Tuscan pioneer Querciabella with winemaker Manfred Ing – Thursday 5th November

Founded by Giuseppe Castiglioni in 1974, Querciabella was part of the generation that challenged the restrictive conventions of its native Chianti in a drive to revive the region as home to world-class winemaking. Initially, this came via ambitious wines made outside the appellation rules. Its flagship SuperTuscan Camartina – one of the first such wines – debuted in 1981, followed by Batàr, a Chardonnay/Pinot Blanc blend, which further cemented the estate’s reputation for experimentation. In the decades since, however, Querciabella has evolved its approach more towards the wines of the DOCG, with greater precision, site expression and more restrained oak, allowing Sangiovese to shine. While Camartina remains a pivotal reference point, the focus has moved towards the Chianti Classico wines themselves and a more refined, contemporary terroir-focused interpretation. The evolution has been marked by conversion to organic viticulture in 1988 and biodynamic farming in 2000 across its 95 hectares in Chianti Classico and its coastal property in Maremma, today led by Giuseppe’s daughter Mita and her children Andrea and Selene. We’re thrilled to welcome Manfred Ing to the Club to guide us through eight of its wines, going back to 2010 – the year he joined as head winemaker. Originally from KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, Manfred made wine in New Zealand and Napa Valley before relocating to Italy in 2007, initially in Piedmont. Join him to discover Tuscan wines of depth, precision and character that are wonderfully authentic reflections of their origin. The wines we’ll be tasting: 2022 Batàr, Toscana Bianco IGT, Querciabella 2010 Chianti Classico, Greve, Querciabella 2016 Chianti Classico, Greve, Querciabella 2016 Chianti Classico, Radda, Querciabella 2016 Chianti Classico, Gaiole, Querciabella 2021 Chianti Classico, Gran Selezione Greve, Querciabella 2021 Chianti Classico, Gran Selezione Radda, Querciabella 2021 Chianti Classico, Gran Selezione SA-LA.