Those who find a villa in Lucca will quickly discover that this part of the region is one with a long list of wineries that boast both incredible wines and wonderful tastings/tours to choose from all throughout the stunning surrounding landscape. Wine-lovers considering booking one of our Tuscany villas, therefore, will have lots of options when it comes to finding places to learn about, sample, savour, and buy some truly remarkable vintages during their vacation in Lucca.
While there are, indeed, lots of brilliant wineries to choose from, one of the top-rated examples has to Fattoria Al Dotto, which has been run by the Del Dotto family for many, many generations. Made of three ancient farms that have since been combined into one rather extraordinary wine estate, Fattoria Al Dotto extends over 62 acres of fertile farmland where you can find vineyards, olive groves, corn fields, and fields of cannellini beans. The vineyards are positioned on the gentle hills surrounding the centre of the farm, where there is a spectacular south-southwest exposure, and in close proximity to the Serchio river. Through this area, the Scirocco winds coming in from Livorno to the south and the summer Maestrale winds coming in from the north-west blow and result in a particular micro climate that is ideal for good maturation of the grapes. All in all, the vineyards here boast perfect conditions to produce some truly remarkable wines.
According to the ancient traditions of the family, Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, Canaiolo, and Tuscan White Trebbiano grapes have continued to be grown at Fattoria Al Dotto and mixed with other grape varieties such as Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Sauvignon for the reds along with Semillion and Vermentino for the whites. In addition, low production of grapes per acre, careful attention to detail all throughout the wine production process, selective harvest, and a carefully controlled ageing process in French oak barrels have all been implemented to ensure elegant, high-quality wines.
These wines include:
- the classic Sangiovese, a ruby red dry and slightly tannic wine with notes of violet, broom, and hints of plum;
- the Merlot, an intense ruby red dry and well-balanced wine with pleasant tannins and aromas of red fruit and flowers;
- the dry, warm, soft and pleasantly tannic Rùbeo with notes of flowers such as violets, small berry fruits, and black pepper;
- the intense and rich Brunotto, which is a mixture of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot grapes and has clear hints of fruit for a warm, soft, dry, persistent and harmonious flavour;
- the extraordinarily elegant, intense and complex Carillus, which has fruity hints of small black fruits integrated with spicy notes of licorice and cinnamon and pleasant nuances of leather;
- the Redotto, a white that is a careful selection of 95% Vermentìno and 5% Semillon grapes to create an intensely straw yellow colour and dry, "warm", soft, full-bodied and fresh, balanced flavour, with hints of exotic fruit such as avocado, banana and pineapple;
- the Vermentino, made with Vermentino grapes under carefully controlled fermentation to create a deep and soft wine of a greenish colour with hints of yellowish reflections and refined hints of flowers, broom, white peach, and anise;
- and the Rosapenna, a uniquely pleasant, harmonious, and versatile rosé with a soft pink colour, notes of cherry, raspberry, blackberry, and strawberry, and a vein of oak balms.
Tastings of these wines as well as the olive oil and other traditional local products available for purchase must be booked in advance. These tasting sessions include a tour through the vineyard and olive groves and into the cellar before settling in the tasting room in winter or under the portico overlooking the Lucca hills to sample the wines themselves. To book, call Giacomo or Vittorio on +39 366 4172704 or fill out the form on their website.
Visitors rave about the wonderful experience of these tours, the incredible members of staff guiding them, the delicious wines, and the delectable food products so, if you have found your villa with pool in Lucca then be sure to book a tasting and come experience it for yourself!
Fattoria al Dotto di Giacomo Bertuccelli
Via per Carignano, 809/A
55100 Carignano LUCCA – ITALY
+39 338 244 6408
info@fattoriaaldotto.it
Times for visits and tastings.
From 15 May to 16 October: Every day from 16.30 to 20.00
From 19 October: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 12.00 to 16.00
CLOSED Sundays and Public Holidays (1 and 6 Jan; 21,22 and 25 Apr; 1 May; 2 and 29 Jun; 15 Aug; 1 Nov; 8, 25 and 26 Dec.)