Catching Up with Luigi, Winemaker at Tenuta il Finale
- Tenuta Il Finale
- Aug 14
- 2 min read
Fresh off recent awards and recognition, Luigi admits the early acclaim for Tenuta Il Finale’s first two vintages is deeply satisfying — not only for him, but for the whole team.
“It’s good to get recognition from people knowledgeable about the sector,” he says. “Until now, our wines were mostly discussed among ourselves. This is the first time they’re being tasted and talked about outside of Castagnole delle Lanze — and that’s exciting. From here, it’s only going to get more serious.”
An Eventful Growing Season
The past few months in the vineyards have been far from quiet. The 2024 vintage began with challenging conditions — high rainfall and humidity through mid-May — echoing the difficulties of 2024’s disease pressure. But by late May, the weather shifted, allowing the team to breathe easier. Luigi notes that maintaining healthy grapes has been the top priority, especially since they avoid herbicides, meaning all grass management is done manually - no small feat on the steep hillsides.
So far, the effort is paying off: “I haven’t spotted any disease in the vineyards this year, which is a great sign,” Luigi shares with clear pride.
Looking Ahead to Harvest
With harvest still about six weeks away, the focus is on vineyard care and cellar preparation. Luigi emphasises keeping the canopy healthy to protect grapes from excessive sun while balancing vine nutrition and soil needs. In the cellar, the team is finalising harvest plans and considering a few new projects and experiments for the upcoming vintage.
A Season of Contrasts
This year’s climate has been a blend of the last two vintages:
Early season: heavy rains and disease risk (like 2024)
Mid-to-late season: heat and dryness (similar to 2023, but less extreme)
Managing this balance is both a challenge and a learning opportunity. After just a few years of working with these vineyards, Luigi and his team are still discovering their true potential.
“Every year is different,” Luigi reflects. “We’re learning, adapting, and maybe even changing how we harvest compared to the past two years. August and September will decide the final shape of this vintage.”
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