Elisa Sesti

Sesti Wine - Tuscany, Italy

Elisa Sesti was born in Tuscany on Monte Amiata, an extinct Volcano sacred to the Etruscan Civilization, she grew up with her Anglo/Italian parents and two brothers at the abandoned hamlet of Castello di Argiano found by her Mother in the early seventies. Her parents vision and love of place and home started a journey of restoration that included an 8th Century Church, priest’s house, 15th century farm houses and most recently, Elisa completed the restoration of the12th-century Medieval Castle, the roof of which had collapsed over 400 years ago, thus securing the future of this hamlet for generations to come as both an archaeological site, a protected Grade I architectural landmark, in the UNESCO world heritage valley of the Val D’Orcia.

In the mid 1980 a catastrophic frost damaged or killed roughly 18 million or nearly 90% of Tuscany’s Olive trees, with the loss of their ancient trees the Sesti Family decided to plant vineyards in what was considered some of the most sought after soils of the southern slopes of Montalcino.

Her Father, Giuseppe Maria was a Historian of ancient Astronomy and Mythology,  publishing the Phenomenon book of Calendars, a study of solar and Luna calendars throughout ancient cultures and The Glorious Constellations the history of the mapping of the Celestial Sphere.  Finding himself on an ancient settlement with virgin soils which had never seen the chemical revolution, these studies were put into practise. From the turning of the soil, planting and pruning of the vines to the racking and bottling in the cellar, using most notably the phases of the Moon. Known as organic and biodynamic farmers, they are, in fact, independent researchers of ancient farming techniques.

Elisa grew up in the Vineyards and Olive groves of the property, helping small Family run farm’s in Montalcino and Monte Amiata learning from generational knowledge and oral tradition, to watch, listen and put into practice was the foundation of her training.  After studying abroad in England and France, then travelling in North and Western Africa, India and the Amazon forest, in the latter working as a documentary Photographer for NGO’s and films, throughout these years Elisa always returned to follow the growing Estate, settling permanently in 1999.  The first years were focused on the making of the wine in the vineyard and cellar, in 2004 also taking on the managerial side, to then fulfilling the complete cycle of a Family vineyard from managing, making to selling the wine.

Other than wine the estate dedicates the rest of it’s land in Montalcino to one thousand Olive trees for there highly acclaimed Extravergine Olive Oil, Beehives for pollination and the production of there Honey, an orchard with a collection of selected ancient fruit and nut trees to protect dying varietals, grazing land, but the greater part of there land consists of ancient Mediterranean woods inhabited by Wild Bore, Deer, Hare, Tortoise, Wolves, Badgers, Porcupine, and diverse insect and bird life.

Furthermore across the river Orcia on Monte Amiata Elisa maintains Chestnut coppice woods for making vineyard poles. On lower ground reintroduced ancient grains for there nutritional properties which are made into flour and pasta.

The  Estate finds itself in an extraordinary position with a unique microclimate, where the maritime winds split down the eastern valley, tunnelling through the shaded woods which in it’s own turn not only acts as an air conditioning cooling system, but a natural interconnected hydraulic system, maximising water retention with a shade canopy, reducing soil evaporation when facing droughts, allowing the estate to manage both hot and rainy vintages with climate change.

Elisa’s understanding of the geological, agricultural and cultural heritage is reflected in the wines which show the identity of place and terroir using primarily the grape variety of Sangiovese who’s crowning home is Montalcino.

Each parcel of vineyard is managed individually, grapes are selected on the vine and harvested at the optimum moment, using the traditional methods of long maturation in large oak barrels, Elisa strives to find balance and elegance in all her wines which have a cult following and are prized and recognized internationally.