Tuscany | Montepulciano

Fattoria del Cerro in Acquaviva di Montepulciano is the largest private vineyard in the region with a total area of 600 hectares and 181 hectares of vines – mainly known for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Its Chianti Colli Senesi comes from 20 hectares of vineyards in the Sienese hills and is mainly made from Sangiovese (90 per cent) with Merlot (10 per cent). After manual harvesting, fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks with eight to ten days of maceration, followed by three months of ageing in large Slavonian oak barrels.

Villa Grazianella – a 17th century villa surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and orchards on the hills of Acquaviva – stands at the heart of the Fattoria del Cerro, the largest private producer of Nobile di Montepulciano. The new wine name is both a tribute and an indication of origin. The Rosso di Montepulciano is made from Prugnolo Gentile – the local Sangiovese clone that has adapted to the climate and soil of the Colli Senesi over the centuries. Fermentation at a controlled temperature with daily pumping over, followed by maturation in the cellar for at least four months.

Montepulciano has two faces. One has large wooden barrels, decades of cellar time and the name Nobile. The other is younger, more direct – and often the more honest pleasure. The Rosso di Gracciano comes from the Casale and Maramai crus, at 280 to 300 metres in north-eastern exposure: somewhat cooler, somewhat slower ripening than the Nobile sites, with medium-heavy soils that produce freshness rather than vigour. 90 per cent Prugnolo Gentile – this stubborn Sangiovese clone, which only shows its full temperament here – supplemented by ten per cent Merlot for fullness and texture. Fermentation with indigenous yeasts in steel, ten days of maceration at a controlled temperature, no wood. A wine that does not wait.

Montepulciano thinks in red. The Prugnolo Gentile, this stubborn Sangiovese clone, is bred for the long haul – for Nobile, for Riserva, for decades in the cellar. The fact that it is also so convincing as a rosato has to do with the terroir: the Toraia and Casale cru sites at 300 to 350 metres, clayey-silty soils, south to south-east exposure. Hand-picked at the end of September, cryomaceration for four to five hours.

Avignonesi's uncomplicated everyday wine combines Tuscan tradition with international grape varieties: Sangiovese and Merlot form the backbone, complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon, Colorino and Syrah. The grapes undergo an eight-day maceration at a controlled temperature, with the alcoholic fermentation guided by natural yeasts from the company's own pied-de-cuve selection. After eight months of ageing in stainless steel, the wine is ruby red in colour with inviting aromas of ripe cherries and blackberries, with a hint of liquorice. On the palate, it is lively and full-bodied with direct fruit, carried by velvety-soft tannins and a pleasant persistence reminiscent of Mediterranean scrub. A versatile and animating companion for every day. SUPERIORE.DE

Far from the fame of the Vino Nobile vineyards, this Chianti was created in the "Pozzi" vineyards, where Federico Carletti ventured an oenological experiment. At an altitude of 350 to 450 metres, with a view of the famous San Biagio church, densely planted Sangiovese vines thrive on stony clay soils of almost skeletal permeability. Ninety-five per cent Sangiovese blends with five per cent other Tuscan varieties to create a Chianti of uncompromising authenticity. Six months in stainless steel preserve the youthful freshness of this DOCG composition, which Federico deliberately conceived as an alternative to modern velvet gloves.

As an entry into the world of Vino Nobile, Federico Carletti's Rosso reveals all its directness without false modesty. Eighty per cent Sangiovese – here honourably called "Prugnolo Gentile" – are combined with twenty per cent Merlot to create a cuvée that expresses the character of the galestro-rich clay soils unfiltered. This organically produced composition matures only briefly in historic barriques, emphasising the youthful freshness of the Sangiovese grape. Intense ruby-coloured tones reveal the power of the Tuscan sun, while a seductive interplay of sour cherries and dark forest fruits with herbal and floral nuances unfolds on the nose. On the palate, this Rosso presents itself with the typical Poliziano balance: velvety, elegantly structured, with a subtle tannin structure that never dominates, but harmoniously envelops the fruity core. An authentic ambassador of its terroir. SUPERIORE.DE

After a break of thirty years, Federico Carletti has ventured a renaissance in recent years: Ambrae marks Poliziano's return to white grape varieties. This elegant cuvée made from ninety per cent Chardonnay and ten per cent Roussanne thrives on the clay-rich slopes around Montepulciano – a name that, like the winery itself, pays homage to the great Renaissance humanist Angelo Ambrogini. This composition matures exclusively in stainless steel without the influence of wood, allowing the mineral depth of the Pliocene soils to express itself unfiltered.

