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Winemaker: Paolo Caciorgna
Poderi del Paradiso is one of the top producers in San Gimignano, the city of eternal towers. The winemaking here is unparalleled, guided by enologist Paolo Caciorgna—himself a native of San Gimignano, just like the Cetti family who run the estate. This family since practically the Middle Ages has tended vines at the foot of this immortal city.
Paradiso is unique in that the Cetti family has not only dedicated themselves to preserving the beauty and glory of San Gimignano’s classic white wine, Vernaccia, but also pioneering a family of red wines based on the native Tuscan Sangiovese Grosso.
It is a tribute to the winemaking savvy and terroir smarts of this estate to recognize that the family’s amphitheatre-shaped vineyard—located at the foot of San Gimignano—could be a perfect spot for Sangiovese. The shape of the plot essentially gathers the sun like a basin, delivering pure energy into every berry. The volcanic soils, blended with clay, give Sangiovese plenty of minerality and structure too. It’s a breathtaking sight, as you stand at the back porch at the family estate, and follow the rows of Sangiovese through the bowl and right up the hill to the foot of the town’s towers.
With the expert guidance of Paolo Caciorgna—unquestionably one of Italy’s leading enologists—winemaking at Paradiso effortlessly melds tradition with the most modern methods. Yields are vigorously controlled; all work is done by hand; wines are made in micro-quantities.