Villa Saletta 250 million euros for a project dedicated to wine and high-level hospitality

Owned by the English Hands family, active in the world of finance and luxury hotels, Villa Saletta in Palaia (Pi), an old farm of 720 hectares among woods, olive trees, vineyards from which 100,000 bottles per year are currently produced , crops , a historic fourteenth-century village, ancient farmhouses and villas for hospitality, with the new year will see the start of work to give life to a very high level welcome that will revolve around the theme of wine, also offering quality catering and gastronomy.

With an investment of 250 million euros, of which 60 million already spent for the acquisition of the estate in 2000, for the construction of the temporary cellar and for the removal and planting of the vineyards , we will work to ensure that this ancient estate dating back to to 980 AD, the date of the first written report on the production of wine in its lands, it can not only return to a new splendor but become a virtuous reality, promoter of quality wine, linked and connected with the territory. Work will begin at the beginning of the year, for a total investment of 10 million euros, established by the municipal agreement, which will see the implementation of interventions in favor of the entire community of Palaia.

In 2021 the works for the construction of the new cellar and for the renovation of the ancient hamlet Villa Saletta will also begin, which will become, keeping intact its original structure and its architectural beauty, a luxury resort with 43 apartments of about 300 square meters each with a spa, service staff and private chefs. In addition to this there will be 2 high level restaurants, one of which is also open to the public.

The central focus of this great project will be wine and agriculture around which most of the experiences that guests can experience while staying at Villa Saletta will revolve.

The wine part, already active, has been under the direction of the oenologist and agronomist David Ladini, originally from Tuscany, who is also the director and administrator of Villa Saletta where wines are produced from Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes. in the same proportion over 30 hectares, of which 17 are fully operational.

The cellar designed by the Rossiprodi studio, currently provisional, is located in Montanelli in Palaia in the province of Pisa. Here, awaiting the construction of the new building, seven labels come to life from the grapes harvested on the property and then vinified: a classic method sparkling wine from Sangiovese, a bland rosé of all the grapes of the property, a Chianti Docg and 4 red Igt Toscana wines.

The new cellar, which will see an investment of about 15 million euros and which will be completed for the 2022 harvest, will provide for the recovery of an existing surface of 1100 square meters , belonging to an old farmhouse not far from the current cellar, and of a further 1600 sqm , all intended for hospitality, catering and wine club members. The area dedicated to winemaking, totally underground, will extend over 2300 square meters. The current cellar, on the other hand, will be used for the management of the agricultural part, for the offices, for the stabilization of the wines, for bottling and for logistics. A few meters from here will be born a tavern and a shop where the local gastronomic culture will be promoted.

At Villa Saletta, however, production does not only concern wine and this in order to continuously support biodiversity: for this reason a large part of the territory is destined for various agricultural crops such as barley, oats, poplars, herbs and wildflowers. All this is done not only to promote biodiversity and the balance of the environment, to keep alive the extraordinary tradition of this farm. The soul of Villa Saletta is also the game that has always played an important role in the life of the farm and tells its story: here, in fact, for over two centuries, the English pheasant hunt has been held which once brought in these lands, even Queen Victoria.

Olive growing is also important for this reality , well rooted in this property. In fact, since the 17th century, the olive trees, 34 hectares, have been an integral part of the landscape at Villa Saletta . With the olives of over 6000 plants of the leccino, frantoio, moraiolo, pendolino and rocket varieties, cold pressed, an organic extra virgin olive oil is produced.

In the clayey soils of Villa Saletta also different varieties of truffles grow, including the precious white and black truffles and black winter and summer truffles. Truffle hunting is also active here.

As far as hospitality is concerned, Villa Saletta currently has 3 villas located on its property, ancient farmhouses now brought to a new light thanks to important restoration works that have seen the use of new, traditional techniques and Tuscan materials. Each villa is a faithful mirror of its past, with terracotta floors embellished with typical Etruscan motifs, hand-painted shutters and vaulted ceilings. The past in every structure marries the comforts of modern level hospitality: each villa, in fact, has been furnished and finished following the highest quality standards. Staying in the villas, each with a heatable outdoor pool, you can discover the estate by crossing the many paths that cut through the woods and strolling through the vineyards.