In the Middle Ages, it was a monk from Montepulciano Abbey who was the first to write down how to make wine from the local grapes. Sabatino Lulli, known as Sabazio, did not leave behind any great works – just a few lines about the local varieties and their processing. La Braccesca has given its name to a wine that reflects this modesty: direct, fresh and straightforward. The Marchesi Antinori estate extends over 500 hectares on the border between the Val di Chiana and the hills of Montepulciano, at an altitude of around 280 metres. 85 per cent Prugnolo Gentile – the local Sangiovese clone that gives the Rosso di Montepulciano its characteristic freshness and fruitiness – supplemented by 15 per cent Merlot, which contributes body and softness. The two varieties are harvested separately: the Merlot in mid-September and the Prugnolo Gentile a month later. Separate fermentation in steel, short malolactic fermentation in large barrels, then four months of ageing. Fresh, light, without a hint of wood.

Salcheto is not just an organic winery – it is a manifesto. Since 2011, the winery has been completely self-sufficient, detached from the regional electricity grid and powered by photovoltaics, geothermal energy and biomass. Gambero Rosso named Salcheto "Sustainable Winery of the Year" in 2014, and Michele Manelli, who has managed the estate since 1997, is Vice President of Equalitas, the organisation that sets standards for sustainable wine production in Italy. The lightest bottles in the industry, certified CO₂ balances, energy-independent winery – at Salcheto, sustainability is not a claim, but a reality.

Silìneo – a neologism born from the fusion of "sinuoso" (supple) and "lineo" (linear). The name epitomises what this wine is all about: elegance, suppleness, balance and harmony. It is the most classic wine from Fattoria del Cerro and has been the most successful for years. Silìneo is made from 90 per cent Sangiovese (locally called Prugnolo Gentile) and ten per cent Merlot and Colorino, from vineyards in Acquaviva di Montepulciano on soils of marine Pliocene origin with clay and silt between 250 and 400 metres above sea level. After manual harvesting, fermentation takes place with maceration at 24 to 28°C with daily overflow and délestage. The wine then matures for seven months in tonneaux, followed by eleven months in large Slavonian oak barrels.

Rosso di Montepulciano Prugnolo is lively and fresh with a burst of wild strawberries, lavender and violets. It is juicy and fruit-driven, with plenty of tart raspberry and sweet herbs enlivened by zesty acidity. Leaves the palate with primary concentration and spice, while finishing gently tannic and refined. This is a fantastic achievement and a great introduction to the Boscarelli style. SUPERIORE.DE

Virginie Saverys is a lawyer, not a winemaker. When she took over Avignonesi in 2009, it came as a surprise to many – and for her the beginning of a radical conviction. No herbicides, no pesticides, no additives in the cellar, no compromises. Today, Avignonesi is the largest biodynamically certified winery in Italy – over 170 hectares on the hills around Montepulciano, organic since 2016, biodynamic since 2019. What began in 1974 as a traditional Tuscan winery has become one of the most consistent sustainability projects in Italian viticulture under its leadership.

Vino Nobile is Montepulciano's answer to Tuscany's big question: What can Sangiovese do if you give it time? At Gracciano, the answer has been the same since the 19th century – and it has not changed. The Tenuta della Seta Ferrari Corbelli Greco family is one of the oldest addresses in the appellation, its vineyards on the Rovisci, Maramai and Toraia crus lie at 300 to 350 metres in south to south-easterly exposure, on clay soils that allow the Prugnolo Gentile to ripen slowly and fully, which is exactly what it needs. 90 per cent Prugnolo Gentile, ten per cent Merlot – a classic Gracciano assemblage. Fermentation with indigenous yeasts, 20 to 25 days of maceration in steel, then 18 months of ageing: 40 per cent in French tonneaux of 3.5 and 5 hectolitres, 60 per cent in large oak barrels from France and Slavonia.

Flavours of blueberries and blackberries, with a hint of lightly toasted oak. Full-bodied with velvety tannins and lots of fruit, some caramel and vanilla pods. Expressive aftertaste. Pure Syrah. SUPERIORE.DE

The name Da-Di is derived from the Chinese and means earth/soil. It not only emphasises the organic cultivation of the vines, but also the subsequent ageing in 13 Tuscan terracotta amphorae. The result is a fascinatingly fresh wine that is a joy to drink from the very first sip.

Salcheto's garnet-red sparkling Vino Nobile delights us with a classic blend of dusty black cherries, cedar shavings, worn leather and sour citrus notes. On the palate, there is plenty of present fruit, a soft texture and a cool note, with savoury red fruits and cedar spice accompanied by lively acidity. Fine, sweet mellowness on the long finish. An authentic and pleasantly elegant organic wine from the heart of the Montepulciano region that is ready to drink when young. SUPERIORE.DE

The name already reveals the philosophy: DA-DI means "great earth" in Chinese – virginie Saverys' homage to the yin-yang principle that characterises her biodynamic work at Avignonesi. This experimental white wine from Cortona combines four indigenous grape varieties in just as many vinifications: Orpicchio matures in amphorae and used barriques, Vermentino exclusively in amphorae, Grechetto undergoes a six-day carbonic maceration, while Trebbiano macerates for 48 hours. After ageing on the fine lees, the components are assembled in the summer.