Isole e Olena — Chianti Classico, Tuscany

An iconic, subtle, and timeless estate

In the heart of the rolling hills of Chianti Classico, between Florence and Siena, Isole e Olena stands as one of Italy’s most respected estates. Formed by the merger of the historic Isole and Olena properties in the 1950s, the estate was transformed starting in 1976 by Paolo De Marchi, a visionary winemaker. For over 45 years, he has crafted wines of deep identity and refinement, rooted in the land and elevating Sangiovese as a grape of emotion and nobility.

A high-altitude, luminous, and mineral terroir

The estate’s 70 hectares of vineyards stretch between 350 and 500 m in elevation, across soils composed of galestro (schist), clay-limestone, and fractured stones. These well-drained soils, paired with strong diurnal shifts, enable slow and complete ripening, ensuring freshness, tension, and aromatic finesse — the hallmarks of the estate.

Winemaking style — between Tuscan tradition and Burgundian precision

• Hand harvesting, gentle macerations, indigenous yeasts.
• Gravity-flow vinification, measured extraction.
• Precise aging, with limited new oak to preserve purity and tension.

The result: elegant wines, driven by acidity, aromatically clear yet never heavy, with silky tannins and taut energy. Aromatic signature: juicy cherry, violet, blond tobacco, dried herbs, delicate spice.

Key cuvées

• Chianti Classico — A model of precision, freshness, and drinkability. Sangiovese in its purest form.
• Cepparello (100% Sangiovese) — The flagship wine, from top parcels and vinified like a grand cru. Intensity, verticality, refinement.
• Collezione Privata Cabernet Sauvignon — A deeply structured, Tuscan expression of Cabernet with fine-grain tannins and profound charm.
• Vin Santo — Produced in tiny quantities. A meditative wine, weaving concentration, gentle sweetness, and astonishing freshness.

A philosophy that became a benchmark

Under the guidance of Paolo De Marchi, Isole e Olena has become a symbol of authenticity. Since 2022, the estate has been owned by the EPI family (Biondi-Santi), ensuring continuity in precision, rigor, and respect for time.

Why choose Isole e Olena?

Because this estate embodies the ideal Chianti Classico: wines that are vibrant, subtle, and sincere, capable of moving even the most discerning enthusiasts — with a rare grace in aging.