: the grapes are harvested when they achieve optimal ripeness and vinified separately in small stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature. When fermentation is completed, the Sangiovese is left in contact with the skins for another 10 days, while the Merlot is placed directly into new French oak barriques. At the end of maceration, the Sangiovese is put into French oak tonneuax for 12 months. During maturation the wines are racked twice and combined only shortly before bottling.

Flavour and aroma: ruby red. Fresh notes of red fruits and blackcurrant, finished with complex spice. The palate has a nice articulation from which emerges a lively fruitiness, pleasant tannins and balanced acidity. Good persistence.
Pairings: game, red meat, aged cheeses.

Cantina LaSelva

“Nothing taken away, nothing added”

This is the motto of Cantina LaSelva, founded in 1980 by Karl Egger.
Through his vision and work in developing LaSelva, Egger became one of the pioneers of organic farming in Europe. Karl Egger left his homeland, Munich, and moved to the south of Tuscany where he bought 7 hectares of land. Here he began to grow fruit and vegetables following the simple rules of nature: a choice that led him ten years later to give birth to the organic farming association, Naturland.
In 1984 LaSelva became the first Naturland-certified business beyond German borders.

cantina LaSelva view maremma

In Maremma: Cantina LaSelva is located in a unique place, nestled in the south of Tuscany and surrounded by untamed nature. The varied landscape ranges from the woods of a regional park to medieval villages, and then on to the sea. These are places where you can discover ancient traditions and enjoy true beauty in every season. Maremma is also the birthplace of Tuscan viticulture, with its origins dating back to the Etruscans and their sophisticated civilisation.

The microclimate of the Maremma hills has always brought out the best qualities of Sangiovese grapes, which are used to make wines like Morellino di Scansano – known and loved throughout the world. The combination of minerals, lime, marl and limestone – combined with the coastal influence of the Tyrrhenian Sea – form the basis for opulent, soft red wines and for savoury white wines with a strong personality.

Strictly OrganicEven in the winery, they process the grapes without using unnecessary additives. They apply organic concepts and adopt the most advanced technologies in temperature control, fermentation, pumping over and delicate punching down.

More info?
Take a look at their website

Zenato’s awards’ update

Zenato‘s awards’ update:  Yes, ZENATO DID IT AGAIN!

Nice ratings by James Suckling for theis Amarone Riserva, Amarone Archivio Storico and Lugana Riserva,

Produced only in top vintages, this graceful wine is made from a selection of Corvina and Rondinella grapes grown in the oldest vineyards in the township of Sant’Ambrogio in Valpolicella’s “classic” zone.

Following vinification, it undergoes long-term aging for at least 4 years in Slavonian oak casks.

It represents the very identity of the winery and its legacy throughout the world – a wine that can age and be enjoyed for more than 20 years.

With luminous and dense color, elegant complexity, and a wonderful touch of spice, it’s a wholehearted expression of the land where it is made.

The project: “Amarone Archivio Storico Zenato” was created to celebrate a history of caring, dedication and passion, which led to recognize worldwide the name of Zenato as a synonym of excellence and identity of a unique area: Valpolicella.

The first vintage,(2008) has rested for a decade in large oak barrels.
The milestone of this project that underlines the link to a territory in which we have believed and invested since the beginning.
This is a story of care, dedication and passion.

This Lugana Riserva is the fruit of the Zenato family’s genuine passion and a reflection of their history in the appellation.

The grapes for this wine come from the oldest vines on their Podere Massoni farm. They are harvested slightly late, around mid-October.

Fermentation takes place in oak cask (70%) and stainless steel (30%).

Light brilliant gold in color, this wine delivers intense multi-faceted aromas on the nose, with floral and citrus notes, spices, white plum, and vanilla.

On the palate, it’s rich in flavor, with great depth and balance. An ideal white for aging.

The Story:  Zenato is the story of a family that firmly planted its roots in the land. It was made possible thanks to the passion and entrepreneurial vision of the estate’s founder, Sergio, who managed to fulfill his greatest dream: to create a winery capable of harvesting the fruits of the earth and transform them into emotions with matchless flavor.
Today, more than 60 years later, the results are testament to his extraordinary vision. A wonderful story took shape thanks to his vision and today its star is his family: Wife Carla and children Alberto and Nadia.
Their eyes and their heart continue down the path that Sergio laid out with great clarity as he steadied the course toward quality and love for their land. Over time, that land wasn’t just Lugana but also Valpolicella, with its celebrated red wines and their matchless aromas.

 

Two faces:
One white, the other red, both emblems of high-quality wines that are born through a visceral passion for the land, through respect for time, through a family tradition that has championed local grape varieties for 60 years.

Valpolicella
Taking over the Costalunga estate, in the heart of Valpolicella Classica, Sergio Zenato wanted to measure himself in a new venture, after making the most out of his Lugana vineyards: to make it a model vineyard, beautiful to look at, cared for in every detail, in which to apply modern agronomic techniques and at the same time resume the traditional methods that had defined the Valpolicella landscape.

Lugana
In the flash of an eye and the wonder of Lake Garda is all there: in the beauty of the landscape; in the naturalist, historic, and artistic value of the land; in the mild climate.
The secret of Trebbiano di Lugana, a native grape variety planted on the southern banks of Lake Garda, is hidden in its origins.
With the backdrop of this pristine setting, the gates of the Santa Cristina estate open up on to a broad road with elegant red rose bushes on either side. 

