Tuscany

DOCG for dry red wine in the wine-growing region of Tuscany in Italy. The zone covers an area of 1.200 hectares of vineyards, located on the slopes at an altitude of 250 to 600 metres above sea level in the commune of Montepulciano in the province of Siena. The town of Montepulciano is located 120 kilometres to the south-east of Florence in the upper Chiana valley, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful towns in Tuscany, and is referred to as the „Pearl of the Renaissance“. Each year in August the barrel race „Bravio delle Botti“ takes place in the town, with representatives of the eight competing suburbs roll wine barrels weighing 500 kilogrammes through the steep, narrow streets. Montepulciano was the home of two popes, and one of them – Paul III. (1468–1549) – preferred the wines of his home town to all other wines. In 1549, his cellar master praised the wine as being the “perfect wine”. The origins of the wine date back to 1300, it was famous all over Europe in medieval times, and was highly regarded. The Italian poet Francesco Redi (1626-1698) referred to it in his poem „Bacchus in Tuscany“ as the „king of wines“. A delegation of Englishmen travelled to Montepulciano in 1669 to acquire some of the wine fort he royal court in London. Many other poets have referred to the wine, which even today is still regarded as the “doyen of all Tuscan wines”. Traditionally, the best wines have always been reserved for the pope and the papal court in the Vatican. This is the reason why the additional designation „Vino Nobile“ was added in the 18th century, the wine for the aristocracy.

Together with Brunello di Montalcino (also a Tuscan wine) it was one of the two wines that were the first to be awarded DOCG status in 1980. There is no doubt it is one of the outstanding red wines of Italy. The best growing areas (clay and sany soils) are Argiano, Caggiole, Canneto, Casalte and Valiano. The wine is made from Prugnolo Gentile – a clone of Sangiovese (70-100%), Canaiolo Nero (10-20%), as well as optionally from other permitted red and white varieties (up to 20%, of which a maximum of 10% white varieties – however excluding aromatic varieties such as Malvasia or Moscato). The wine has a bouquet of violets, has a minimum alcohol content of 12,5% vol., is matured for a minimum of two years in oak or chestnut barrels, and has a long maturation potential. The wine must be bottled in Bordeaux-type bottles in the growing region. If it has been matured for three years (of which 6 months in bottle) and has a minimum alcohol content of 13% vol, the wine may be called a Riservan. Red wines from the same commune (but from a different area) and made in accordance with less rigorous regulations are classified as DOC Rosso di Montepulciano.