History
Origins
The Pioneers of Viticulture
Founded in 1051 by the Vallombrosan monks of Giovanni Gualberto, Badia a Coltibuono quickly became a key center for agricultural activity in the Chianti region.
The Vallombrosan monks, keen scholars with a deep respect for nature and its resources, gave new impetus to the cultivation of the land—especially vines and olive trees. They continued agricultural practices that had already been in place since the 3rd century BC, initiated by the Etruscans and Romans from the nearby village of Cetamura del Chianti.
A document from the late 12th century, preserved in the abbey’s archives, contains one of the earliest known references to the name “Chianti.”
A Family Tradition
In 1846, following the Napoleonic suppressions of the early 19th century, the ancient abbey and its surrounding farmland were purchased by the Florentine banker Michele Giuntini, ancestor of the current owners. From that year on, Badia a Coltibuono began to flourish once again, thanks to numerous improvements made by the new proprietors.
Starting in the 1930s, the estate was managed by Maria Luisa Giuntini. In the 1950s, she was joined by her son, Piero Stucchi Prinetti, who played a key role in establishing the international reputation of Badia a Coltibuono’s Chianti Classico.
Lorenza de’ Medici, Piero’s wife, founded the Badia a Coltibuono cooking school—one of the first in Tuscany—bringing the culinary traditions of Chianti to the attention of the world.
Lorenza de’ Medici
A descendant of the cadet branch of the renowned Florentine family, Lorenza de’ Medici of Ottajano was a journalist and a prominent advocate of Italian culinary culture. She founded the cooking school at Badia a Coltibuono and authored several acclaimed books on gastronomy. Her work helped bring Tuscan cuisine to an international audience, and she played a key role in pairing traditional dishes with Badia a Coltibuono’s wines and olive oils, promoting both the Chianti heritage and regional Italian cooking.
As the host of the television series The de’ Medici Kitchen on the U.S. public broadcasting network PBS, Lorenza de’ Medici showcased the beauty of the region through her recipes.