Silvio Messana took over the Montesecondo estate in 1999 and since then has steadfastly stuck to his ideals about natural production and quality Tuscan wine with freshness and drinkability.
Originally created in the 1970's by his father who planted the vineyards, the grapes used to be sold in bulk to local coops for a low price. As a young man Silvio was obsessed by music and influenced by his father, left the farm and spent the first half of his career as a musician in America, touring the bars and night spots of New York and having and by all accounts, a fantastic time! However, on meeting his first wife and having Children, he decided he needed a more reliable income and so returned to the small family farm in Tuscany and set about becoming a wine maker.
Silvio started making wine soon after with very little experience but always with the knowledge that he had wine in his blood. His very first vintage was produced in the year 2000 and his wines quickly established a reputation for their quality, authenticity and drinkability, in a time when Chianti was going in the American influenced direction of over extraction and new oak.
Surrounded by olive groves in Cerbaia val di Pesa, the stunning 11.5 hectares of vineyards are planted on two types of soil: calcareous and clay soils with sandy areas which produce lush soft wines; and a limestone soil at 500m altitude which produces crisper, leaner styles. Silvio mainly cultivates old vines (well over 35 years old on average) of Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Colorino, Cabernet Sauvignon and whites grapes Trebbiano and Vernaccia.
Everything is biodynamic, and they manage to obtain naturally low yields (30hl/ha) from the vigorous Sangiovese vines and great fruit that genuinely expresses the terroir.
In the recent past, Silvio has rented a beautiful old farm house further up the mountain and lives alone surrounded by his magnificent biodynamic vineyards and a panorama which looks out over the Tuscan hills and vines. He is well into his sixties now but maintains a very good physical fitness and still loves what he does. He is working as hard as ever and planning new vineyard plantings and development. He is now helped by his sons and the Montesecondo name looks set to continue long into the future. We love his wines and the guy himself, a true Tuscan gentleman and craftsman of the vine.
Trevor March –
2015 Vintage. Sangiovese at its purest. Glorious aromas from the off. On the palate superb balance, great depth of fruit, plenty of savoury complexity and a persistent finish. Captivating from opening through to the last drop. Every glass gave anew message. I drink a wide range of Sangiovese and can think of nothing like it. Worth a place in any cellar.