The principal white vineyards of the Nozzole estate, Le Bruniche and Casa Vecchia, were once planted in Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia, which were white grapes included in the Chianti blend before they were phased out of the DOCG rules in 1995. In the mid-1980s viticulturists at Tenuta di Nozzole began experimenting in these vineyards with various classic white vine varieties. Of the two principal white vine vineyards, Le Bruniche was found to be exceptionally well-suited to the Chardonnay variety. Vigneto Le Bruniche lies on one of the estate’s most elevated hillsides, at 900 feet above sea level, on soils consisting of limestone schists and porous marl rubble with an optimum ground thermal temperature and excellent exposure. Extensive experimentation with various clones of Chardonnay preceded selection of the most appropriate vine for the site, which produced its first vintage in 1986.
