The fairytale of Sanforte Borgo Prunatelli….
….Sanforte, a rediscovered Native grape
The story of Sanforte Borgo Prunatelli begins in 2002, after an extraordinary event. On August 6th, a rare and violent tornado struck the Val di Sieve and the Rufina area. Just two days later, among ancient vines near the hamlet of Prunatelli, an unexpected discovery changed the future of this land.
Together with University of Florence and ampelographer Roberto Bandinelli, a centuries-old vine was identified as Sangiovese Forte, later officially renamed Sanforte. What began as a field observation evolved into over ten years of research, during which 16 original Sanforte vines were found in the Val di Sieve, confirming the grape’s deep local roots.
A first micro-vinification in 2002, using grapes from just five vines, produced a small but surprisingly expressive wine—marking the first vintage of Sanforte, even in one of the most difficult years the territory had ever known.
Modern genetic studies later proved that Sanforte is not a biotype of Sangiovese, but a completely distinct and unrelated variety. This led to its official registration in 2007 in the National Register of Grape Varieties under the name Sanforte.
From the original mother vines, a dedicated collection vineyard (Vitiarium) was created, followed by the planting of the first true Sanforte vineyard.
Today, Sanforte is grown organically at Borgo Prunatelli and vinified only in select years. After very limited productions in 2020–2022, the estate now proudly presents the 2024 vintage.
Sanforte is more than a wine: it is the rebirth of an ancient, native grape – a story of resilience, research, and deep connection to the Val di Sieve.