The two sisters carrying forward one of the first wineries to bet on Bolgheri

Two sisters, Martina and Lisa, share a mission: to craft a wine that reflects their own tastes while preserving the rural spirit of their father. To achieve this, one of them, the younger sister, even decided to leave her career as an architect and return to the land. A heartfelt and intuitive choice has brought them together as adults to lead a business that proudly embraces craftsmanship, both in the vineyard and the cellar, as a distinguishing hallmark in the prestigious Bolgheri region. "Wine is part of our DNA," they explain, "but at the same time, we haven’t rested on our laurels, thinking everything was fine in this blessed land. We've pursued our own stylistic path, and with the 2021 vintage, we’ve marked a significant milestone. We’re very proud to have reached it without losing touch with our roots."

The Chiappini winery was established in the late 1970s with the purchase of its first farm. Since then, Giovanni Chiappini, who had emigrated from the Marche region to Tuscany in the 1950s, immediately embarked on the path of viticulture—unlike other compatriots who initially focused on fruit and vegetable production. Giovanni was among the first to follow in the footsteps of the Marchese Incisa della Rocchetta, the Marchesi Antinori, and later other producers like Pier Mario Meletti Cavallari, Eugenio Campolmi, and Michele Satta, believing that Bolgheri could become a great wine region. And so it has.

From Mendrisio to the Lands of Bolgheri

Martina has been working alongside Giovanni for years, while Lisa has recently joined full-time to work alongside her sister with a team of enthusiasts devoted to their family land. Two sisters and a vocation—being winemakers—that has deep roots. After university, Martina quickly realized that her path was the one laid out by her father. Lisa took a different route. Graduating in architecture from Mendrisio, the "Mecca" of renowned architect Mario Botta, she later realized her artistic inclination could serve her father's winery.

"The first years I worked alongside my father," says Martina, "I was still attending university and had to go to Internet cafés to respond to foreign customers. A lot of time and technology has passed since those days. I’ve grown with the company, and it has grown with me."

"Unlike my sister," adds Lisa, "I came into the winery later, as an adult, because I followed a path that seemed far removed from viticulture and farming. But not so far, as farmers are, in essence, the first architects of the land. It’s a great responsibility to interpret, design, and preserve it. Our parents gave us the freedom to gain our own experiences, and that was very important. It helped us understand the value of our land, appreciate it, and live it with respect. For them, it was a great joy to see us return and join them in their life project. As sisters, we complement each other, seeking form and aesthetics without forgetting substance."

The Land Is Worth as Much as Those Who Work It

"The land is worth as much as those who work it" is Giovanni Chiappini’s motto, a phrase with multiple meanings. "At a time when land in Bolgheri has acquired enormous economic value," says Martina, "these words emphasize the importance of the work and the people behind it. Most importantly, if you work the land well and respect it, it rewards you with value beyond the economic. That’s what happened to us, earning the Tre Bicchieri for the first time."

Guado de' Gemoli Bolgheri Superiore 2021

The Guado de’ Gemoli Bolgheri Superiore 2021, a Bordeaux blend with a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon, has won the Tre Bicchieri award. It is the winery’s flagship wine, born from the historic vineyard Le Grottine, planted in 1990. The Chiappini family’s journey has been one of evolution over time, both agronomically and oenologically. The winery has been certified organic for over 20 years, ensuring soil and vineyard health, with many vines over 30 years old. "In the cellar, we adapt to the climatic trends of recent years, with hot, dry summers. For this reason, we’ve reduced pump-overs to extract less and more delicately. Thanks to years of study, we select wood according to the grape variety and individual parcels. In essence, our wines are what they’ve always been, with just a touch more femininity." Other notable labels include Bolgheri Rosso Felciaino, Bolgheri Rosso Ferruggini, and Vermentino Le Grottine.

Chiappini 6.0

"We remain deeply rooted in the land that raised us," they conclude. "We dream of preserving both the philosophy and style our father taught us, which has always set us apart. We also hope our children inherit the same passion and respect for this work and the territory."