Wine, olive oil and honey in a place privileged by nature
Perched at an altitude of 500 meters, Tenuta la Novella is located in the heart of Tuscany, between Florence and Siena, in the Chianti Classico appellation. This vast 188-hectare estate, abandoned for years, regained its lost splendor in 1996 when François Schneider, fascinated by the place’s beauty, decided to restore this magnificent residence. He restored the old cellars dating back to the time of the Medicis as well as the entire vineyard and olive groves that surround it. It took ten years to return to this estate its soul of yesteryear.
To achieve the highest quality, Tenuta la Novella produces its olive oil, Chianti Classico and IGT wines and Vin Santo, according to the strict standards of organic and biodynamic agriculture, without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers.
Our 14 hectares of vineyards spread over the best terroirs of the estate, together with 20 hectares of olive trees around our own olive mill.
From the XIII Century
In the 13th century, the monastery of San Bartolomeo a Musignana was founded to house the "agostiniane di Santa Croce" sisters. It was located on the place where a former watchtower was set overlooking Florence through the Ema valley. Those stones were used as the basement of the construction.
Around it were erected the various buildings of the community: residence of the Mother Superior, refectory, dormitory, place of meditation (cloister) and prayer (chapel).
Over the centuries, extensions were made to allow for the development of the community.
In 1808 Napoleon and the French government (who back then were ruling over Tuscany) decided to seize all the property belonging to the clergy.
Birth of the name in 1927
For 10 years, the nuns of San Bartolomeo were granted a dispensation and continued to use the premises, which they had to leave in 1818.
On April 24th 1820 the monastery became the property of the wealthy Zini family, the old nobility of Modena and Ferrara. After the acquisition of the surrounding land from the Marquis Francesco Riccardi della Vernaccia and several years of work to transform the monastery, it became a large agricultural estate with 17 farms. In 1827 it changed its name from Musignana to "la Novella", that is to say the "New", the "Transformed".
The agricultural estate was born
Back in those days, La Novella was managed as a proper agricultural estate,
aiming to self-sufficiency, thus including also sheep husbandry and cheese making, among others.
Until the XXth Century a few changes were made, like the succession of Families owning the Estate, until October 1953 when Siro Sbraci, an industrialist from Prato, buys it.
He dies in the 70's without direct heirs. The estate was then abandoned for several decades.
In 1996, when François Schneider with his Société des Domaines became the owner, La Novella was in complete ruin. It took more than 10 years of work to bring it back to life and to promote organic farming, the Novella's trademark.
Since 2015 Simone Zemella and his assistant Lorenzo Morandi have been working on the evolution of the estate, always with respect for the product and nature and with continuity in the development of organic and biodynamic farming.
Certified Organic Quality
We farm our vineyards and olive groves according to the principles of organic and biodynamic agriculture: no pesticides, just respect for nature and for those who choose us.
Working in pairs with Nature
Our products are born at 550 meters above sea level, in a highly biodiverse environment where the mountains of Chianti Classico gently slope down to the Ema Valley towards Florence.
Artisanal and Limited Production
The richness of our highly biodiverse terroir is enhanced by a low intervention approach
and a sensitive artisanal touch.
Authentic experience
We care about our guests just like we care about the vines.
Come and visit us, and let us share La Novella's magic with you.