2025 Badia a Coltibuono "Chill Ya Jolo" Ciliegiolo, Toscana IGT, Italy

ABOUT THE WINE

Made from 100% Ciliegiolo, the 2025 Chill Ya Jolo draws fruit from selected vineyards in both Chianti and Maremma, bringing together different Tuscan expressions of this historic variety. Ciliegiolo—whose name references ciliegia, the Italian word for cherry—has long been part of Tuscany’s viticultural heritage and was historically included in the traditional Chianti Classico blend. Badia a Coltibuono has cultivated the grape at Monti in Chianti for years, and this bottling expands that tradition by sourcing additional Ciliegiolo specifically for freshness, fruit, and easy drinkability.

The 2025 season began with a mild winter and irregular spring rainfall and storms, followed by a hot summer tempered by timely rain. Yields were slightly reduced, but the fruit remained healthy and achieved good ripeness while retaining freshness. Grapes are picked at optimal aromatic maturity, then gently destemmed and crushed. Temperature-controlled fermentation with indigenous yeasts is followed by a brief 4–5-day skin maceration, keeping extraction deliberately gentle. Aging takes place entirely in stainless steel, and the wine is bottled young to preserve Ciliegiolo’s vivid fruit and lively character. The finished wine is just 12% alcohol.

The style was conceived from the outset as a fresh, low-alcohol, soft-tannin red meant to be enjoyed chilled—the cheeky “Chill Ya Jolo” name is both a play on Ciliegiolo and its serving instructions. Try it as an aperitif or alongside charcuterie and cheese, pizza, vegetable pasta, grilled fish, white meats, or Mediterranean dishes.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER

Badia a Coltibuono is one of the historic names of Chianti Classico, rooted in an ancient abbey whose long history is inseparable from the agricultural traditions of the region. Today, the estate balances that heritage with a willingness to reinterpret Tuscany’s native grapes in contemporary ways. Chill Ya Jolo captures that philosophy particularly well: rather than abandoning tradition, the winery takes the little-seen Ciliegiolo grape and presents it in a fresh, accessible form for a new generation of drinkers.

Respect for the land, native Tuscan varieties, and the heritage of Chianti remains central to the estate’s identity, while experimentation provides a counterpoint to its more traditional wines. Chill Ya Jolo embodies that meeting of old and new—a historic local grape, minimally extracted and bottled without oak influence, transformed into a vibrant, chillable red that feels distinctly contemporary while remaining unmistakably Tuscan.