From: Tuscany, Italy

Varietal: Sangiovese

Tasting Notes: Oodles of black cherry and blackberry fruit, purple flower, spice, leather, and cured tobacco leaf flavors that push back deeply on the surprisingly long palate. The fruit turns brighter and fresher with air but remains nicely ripe and generous. The texture is wonderfully and invitingly round and rich – much fleshier than the 13.0% alcohol suggests – and the fruit keeps on pumping out over fine, food-friendly, tannins. 

Pairing: Sure, this will sing with pizza and classic Italian fare, but it’s going to shine just as brightly with burgers or brats off the grill.

The story of Donna Laura Wines is a nomadic discovery of heritage and matriarchal devotion as linear as the winding roads that weave through the hillsides and vineyards of Tuscany. The history follows vintner Lia Tolaini Banville from her birthplace in Canada to her ancestral home outside the city of Lucca, where at the age of six on her family's annual summer holiday, Lia met her Aunt Laura who would become a driving force in her life. Laura was mother to three rough-and-tumble boys and immediately bonded with Lia. Thus began the tradition of yearly visits where during the warm summer days and nights Laura would instill in Lia an appreciation for Italian culture, history, music, and most of all art. Laura's presence in Lia's life would inspire her as a mother, cook,

In 2004 an opportunity arose to write a new chapter in the story, this time in Castelnuovo Berardenga with the production of the Chianti wine label Donna Laura. A loving tribute to the woman whose lessons of family, tradition, and honor would share double billing with Lia's own heritage. Roman gods Venus, Bacchus, and Cupid personifying Lia's children adorn the labels of Donna Laura Wines, celebrating this legacy of devotion to family and affirming the adage ' Who turns, who turns, always at home goes to end ' - no matter where you go or turn you will always end up at home.

The approach to viticulture and winemaking at Donna Laura reflects the nurturing, wholesome environment shaped by these strong women. In the vineyards, absolute respect for the soil, vines, and future of the land is cultivated through careful and constant attention. These practices include green harvesting as necessary, planting cover crops to enrich the nutrients in the soil, and forgoing the use of harmful chemicals to maintain a pristine and sustainable ecosystem in optimal balance. In the winery, organic principles are applied by incorporating modern technology, sparing usage of sulfites, and a sterile environment all while honoring the traditions of this historic region.