Savoring Autumn: San Michele Wines and Tuscan Dishes to Warm Your Soul
As the days grow shorter and the Tuscan countryside is painted in shades of gold
Farm
Discover the farm and the high-quality products of San Michele a Torri on the hills of Chianti
2471 acres of farm, 100% organic
The San Michele a Torri Farm, organic since 1993, is located in the heart of Chianti, 15 km from Florence. It takes its name from the homonymous village and is situated on a beautiful hill at the gates of Florence, from which one can admire the stunning Tuscan landscape, rich in vineyards, olive groves, and woods. It spans 2,751 acres of land, straddling the wine regions of Chianti Colli Fiorentini and Chianti Classico, of which 222 acres are cultivated with vineyards, 346 acres with olive groves, and the remaining land is used for arable crops, forests, and the breeding of Cinta Senese pigs.
Paolo Nocentini, the current owner of the farm, has given new momentum and development to the traditional agricultural activity, expanding and renewing the crops and directing it toward the organic production of typical Tuscan products. The farm has always produced Chianti Colli Fiorentini DOCG wines, Chianti Classico DOCG wines, and extra virgin olive oil. In recent years, in addition to these traditional products, small-scale productions such as Salame Cinta Senese DOP, meat, eggs, vegetables, bread, legumes, honey, jams, flours, and more have been added.
These products have expanded our range to offer our customers while maintaining high quality and Tuscan tradition.
The countryside of this particular area of Tuscany offers visitors a series of landscapes unique in their beauty, characterized by vast expanses of vineyards and olive groves, and by gentle, green hills.
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The farm has been certified organic since 1993. For the farm, the use of only natural products, respect for biological balances, and biodiversity are the foundation of an agriculture that is respectful of the environment and people, capable of producing high-quality food: healthy, guaranteed, and certified. Choosing to purchase organic foods and products with a low environmental impact is a conscious choice for a sustainable future.
Organic does not just mean following a production regulation; it is exactly the company philosophy of Fattoria San Michele. In 2007, a photovoltaic system was installed to produce electricity, and in 2011, a biomass plant was set up. Both systems meet the energy needs of the entire farm. But it’s never enough, and there is always room for improvement. Recently, an important certification, EQUALITAS, was obtained, which promotes and safeguards a broader concept of sustainability.
There was a need to spread a working method aimed at producing in harmony with nature, people, and reducing pollution… this is what has been done at the farm for many years, and the EQUALITAS certification is the best way to tell this story and set new goals, essential for the future of all.
Historical Notes
San Michele a Torri is a small village located on the hills of the Val di Pesa, to the southwest of the city of Florence.
The presence of the Torri castle, a medieval defensive structure, gives the location its name, which is first mentioned in 1126. Today, only a few traces of the castle remain, after Castruccio Castracani had it destroyed in 1324. Fattoria San Michele a Torri was born and developed over the centuries from an ancient medieval villa. The structure is already mentioned in documents from 1535, and it is certain that by the 1800s it was an important productive center. Over the centuries, the Fattoria of San Michele a Torri has undergone numerous interventions by humans. Evidence of these interventions includes the cellars with brick vaulted ceilings, the 18th-century chapel, and the neo-Gothic well.
Finely restored in 1822, it was then destroyed during World War II. The farm was at the center of a fierce battle, “The Battle of San Michele a Torri,” which took place on July 30, 1944. The hills where the farm is located were the last stronghold before the city of Florence. New Zealand and German troops faced each other for a week, and by the end, several dozen deaths were counted. Many historians claim that this battle had a fire intensity greater than the famous Battle of Cassino.
During the battle, the entire population of San Michele a Torri sought refuge in the deep cellar of the farm. Around 120 people took shelter among the barrels, believing it to be a safer place. For the New Zealand armed forces, in memory of the fallen, July 30 is celebrated as “San Michele Day.” Recently, the farm has been restored once again, strictly adhering to its style and elegance.
Typical Products
From respect for the environment and the harmony of natural balances in cultivation, breeding, and processing, the excellence of our products is born: Chianti Colli Fiorentini DOCG wines, Chianti Classico DOCG wines, extra virgin olive oil, Cinta Senese DOP cured meats, honey, farro, small Chianti chickpeas, ancient grain flours used to make fresh bread every day, and Marano corn flour. These are authentic specialties and the result of 100% organic production.
Tuscan Wines and Spirits
The unique terroir of these areas has always been particularly suited to viticulture, giving rise to wines of the highest quality.
