Biodynamic beauty from two sisters in Montalcino
Founded by sisters Francesca and Margherita Padovani in the late 1990s, this tiny estate in the southern hills of Montalcino has quietly become one of the most soulful names in Tuscany. Working entirely by hand and farming biodynamically long before it became fashionable, their wines reflect an intuitive, respectful approach to nature — never dogmatic, always alive.
“Le Ragazze” (literally, the girls) is their white wine, and like everything from Fonterenza, it’s personal, expressive, and heartbreakingly rare — fewer than 1,000 bottles made in each vintage. The blend centers on Vermentino, a grape that has found remarkable success in Tuscany’s coastal and inland hills, here joined by small amounts of Malvasia, Trebbiano, and other local varieties. The result is a wine that’s both sunlit and textural — salty, herbal, and fresh, with a wildflower lift and the soft touch of skin contact that adds depth without heaviness.
Fermented naturally with native yeasts and bottled without unnecessary intervention, this is biodynamics done right: honest, precise, and full of life. It’s not a “natural wine” cliché — it’s simply beautiful, balanced, and utterly Tuscan.
A glass of “Le Ragazze” feels like a quiet afternoon in the Montalcino countryside — wild herbs in the air, a sense of calm, and the warmth of the sun on stone.
With such tiny production, this is a fleeting opportunity to experience one of Tuscany’s most heartfelt and distinctive whites.
