Our Farm
The earth and the plants
In the more than 110 hectares of the company, between the oak woods and the Zancona stream that forms the border, there are several olive groves with over 1200 olive trees, including some hundreds of centuries-old plants of the Olivastra Seggianese variety typical of the area, from which an extra virgin oil with exceptional organoleptic characteristics is obtained, while the vineyards, mainly Sangiovese, planted on stony soils of volcanic origin and perennially cooled and dried by the wind, located in front of the beautiful and modern cellar, give grapes of exceptional quality that they are the ideal base for making great wines.
At the beginning of the summer season, an extensive lavender field a short distance from the main farmhouse delights the eye with its flowering and spreads its characteristic fragrance into the air. Higher up, the company is dominated by a large hazelnut grove with the adjoining truffle ground from which the precious and fragrant tubers are extracted throughout the year.
Wine
La Banditaccia’s spectacular vineyards and wine cellar are located on the Strada del Montecucco and, its vineyards are giving life to a an excellent San Giovese. La Banditaccia will soon be offering a selection of three different wine bottles. The first will be a San Giovese Montecucco Docg, the second will be a Riserva Montecucco and the third will be an IGT Toscana.
The company is planting other white and red grape vineyards, all native to the area, from which grapes will soon be obtained that will increase and further vary production. At the moment Banditaccia produces 6 different wines and a substantial part of the 2018 harvest will soon be in the bottle. Among these will be an excellent Sangiovese Montecucco Docg 2018, two IGT Tuscan reds of great thickness and structure and a fresher and easier to drink Tuscan Vermentino but very particular and captivating.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil:
The olive yards count more than 1200 trees of different sub-species located all around the property. The majority of the olive yards are harvested at the same time and their fruits are transformed into our Organic Certified (IGP)Tuscan Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Instead, our oldest olive yard is located just in front of the main house and extends itself down to the stables.
These ancient and more than centenary trees, belong to a subspecies (cultivar) of olive tree called Seggianese. This is a very special species and it can only be found around the area of Monte Amiata. Its peculiarity resides in its fruity flavour and in the fact that these trees only grow between 200 and 650 meters above sea level. It is because of its location at a certain altitude and its proximity to the mountains that these trees give a particularly fine olive oil, with a percentage of unsatured fat acids equal or above 78%. From next year we will be making some bottles of this very special Extra Virgin Olive Oil Seggianese Dop.
Lavender Essential Oil:
La Banditaccia lavender essential oil is 100% pure and organic. Our lavender grows at 800 meters above sea level facing south, an optimal position for the growth and flowering of plants. From the lavender fields you can admire a breathtaking view overlooking the whole valley up to Monte Amiata in Tuscany. Lovers of photography, painting and lavender say about this fascinating and unspoiled place. Taking a walk in front of this wonderful course will make you forget the hustle and bustle of city life.
Lavender was already precious to the ancient Romans. It was used in the water of the thermal baths and used even then to prepare decoctions, infusions for the beauty of the body. In ancient times, lavender was used not only for its perfume and for personal hygiene but also as a disinfectant, so much so that the Middle Ages and up to 1700 were sprinkled and scrubbed floors using lavender as a disinfectant.