The terrain alternates between silty clays, formed during the alluvial phase, in the Chianti Colli Fiorentini area, and debris from the Chianti Mountains’ massif, characterized by medium-fine-grained sandstones interspersed with clayey areas in the Chianti Classico region.
The first gives us fine and elegant wines, more suitable for immediate consumption, while the second produces more full-bodied, deep, and rich wines, destined for long aging.
The terrain alternates between silty clays, formed during the alluvial phase, in the Chianti Colli Fiorentini area, and debris from the Chianti Mountains’ massif, characterized by medium-fine-grained sandstones interspersed with clayey areas in the Chianti Classico region.
The first gives us fine and elegant wines, more suitable for immediate consumption, while the second produces more full-bodied, deep, and rich wines, destined for long aging.
Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a fundamental product for the farm, and every stage of production is meticulously controlled. Directly overseeing the entire supply chain, from the land to the plants, from the harvest to the crushing, and from the bottling to the marketing, is a guarantee of quality.
The olive trees are cultivated organically, and for this reason, fertilization is carefully balanced and not excessive, allowing the plants to reach a state of equilibrium that ensures high-quality olive production.
The harvest is done by hand, with the help of shaking machines, at the beginning of the ripening phase to achieve the highest quality. The olives are processed on the same day, and no later than 24 hours, in our company’s mill.
The olive trees are cultivated organically, and for this reason, fertilization is carefully balanced and not excessive, allowing the plants to reach a state of equilibrium that ensures high-quality olive production.
The harvest is done by hand, with the help of shaking machines, at the beginning of the ripening phase to achieve the highest quality. The olives are processed on the same day, and no later than 24 hours, in our company’s mill.
Salumi Cinta Senese
The Cinta Senese is an Italian pig breed raised since ancient times. About 25 years ago, some Tuscan farmers rediscovered and enhanced these animals, appreciated for the high quality of their meat. In 2012, the European Community recognized Cinta Senese as a DOP (Protected Designation of Origin).
It is a rustic breed characterized by a pink band that encircles the pig’s chest, hence the name “Cinta.”
The animals on the farm are raised in a semi-wild state in the woods surrounding the farm. Luca Magazzini, the farm’s butcher, is responsible for personally managing and supervising the processing of the meat and cured meats, using only animals from our own breeding. The high quality and artisanal processing allow us to produce excellent cured meats.
The Garden
Organic farming has always been at the core of all the decisions at Fattoria San Michele. The organic garden is a project that starts from the land and ends up on the customers’ tables.
A choice that prioritizes a deep understanding of the natural environment and respect for the cyclical nature of the seasons.
This allows us to deliver seasonal vegetables, zero kilometers, offered by the land in its genuine purity.
A choice that prioritizes a deep understanding of the natural environment and respect for the cyclical nature of the seasons.
This allows us to deliver seasonal vegetables, zero kilometers, offered by the land in its genuine purity.
Fresh Pasta
In our artisanal pasta factory on Via dei Rustici in Florence, we produce organic durum wheat semolina pasta using an artisanal process, employing restored vintage machines, and following the traditional “compression” method.
The process is divided into four main stages: the preparation of the dough, achieved by blending all the ingredients; the kneading, which gives the dough consistency and elasticity; the rolling compression, which gives the product the right roughness; and the cutting, which shapes it using a multi-shape cutter.
The process is divided into four main stages: the preparation of the dough, achieved by blending all the ingredients; the kneading, which gives the dough consistency and elasticity; the rolling compression, which gives the product the right roughness; and the cutting, which shapes it using a multi-shape cutter.
“The Only One because many of the dishes are produced by us in the fields nearby, and moreover, we want the food to be good and healthy.”
A good meal fosters friendliness, stimulates friendship, and improves mood.”
-Cav. Paolo Nocentini
Our roots in the heart of Tuscany
Chianti
The Fattoria San Michele a Torri is located in the heart of Chianti, about 15 km from Florence, in the picturesque village of San Michele a Torri, on a splendid hill overlooking the Tuscan landscape filled with vineyards, olive groves, and woods. This hilly region, situated between the enchanting cities of Florence, Siena, and Arezzo, is renowned for its charming medieval villages, cypress trees, and oaks, and is the homeland of the famed Chianti wine
Florence
Florence, cradle of the Renaissance and a gem of European art, is famous for its artistic masterpieces, refined cuisine, and the breathtaking landscapes of the Tuscan hills. Founded by the Romans, the city saw the birth of geniuses like Michelangelo and Leonardo, supported by the Medici. Just 15 km from Florence, in the heart of Chianti, lies the Fattoria San Michele a Torri, perched on a hill that offers spectacular views of vineyards and olive groves, typical of the Tuscan landscape
