Corzano e Paterno

Corzano e Paterno

When Wendel Gelpke found the Corzano estate 50 years ago, in San Casciano, about 17 km south of Florence, it was completely overgrown. Wendel saw the beauty in it and decided to buy the estate. He saw a place where he could start making wine, a great adventure with the possibility of a good life for the generations to come. Wendel, his son, and also his then twelve-year-old nephew Aljoscha with his parents, moved in.

Wendel planted new vines and took sheep to graze the land and make it passable. Paterno was also bought and more and more vines were planted. The whole family was part of the business. Only after a generation did the estate become profitable. The land began to give back to the family, in wine, cheese and olive oil. Wendel passed away in 2001, but his vision of the future became reality and his last wish was that the estate would never be split up.

The farm now has six owners, all family members and each has responsibility for some of the maintenance or production of the estate. Aljoscha, now in his fifties with soft eyes, and Ariana, the daughter of Wendel, make the wines together. Today they count 20 hectares of vineyards where sangiovese, canaiolo, malvasia and trebbiano are grown.

Wendel’s philosophy also resonates with the current generation: treat the land with care and respect and you will receive the best quality products as a reward. And it is exactly this what you can taste in the wines of Corzano e Paterno. Simply well made with the powerful Italian character.