The Noble Montepulciano Wine

The Montepulciano wine area is quite small and is situated in southeast Tuscany, around the small medieval homonymous town (1,968 feet above sea level), in the province of Siena.

Made since the 17th century, it was the second Tuscan wine to obtain the DOCG denomination (1980). The Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (VEE no NO bee lae dee mohn tae pul chee AH no), has such name because it was the noblemen's favorite wine.

Nowadays the producers have to work hard to mantain the tough competition with Chianti Classico and Brunello Di Montalcino even if in the last 30 years a certain number of producers are putting in more effort in making it finer and better.

The Montepulciano vineyards occupy slopes on various altitude levels and different types of soil. All these conditions and situations provides diversity in wine quality, so the local authorities have identified 20 (unofficial) sub-zones.

Even of Montepulciano is quite inland, there are slight sea influences, which improve grape quality and ripening. The main grape is a local Sangiovese clone, called Prugnolo Gentile (prew N'YOH lo jen TEE lae).

There is also a minimum part of other grapes: once only Mammolo e Canaiolo were allowed for the blending, while today, producers prefer using international varieties like Cabernet and Merlot.

Beyond the type of blending partner, other changes in the Noble Montepulciano wine production, have took place. There has been a certain renovation in the vineyards, which are now making riper grapes, which enrich color and taste in the wines.

Also, now wineries prefer aging the wines in French oak barrels. Then there are proposals to shorten the aging times. And now there are also some foreign investors (mainly Swiss) which are giving a new impetus to the zone.

Other Montepulciano Wines DOC

Rosso di Montepulciano, this is the other main wine in the area and it is composed by the same grape varieties as the Nobile, but needs less aging time. Five months before the release is enough.

Another DOC wine is the dessert wine Vin Santo Di Montepulciano, a gold-amber masterpiece made mainly with Malvasia, Grechetto or Trebbiano grapes. There is also an amber-red version made with at least 50% Sangiovese grapes, called Occhio Di Pernice (partridge eye) (OKE kee oh dee per NEE chae), which must age at least eight years, while the white needs only three or four (the riserva version).

The main and most famous Vin Santo Producer is Avignonesi, which is also, unfortunately the most expensive.

Here are the main producers to look out for:

Avignonesi
Podere Boscarelli
La Braccesca
La Calonica
Fattoria Del Cerro

Contucci
Dei
Fassati
Lodola Nuova
Il Macchione

Poliziano
Redi
Massimo Romero
Salcheto
Tenuta Trerose
Tenuta Valdipatta
Viila Sant'Anna




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