1984

Don't Be Misled by the Title, made famous by the great writer George Orwell. When he imagined 1984, he could hardly have foreseen what would actually unfold in that same year, one of profound significance for Chianti.

Indeed, 1984 marked a milestone in the history of Tuscan wine: Chianti was granted DOCG status (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita), the highest classification under Italian wine law, definitively cementing the prestige of the historic wine-growing region between Florence and Siena.

Yet it was the following year that entered legend. 1985 represented the pinnacle of winemaking during that era. After an exceptionally harsh winter marked by heavy snowfall, the summer proved warm and favourable, creating ideal conditions for perfect grape ripening. The result was a series of wines distinguished by remarkable balance, concentration, and elegance. It is no coincidence that many critics and producers still regard 1985 as one of the finest Italian vintages of the post-war period.

Forty years later, the Chianti Classico produced by Conte Ottavio Piccolomini d'Aragona stands as a rare and precious testament to that extraordinary harvest. It was also during those years that an important chapter in the family's history came to an end: with the passing of the last heir of the noble lineage, Countess Elda Ciacci Piccolomini, the family's entire estate passed into the hands of Giuseppe Bianchini.

For the winery, the exceptional climatic conditions of 1985, combined with deliberately limited yields, proved an extraordinary advantage, giving rise to a wine rich in aromas, structure, and noble tannins. Aware that they had created something truly unique, they chose to preserve part of the production in 3-litre bottles, carefully housed in wooden crates, in order to "seal the time."

...and so they bottled a legendary vintage, destined to endure through the decades.

29 October 2026

1984

Don't Be Misled by the Title, made famous by the great writer George Orwell. When he imagined 1984, he could hardly have foreseen what would actually unfold in that same year, one of profound significance for Chianti.

Indeed, 1984 marked a milestone in the history of Tuscan wine: Chianti was granted DOCG status (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita), the highest classification under Italian wine law, definitively cementing the prestige of the historic wine-growing region between Florence and Siena.

Yet it was the following year that entered legend. 1985 represented the pinnacle of winemaking during that era. After an exceptionally harsh winter marked by heavy snowfall, the summer proved warm and favourable, creating ideal conditions for perfect grape ripening. The result was a series of wines distinguished by remarkable balance, concentration, and elegance. It is no coincidence that many critics and producers still regard 1985 as one of the finest Italian vintages of the post-war period.

Forty years later, the Chianti Classico produced by Conte Ottavio Piccolomini d'Aragona stands as a rare and precious testament to that extraordinary harvest. It was also during those years that an important chapter in the family's history came to an end: with the passing of the last heir of the noble lineage, Countess Elda Ciacci Piccolomini, the family's entire estate passed into the hands of Giuseppe Bianchini.

For the winery, the exceptional climatic conditions of 1985, combined with deliberately limited yields, proved an extraordinary advantage, giving rise to a wine rich in aromas, structure, and noble tannins. Aware that they had created something truly unique, they chose to preserve part of the production in 3-litre bottles, carefully housed in wooden crates, in order to "seal the time."

...and so they bottled a legendary vintage, destined to endure through the decades.