Riecine
リエチネ
Gaiole pioneer of pure, high-altitude organic Sangiovese.
Riecine is a benchmark estate for pure, terroir-driven Chianti Classico, founded in 1971 in Gaiole in Chianti by Englishman John Dunkley and his wife Palmina Abbagnano. The estate's high-altitude vineyards (400-500m), on limestone and clay soils, are certified organic and planted almost entirely to Sangiovese. Dunkley's 1982 vintage of La Gioia helped define the Super Tuscan movement alongside Tignanello and Masseto. Longtime winemaker Alessandro Campatelli, who joined as oenologist in 2016 and became sole owner via a leveraged buyout in July 2024, continues the estate's uncompromising focus on Sangiovese, crafting wines such as the barrel-aged Chianti Classico, the wood-free, concrete-aged Riecine di Riecine, and the flagship La Gioia.
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Who Is This For?
For collectors and Sangiovese purists who value elegant, age-worthy Chianti Classico shaped by high-altitude terroir rather than international blending.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What makes Riecine's approach to Chianti Classico distinctive?
- Riecine focuses almost exclusively on 100% Sangiovese from organic, high-altitude (400-500m) vineyards in Gaiole, eschewing the international varieties permitted under Chianti Classico DOCG rules.
- Who founded Riecine and who runs it today?
- John Dunkley, an Englishman, founded Riecine with his wife Palmina Abbagnano in 1971. Longtime winemaker Alessandro Campatelli became sole owner via a leveraged buyout in July 2024.
- What is Riecine di Riecine?
- It's a wood-free bottling that ferments and ages entirely in unlined concrete tanks for 36 months, preserving pure fruit expression without oak influence.
- Do Riecine wines pair well with Japanese cuisine?
- Yes - the refined tannins and bright acidity of Riecine's Sangiovese complement umami-rich dishes such as grilled eel, teriyaki, and simmered beef.
- Is Riecine's estate organic?
- Yes, the estate's 20-hectare vineyard is certified organic (ICEA).