Societa’ Agricola Betti : Passion for Winemaking

Societa' Agricola Betti - Shanghai Paper

Guido and Gherardo Betti

The winery was established in 1903 by Bartolomeo Baldi, great-great-uncle of the current owners, brothers Guido and Gherardo Betti: the Betti family is actually from Florence, and the winery was previously known as the “country house.” Guido and Gherardo made a life-changing decision in 2003: they agreed to dedicate themselves entirely to viticulture and then turned what had once been the second family company into a modern winery. Guido, who was born in 1978, is in charge of the Commercial Italy and Export sectors, while Gherardo, who was born in 1983, is in charge of all oenological and agronomic aspects:

The Montalbano terroir has been devoted to viticulture since antiquity, with the first traces dating back to Etruscan and Roman times: it appears that Cesare had given to some veterans the lands between the Ombrone and the Arno, and then there is a parchment from 804 in the Florence archive with rental contracts for vines and olive trees in the Montalbano terroir.

Furthermore, all documentation demonstrating that the “grape francesca” or “francesa,” or Cabernet Sauvigno grape, imported by Caterina dè Medici, has been grown in the region since 1500 is crucial. There’s also a map of the Montalbano region from 1503 by Leonardo da Vinci, which covers the territory from Artimino to Monsummano.

Guido and Gherardo Betti’s work has always been focused on making high-quality wines, both in the vineyard and in the cellar. The fundamental desire is to improve the inherent characteristics of the region’s wines – first and foremost fineness and vivacity – without exerting any force, but rather by simply accompanying a soil that was born great. Cultivation includes partial grassing, organic fertilizers (for example, large bean plants cut and buried in the moment of flowering release nitrogen into the soil) and an interventionist attitude that only intervenes when absolutely necessary. Harvesting is done in two ways: manually and mechanically, depending on the storyline. As a result, Guido and Gherardo see themselves as guardians of a wonderful domain that they must protect without distorting: in their minds, new technology and all that involves creativity are utterly favored, as long as they are aimed at ensuring development. in which each bottle expresses personality and genuineness.

Very recently, Societa’ Agricola Betti has been recognized and awarded GOLD Medal and SILVER Medal by China Awards 2021 – By Shanghai Societa’ Agricola Betti wines are indeed excellence in quality.

Chianti Montalbano docg Tuscany 2019

Awarded Gold by Shanghai Paper

Chianti Montalbano docg Tuscany 2018

Awarded Gold by Shanghai Paper

Vines: Sangiovese 90%, Canaiolo Nero and Colorino 10% Training
: Spurred cordon  
Harvest :  Manual
Vinification:  Fermentation and aging in vitrified cement and steel and then refinement in the bottle for two to four months. Malolactic conversion carried out. Light filtering.
Bottling : In October of the ‘ year of harvest.  
Organoleptic characteristics : Brilliant ruby ​​red with purple hues and a lively transparency. The nose reveals intense and pleasing aromas which start with hints of black cherry, raspberry and violet and then plum, blueberry and cyclamen, for a whole of great cleanliness.
In the mouth it is enjoyable, with a  vibrant acidity à  supported by a  tannin  fresh,
balanced and full-bodied.
Alcohol : 1 2 -13%
Service :  16 -18  ° C
Pairings:  Tuscan ribollita, grilled meats, lampredotto, tongue and medium-aged cheeses.

Interview of Mr. Guido Betti Owner / Export and Sales Manager

Question 1: Do you already export to CHINA ? If yes, where ? If no, what type of importers & distributors are you looking for in CHINA ?

Answer : We export to China and this is a very important country for us both as a market and as a cultural and narrative reference. Two years ago we organized a dinner event for press and media professionals in Shanghai: we decided to create a very special experience focused on pairing between Sichuan cooking dishes and our wines, that also on that occasion were very versatile.
Question 2:
 What is the most unique and qualitative part of your products, different from competitors ?

Answer : Our wines are born in a wonderful territory and very suited for viticulture such as Tuscany. The Chianti area where our vineyards are located and that gives the name to the homonymous appellation of origin is known as “Chianti Montalbano”. Fattoria Betti is located in a particular enclave: the nearby Apennine mountains favor the diurnal temperature range and the subsoil characterized by red clay gives the wine good minerality and intense color. We produce bottles with an elegant, fruity, crispy taste and great versatility in terms of food pairings, from Mediterranean to oriental and fusion cuisine.

Question 3: When did you start to export your brand worldwide, and what is your development plan for the next years ?

Answer : We are a young company, as our official history began in 2003 when my brother Gherardo and I decided to dedicate ourselves totally to viticulture and to transform the family estate dating back to 1903 into a modern boutique winery. Having said that, we started selling our wines abroad since about 10 years ago, consolidating relationships with distributors in many countries in Europe, Asia and America. This is the path we are following and it will continue in the next years as well: bringing Fattoria Betti’s wines in the world is our mission!

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