Il Molino di Grace, Panzano

One of the top 100 wineries in the world (Wine & Spirits, USA - see pdf article)

This is the 21st Century's greatest success story in Chianti country. Apparently from nowhere, two men, one American and one German, have descended on Tuscany and in five years have created one of the greatest Chianti estates. They must have had some idea what they were doing as it cannot be by accident that they settled on Panzano in the heart of the Chianti Classico region between Florence and Siena, and home to the finest terroirs the region has to offer.

The brochure for Il Molino di Grace reads like an historical document. The essential facts are that American entrepreneur Frank Grace settled on Tuscany and discovered the all but forgotten vineyards of Volano, just outside Panzano. Together with German banker Gerhard Hirmer the vineyard was resurrected and a new state-of-the-art winery built, then the final piece of this puzzle was brought into place: eminent oenologist Franco Bernabei was recruited to oversee the production.

The results speak for themselves but even before a cork is pulled you can relax in the knowledge that in its short history Il Moilino di Grace has made a big impact on the Italian wine market with a string of awards from Gambero Rosso, the Italian wine bible. Not least, in only its second year, Il Molino di Grace was named "Emergente" winery of the year and it has a string of two and (the maximum) three bicchieri (glasses) awards to its credit. A fabulous range of wines that should put Chianti back on everyone's wine buying lists.

One of the top 100 wineries in the world (Wine & Spirits, USA) - see pdf document.