My Italian Link - Issue #09 My Italian Link Issue #09 | Page 42

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BUSINESS
Overlooking the billowing hills of Tuscany, near Florence, lies Tenuta Il Palagio.
Here, Sting and his wife Trudie Styler have not only filled the villa with mirth and memories,
but used every inch of their Chianti farmland to produce stunning IGP wines and local
produce. We spoke with the couple to learn more about their agricultural adventures.
A view of Il Palagio’s chess terrace.
Special events, such as weddings and dinners, can be organised at Il Palagio.
TENUTA IL PALAGIO
TUSCAN FIELDS OF GOLD
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Trudie & Sting in the Il Palagio wine cellar.
EMBRACING THE VINE
The couple didn’t exactly have winemaking in mind
when they bought Il Palagio. However, unwilling to let
its fertile, 16th-century vineyards go to waste, a deci-
sion was made to give it a go. Like any venture, there
were a few obstacles to overcome. They had been
served a glass of what they thought was wine from
the farm’s vines by the Duke of San Clemente the day
they bought the estate from him. However, for the
first few years, they found their wine wasn’t quite as
good. It turns out the wine they’d tasted was actually
French! This chuckle-worthy misunderstanding was a
blessing in disguise, as it galvanised the couple’s de-
sire to bring Il Palagio’s selection to standard.
ITALIANS AT HEART
When Sting and Trudie bought Il Palagio, they were
no strangers to Italy. Sting recorded his album Soul
Cages in Tuscany, and their daughter Eliot was born
there too. So, since the early 90s they’ve had deeply
felt ties with the region. They had been looking to
buy property in Tuscany for years when they found
Il Palagio. It was love at first sight! They immediately
made an offer, and Il Palagio – along with its lush
farmland – was theirs. The couple have referred to
the villa as their “spiritual home” in past interviews,
and when not working abroad, Il Palagio’s walls echo
with the sound of their family and friends.
DIVINING THE NECTAR OF THE GODS
Alongside Il  Palagio’s loyal and knowledgeable
estate manager, Paolo Rossi, and with the brilliant
guidance of their eonologists, Paolo Caciorgna and
Daniel O’Donnell, Sting and Trudie have made their
viticultural endeavour a resounding success. As the
Italians say, "dove regna il vino non regna il silenzio"
("where wine reigns, silence does not"). Indeed,
local viticultural experts have made a lot of noise
over Tenuta Il Palagio labels. In 2011, Sister Moon
was voted one of Italy’s top 100 wines, and their
blended red named Message in a Bottle is also cri-
tically acclaimed as a Toscana IGT. What’s more, all
Il Palagio products are 100% organic!
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