The 2022 vintage highlights the character of Pergolaia, combining vibrant fruit, savory notes, and added depth in a wine defined by Sangiovese and the Tuscan coast
October 1, 2026 (Riparbella, IT) — In Riparbella, on the hills of the Val di Cecina, Caiarossa chose some of its most sea-exposed vineyard parcels for Sangiovese, allowing the grape to be shaped by the climate and light of the sea. From these vineyards comes Pergolaia IGT Toscana Rosso 2022, a wine that combines generous fruit and supple texture with a distinctive savory character.
The wine begins in the vineyard. Across 40 hectares, Caiarossa has identified 59 individual parcels based on soil type, altitude and exposure. Within this mosaic of vineyard parcels, Pergolaia centers on Sangiovese, complemented by Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
The sea’s influence is particularly evident at Nocolino, a vineyard on the slopes of Poggio di Nocola at 350 meters above sea level and directly exposed to marine breezes. Harvest of the Sangiovese destined for Pergolaia 2022 began here on September 10.
After a mild winter and a wet spring, summer 2022 was warm and bright, conditions typical of the Tuscan coast. Mid-August rainfall brought welcome relief, while sunny September days and cool nights supported even ripening and helped preserve acidity, balance, and aromatic precision.
“Pergolaia was created as our interpretation of Tuscany’s wine tradition,” says Francesco Villa, Technical Director at Caiarossa. “Sangiovese is the starting point, but the proximity of the sea plays a key role in shaping the wine and guiding our choice of complementary varieties. We look for balance, vibrancy and drinkability while maintaining the ability to age. The 2022 vintage captures that style particularly well.”
The same parcel-by-parcel philosophy continues in the cellar. Grapes are vinified separately in wooden vats and concrete tanks, with slow fermentations and gentle extraction. Built across four levels on a hillside, the winery uses gravity throughout the process, while containers of different sizes allow each parcel to be followed individually before the final blend is assembled.
The wine then spends around twelve months aging in large oak casks, a choice intended to support evolution while preserving freshness, balance and aromatic purity.
Produced since the estate’s earliest vintages, Pergolaia has been part of the Caiarossa story from the beginning. In its youth, the wine highlights vibrant fruit, lively acidity and savory nuances. With age, it develops greater depth and complexity while retaining balance and precision. The 2022 vintage brings those qualities into particularly sharp focus.
ABOUT CAIAROSSA
The energy of nature gathers strength and shelter near the medieval village of Riparbella, on the Tuscan Coast. Lush vegetation, fruit trees, olive groves, vegetables and aromatic plants together paint the colours, aromas and wonder of a unique landscape: the very place where Caiarossa was born. By day, a magical light created by the sun’s reflection on the distant sea; by night, a vast star‑studded sky. The sense of enchantment is profound, embracing the winery itself, red like the earth’s core, set on the south‑west slope of the hill. It was in 2004 that Eric Albada Jelgersma decided to acquire an estate in this special corner of Italy, bringing with him the experience he had developed over the years in Bordeaux with Château Giscours, the renowned winery in the Margaux appellation. Eric Albada fell in love with this small yet beautiful estate, nestled in the Mediterranean scrub on the western side of a hill overlooking the sea. Today, his children Dennis, Derk and Valérie continue in their father’s footsteps, pursuing ever greater precision in the production of the wines, in a deep connection with the rhythms of nature, which is why the estate has followed the principles of biodynamic agriculture since its inception, with the aim of enhancing the vitality and resilience of the soil. The wines of Caiarossa are unique: refined blends that emerge from a balance between experimentation and harmony. A sense of equilibrium that offers a virtuous interpretation of the territory, through a French lens.
