The best wines from Montepulciano in Italy

The beautiful town of Montepulciano in Tuscany is internationally famous for its Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. A wine that, like Chianti, is based on the Sangiovese grape. But Vino Nobile tastes different. Stronger and fruitier. This has to do with the volcanic soil and the hot, dry summers.

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Barely more than 40 producers make Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. From barely 1600 hectares of vineyards. They are located on the hills at the foot of the extinct Monte Poliziano volcano, an hour's drive southeast of Siena. The summers can be bone dry. The soil is volcanic with clay and sandstone and does not contain lime like elsewhere in Tuscany. These conditions give Vino Nobile a different taste than the wine elsewhere in the Chianti region. Fuller, fruitier and denser in structure.

Montepulciano was already an important cultural centre in the Middle Ages and its wines were famous throughout Italy. After being forgotten for several centuries, the winemakers only managed to restore their reputation in the 20th century. The popularity of Vino Nobile has increased significantly in recent decades. Just like in Chianti, the winemakers - and the legal requirements - have moved with the times. The Sangiovese is the basis for the wine. No more juice from white grapes needs to be added and, in addition to local grapes such as Canaiolo Nero, Mammolo and Colorino, aromatic Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are permitted. The yields per hectare are limited and the maturation - nowadays often in small barriques - has been shortened.

Rosso di Montepulciano

The quality of the wines from Montepulciano has improved by leaps and bounds, but this is no less true for the price. Only a limited supply of Vino Nobile can be pressed from the 1600 hectares of vineyards. Enthusiasts with a sense of the household budget therefore secretly switch to the much less expensive Rosso di Montepulciano. A simpler wine from the same grapes, but often from younger vines and with a shorter maturation. The latter appears to give the wine more fruit and freshness. A good Rosso therefore does not always have to be inferior to a Vino Nobile. We currently have one wines from Montepulciano in our range. You can view all our wines from Montepulciano here.