Chronology 1980 – 1989
In 1980 the Widmers travel to Tuscany for a Christmas visit. Bruno Widmer immediately falls in love with the Brancaia hill. “From the house of our friend Ruedi Bettschart we saw this beautiful piece of land,” he recalls. “The whole area was covered in morning mist, but Brancaia was bathed in sunlight. A magical sight!” It was fortunate that the previous owner, who was from the UK, wanted to give up the estate. The farmer who had been taking care of the vineyards for him had passed away, and he himself was already in his seventies. Brigitte Widmer is initially skeptical. Today, however, she says: “Brancaia means a tremendous amount to me – and more and more with each passing day.”
In 1983, the replanting of the vineyards in Castellina marks the beginning of a new era for Bruno and Brigitte Widmer. At the same time, four lovingly renovated holiday apartments are created in the old manor house on the Brancaia hill. There is also progress in terms of personnel: The Widmers are hiring their first permanent employee.
In 1986 Brancaia won a blind tasting of Chianti Classico from 1983 organized by the Swiss wine magazine “Vinum” – and suddenly everyone was talking about it. “An absolute stroke of luck,” says Brigitte Widmer. “The jury’s astonishment,” she continues, “was so great that some people asked for another tasting. The wine merchant, who had campaigned for our Chianti to be tasted at all, prevented that. “
In 1989 the Widmers bought a 53 hectare property on the Poppi site in Radda. Its vineyards are completely neglected, but also completely surrounded by forest – and therefore predestined for ecological viticulture. The house that stands there looks like a ruin, has neither electricity nor running water. The tool shed is a stroke of luck: it gives the new owner couple from Switzerland the opportunity to apply for a building permit for their own cellar. Parallel to these events, the first Brancaia team with six employees is formed. Today, there are forty.
In 1981, Bruno and Brigitte Widmer acquire the property on the Brancaia hill in Castellina. Although the house is in dire need of renovation and the 20 hectare site is actually way too large. An adventurous undertaking. Initially, Brancaia is just a holiday home for the Widmers. But one with four hectares of vineyards. It should be possible to produce top-quality wine here that reflects the character of the region, they soon think to themselves. Later that same year, the first harvest follows. The production of quality wine starts with the know-how of the infrastructure of the Mazzei family. “Because the vineyards on the Brancaia hill have always been completely surrounded by forest, we never had to fear that spraying from neighbors would reach us – a very important factor in organic viticulture,” explains Barbara Widmer in hindsight.
In 1988, Brancaia first produced Il Blu, the composition of which did not meet the guidelines for a Chianti Classico. Bruno and Brigitte Widmer are not deterred by the fact that the predecessor of the IL BLU is only considered a Vino da tavola. Like other ambitious producers, they are convinced that it is not the categorization that counts, but the taste. And they are right: soon the English-speaking lovers of the complex and rich treasures are talking admiringly of the “Super Tuscans”. But the year 1988 brought another very important innovation for Brancaia: the unique label was created. Bruno Widmer asked a graphic designer from his advertising agency to work out a series of drafts. When these are finished, one of them immediately catches his eye. The letters of the word “Brancaia” and the four numbers of the vintage are arranged on it in the square that can be seen on every bottle of the winery to this day.