Promoting Top-Notch Vintages: A Passionate Advocate - Emanuele Graetz
Graetz's Visionary Journey and Isola delle Falcole's Soaring Heights
Emanuele Graetz, the pioneering wine maverick behind Isola delle Falcole and Viteoak Wine Selection, is captivating the world with his devotion to terroir and bold entrepreneurial spirit. In a dynamic fusion of tradition and vision, Graetz and his partners created Isola delle Falcole in 2016.
Nestled in the heart of Greve in Chianti, a picturesque corner between the villages of Panzano and Montefioralle, Isola delle Falcole's vineyards flourish at an altitude of 520 meters, boasting a south-east exposure on galestro soils. The higher elevation helps Isola delle Falcole strike a delicate balance between maintaining freshness, acidity, and aromatic intensity in their wines. Frost is rare at higher elevations, while the risk of mildew is significantly reduced considering the intense summer showers prevalent in the region.
A self-proclaimed disciple of Burgundy, Champagne, and Piedmont, Graetz draws inspiration from powerful growers who truly cultivate their land to harness its unique characteristics. For him, it's not a business endeavor; it's a labor of passion, dedication, and deep respect for the land.
Graetz's portfolio includes both IGT Toscana blends and Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG wines, showcasing the versatility of his estate and his unwavering commitment to Sangiovese. While IGT wines often stem from bureaucratic constraints, Graetz remains supportive of the prestigious DOCG appellations and dreams of incorporating a Chianti Classico Annata into his lineup. For now, however, his focus is on the Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, a tool he sees as essential for small growers to compete against larger corporations and display their true terroir, a feature that wine enthusiasts are eager to appreciate and pay for.
Through his company Viteoak Wine Selection, Graetz engages in strategic collaborations with a diverse array of high-caliber Italian wineries and French Champagne producers, crafting tailored commercial strategies to expand their presence in North American markets. When we at our website caught up with Graetz during a wine trail expedition in California, he shared fascinating insights into his curation process and some exceptional labels in his portfolio.
In his efforts to expand the reach of exceptional Italian and French producers, Emanuele Graetz, through Viteoak Wine Selection, crafts strategic collaborations, focusing on food-and-drink businesses and lifestyle ventures in the North American markets. As a committed businessman, Graetz's finance-driven strategies align with his unyielding dedication to championing the terroir-driven wines of both Tuscany and Champagne, thereby elevating the food-and-drink culture and lifestyle of contemporary connoisseurs.
