Luiano is an ancient fort, whose origins lie in the late middle ages and land spans 40 hectares in the northern region of the Chianti Classico. The property is positioned at an average altitude of 300 meters above the sea level. On its fertile soil, rich with natural resources, throughout the last centuries a great tradition of vine growing was founded.
Today Luiano is a farm entirely dedicated to the growth of grapes and winemaking. The Palombo Family, who has been running the winery for the past three generations, has recently renovated Luiano's vineyards and structures in an effort to achieve excellence within today's modern wine world.
An ancient legend tells of how Janus, the Roman God with two faces, chose as his home the forest that lies at the top of the hill, and that from the river Greve reaches Val di Pesa, the valley of Pesa. In Janus's honor the forest was named Lucus Iani, which in Latin means the Janus Wood.
According to several historical sources, Luiano has been a place of wine and olive oil production since the ninth century when Charlemagne ruled.
In the late middle ages this landmark was chosen by a noble family, allied with the Medici, to build a beautiful villa and farm. Over the years Luiano has belonged to several of the most renown families of Florence including the Mellini Borromei and the Strozzi.
In 1959 Alberto Palombo, a Neapolitan textile merchant, became the owner of Luiano. Alberto and his wife, Licia were so enchanted by Luiano and its history that they decided to buy the property to carry on its long lasting tradition of vine growing and wine making.
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Alberto’s first steps as a vintner and a wine maker were very innovative. He immediately abandoned the mixed agricultural system that used to characterize all the farms in that period of time and focused on cultivating vines only. Alberto’s goal was to produce and distribute bottled wine of the highest quality.
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In 1980, Alberto met Mr Hubert Opici, a pioneer and legend of the US wine import business. Today their respective grandsons are still working together, testifying to the solidity of the Luiano-Opici relationship. This is how the first bottles of Luiano were imported to America. Soon after Luiano started to be distributed in other parts of the world and is now available from Tokyo all the way to San Francisco and imported in more than 30 countries.
In the late nineties after Alberto passed away, Antonio, Alberto’s son, decided to quit his white collar job in a bank to fully dedicate himself to his father’s lifetime passion. In 1996, Antonio began an intense renewal of the vineyards and the winery’s equipment to set up the farm for the endeavors of the modern wine business. In 2003, the third generation of the Palombo family became involved in running the winery. Both Alessandro and Felicia, Antonio’s son and daughter share their father’s passion for Luiano.
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Fattoria di Luiano di Antonio Palombo e C. - F.d.L. - s.a.s.
C.C.I.A.A. Firenze 504397, Registro Imprese (FI - 1999 - 31311), P.IVA 02263700482
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