Location: Italy
A shining star of Emilia-Romagna! Chiara is a dynamic and young winemaker breathing new life into the region’s ancient viniculture. She is keenly aware of her position as the keeper of a centuries-old winegrowing heritage in the Predappio hills, as well as an innovator, creating a modern interpretation of the unique terroir.
Having traded her economics career for the vineyard, she meticulously manages her 4.8-hectare estate, focusing on Sangiovese di Predappio. Chiara’s focus on vine health yields mature, balanced grapes that require no cellar corrections. Her resulting wines are pure, authentic representation of her land and methodology.
Chiara Condello – Le Lucciole was born from the awareness of being the keeper of a centuries-old winegrowing history in the Predappio hills, and from her desire to offer a revolutionary interpretation of this unique and generous land. Chiara works with a clear concept in mind: to produce a Sangiovese that truly reflects the high potential of her land, shedding everything that isn’t essential. Her goal is a wine that perfectly aligns with her winemaking philosophy.
She has chosen a small plot near a forest, located in the heart of the Predappio appellation, at an elevation of 150 to 300 meters above sea level. The vines here are deeply rooted in poor calcareous-clay soils, rich in pliocenic sandstones known as Spungone. This unique terroir, formed over 3 million years ago when this region was submerged by a sea, is where Chiara began her journey to produce a wine that is the pure expression of this exceptional place.
Chiara follows a clear and consistent path: organic viticulture, with a deep respect for the plants and the soil. Her approach includes manual work, organic fertilization, mechanical weeding, and a very low use of sulphur and copper for pest control. For Chiara, the key to making great wine starts with ensuring the vines are healthy and balanced.
She believes that before being a good winemaker, it’s crucial to have healthy vineyards. That’s why she tends to the vineyards every day, with the goal of harvesting grapes that are mature and healthy—grapes that don’t require any corrections once they reach the cellar.
The harvest at Le Lucciole is entirely manual, and the cellar work follows the principle of respecting the grapes and allowing the Sangiovese to dictate its own rhythm. Fermentation vats are filled by gravity, and Chiara avoids anything that could lead to standardization in her winemaking process. This approach preserves the natural diversity of the wine, including the use of indigenous yeasts, very minimal temperature control, and long maceration periods.
The aging process occurs in Slavonian oak barrels, with the wine being bottled without filtration. The result is a wine that expresses its terroir in its truest form, completing its journey in the bottle with the patience and respect it deserves.
Uncork your #winelover spirit and join us on discovering new #wineproducers! For a sip of the best and most delectable wines, look no further. 🥂
Follow us on our journey today and let’s make each day special with a glass of vino!
Cheers to that! 🍷
Eric Dhondt and Edith Grellet founded Domaine Dhondt-Grellet in 1986 after they decided to stop selling their grapes to the negotiants in Champagne. Now, their son Adrien (pictured here) is running the domaine together with his sister, Alice.
Young Thibaud Brocard is the fifth generation of Champagne Brocard Pierre to lead the domaine near the village of Celles-sur-Ource in Côte de Bars in the easternmost part of the region.
Guillaume Rouget (son of the famous Emmanuel Rouget who was the apprentice of the legendary Burgundian grand master Henri Jayer), and Frédéric Jametton have joined forces to create a new project in the Beaujolais. Domaine Vernus is located in the hillside town of Régnié-Durette in the heart of the region.
No account yet?
Create an Account
You must be 18 years of age or older to view page. Please verify your age to enter.
Your access is restricted because of your age.