More info? Check their www   

Gold for Grati’s Olive Oil

Gold for Grati's Olive Oil

Fratelli Grati's Olive Oil, honoured with a gold award

Fratelli Grati: A Family Tradition in the Heart of Tuscany

Nestled in the Tuscan countryside, this family-run estate is dedicated to producing exceptional wines and olive oil that honor their land and heritage.

Tuscan Wines, Rich in Character

From the historic estates—Galiga, Vetrice – they cultivate native grape varieties like Sangiovese, Colorino, and Canaiolo. Each bottle reflects their dedication to quality, expressing the vibrant terroir and timeless spirit of Chianti Rufina.

Award-Winning Olive Oil

Their extra virgin olive oil is a true taste of Tuscany: fruity, peppery, and beautifully balanced. Produced with a blend of tradition and innovation, it’s internationally celebrated for its purity and flavor—perfect for elevating any dish.

Oliviers & Co

Fratelli Grati’s extra virgin olive oil, crafted in the hills of Chianti Rufina, has earned international recognition for its purity and flavor. In France, it is proudly imported and distributed by Oliviers & Co, a renowned curator of the finest Mediterranean olive oils. Among their rigorous annual selection—where only a handful of oils are chosen from hundreds of artisanal producers—Grati’s olive oil stands out as one of the very best, celebrated for its vibrant character, impeccable freshness, and authentic Tuscan soul.

Global Recognition at the NYIOOC

Fratelli Grati’s extra virgin olive oil was honored at the NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, the most prestigious international contest dedicated to olive oil quality. Held annually in New York, the NYIOOC brings together producers from over 30 countries, with thousands of entries judged by a panel of expert tasters. In the 2025 edition, Grati’s olive oil stood out among hundreds of submissions, earning a Gold Award for its exceptional flavor, purity, and craftsmanship. 

Why is the NYIOOC an important recognition?

The NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition is the most prestigious international competition for olive oil quality, where thousands of entries from over 30 countries are judged. Winning a Gold Award here places Fratelli Grati among the world’s elite olive oil producers!

What makes Fratelli Grati olive oil so special?

The oil is celebrated for its pure taste, vibrant character, impeccable freshness, and authentic Tuscan soul, derived from the traditional olive varieties Frantoio, Moraiolo, and Pendolino.”

For more information about Grati, their wines, olive oil and events they organize, take a look at their Facebook page or at the website: 

Awards for Villa di Vetrice

Villa di Vetrice

Awards for Villa di Vetrice: their Vin Santo del Chianti Rufina 2005 has been awarded with a  Gold Medal, Best of class at the Los Angeles Wine Competition 2025.

Gold Medal

Best of Class

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Vin Santo del Chianti Rufina
A masterpiece where freshness and elegance  are combined with a thick mouthfeel

Fresh, focused and elegantly open with a thick and exqui­site mouth-feel. 
On the palate it shows harmonious, with oil, toffee, walnut, leather, caramel and dried apricot character. Dried fig and orange peel accents lead to an everlasting finish.

Well-known the perfect combination with cantucci (traditional almond biscuits from Tuscany) but very good also with other (nut based) cakes, liver-pate dishes and complex cheeses. thanks to its multiple layers, long finish, acidity and good structure.

Villa di Vetrice

Herebelow the list of all winners. You can find Villa di Vetrice’s in Santo on page 10.

How is the Vin Santo made? 

The vinsantaio, where vinsanto is made, hangs full of grape bunches, quite appropriately above the family chapel at Villa Vetrice, as ‘vinsanto or vino santo‘ means ‘holy wine’.

In the Grati family, it is a tradition that began over a hundred years ago, with which the great secret of vinsanto, the madre (mother), is also over a century old.

The madre is an aromatic sediment of inactive fine lees. She, a natural yeast, is ‘eterna’, for ever, because each new production uses some of the old that has multiplied at the end of the process and is then kept again.

Healthy bunches of grapes were picked in mid-September, and hung in the vinsantaio to slowly dry out for over three months.
70% of the grapes are white, Malvasia and Trebbiano, 30% are blue, Sangiovese.
Vinsanto is made only in years with extremely healthy grape material.
Sulfur is lit daily in the vinsantaio to clean the air of insects and unwanted critters. There is also the game of windows, which are open during the day and closed again at night, depending on the weather. The grapes have to dry properly and slowly. As an extra help, only if needed, ventilators can be used.

 

Villa di Vetrice: Vinsantaia

In December or January, when 30% of the original volume remains, the grapes are pressed. The must is then put into clean caratelli, small wooden barrels, on top of the madre. The caratelli are then sealed with cement, while 25% of the space remains empty.
Fermentation starts slowly in March, while temperatures rise and stops with the heat in summer. For three years in a row.  In winter, spontaneous clarification takes place, including the deposition of the madre.
The wine then remains in the unopened caratelli for at least ten years before being bottled.
Villa di Vetrice Vinsanto del Chianti Rùfina DOC comes with 17% alcohol and 100% class.

Villa di Vetrice: caratelli per vinsanto

Discover the other wines of Villa di Vetrice: Chianti Rufina and Chianti Rufina Riserva.

Take a look at their Facebook page