The Consorzio Chianti Rufina is pleased to announce the appointment of Francesco Sorelli as the new Director and Ambassador, a position that represents an important step for the growth and enhancement of the Chianti Rufina DOCG wine district.
Sorelli brings over 20 years of international experience in the wine sector, particularly at Rufino, one of the most prestigious wineries in the Tuscan wine panorama, and previously at the Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico, where he worked in communication, strategy, and events. Francesco has also developed expertise in territorial marketing, wine tourism, and sustainability. He is also an author, speaker, and storyteller on the history and civilization of wine, as well as a certified wine educator.
“I have accepted this appointment with great enthusiasm and a strong sense of responsibility. The lands of Chianti Rufina are truly my home: here, fine and elegant wines are produced thanks to the cooling influences of the Apennines, with the pinnacle being the Terraelectae, Sangiovese from single vineyards, which I consider a very intelligent zoning initiative, one of the best in Italy. Furthermore, Chianti Rufina is a region of extraordinary charm, dedicated to wine production since the time of the Etruscans, with medieval castles, Renaissance villas, country estates, hamlets, and small villages, as well as olive trees, cypress trees, and wild woods. Most importantly, it is a living present, not anchored to a nostalgic past, but made of knowledge, craftsmanship, goodness, and creativity.”
“In these challenging months for the entire sector,” continues Sorelli, “I believe wine must reclaim its civilization, the beauty it has created over millennia of history, its refined forms of conviviality, and the joyful occasions that a glass shared in the pleasure of togetherness can create—without superstructures, abstract languages, or metaphors that are difficult to understand. We will need to roll up our sleeves and work hard. The threats are now real and coming from various fronts, but I am convinced this is the way to a new spring for wine, and that the world of Tuscan and Italian wine has the ability and creativity to rise again.”
“I am very proud of the role given to Francesco, and I am confident he is the right person at the right time,” underscores Federico Giuntini of Fattoria Selvapiana and president of the Consorzio Chianti Rufina. “His international experience, combined with his knowledge and passion for the world of wine and its dynamics, and, above all, his deep connection to our territory—Francesco was born and lives here—are resources that we must seize for our denomination. In fact, there are new generations among our wineries bringing fresh ideas, commitment, and enthusiasm, and they will actively collaborate with Francesco to develop and implement a solid strategic plan aimed at increasing the visibility and reputation of Chianti Rufina on a global scale.”