Fattoria di Palazzo Vecchio

Italy > Tuscany > Montepulciano

 

Description:
Typifying the rebirth of many winegrowing estates around the hilltop town of Montepulciano, Tuscany is the Fattoria di Palazzo Vecchio, located on the eastern flanks of Montepulciano in the commune of Valiano. The name means “old castle,”which is an apt description: the land was already established in the 14th century by the Ospedale degli Innocenti of Florence, and the vineyards and lands were worked by a brotherhood of peasant monks. The property changed hands many times over the next several hundred years, and at the beginning of the 20th century was owned by the Istituto Tecnico Agrario Angelo Vegni delle Capezzine, an agricultural technical institute. It was bought by Count Riccardo Zorzi in 1952, and thirty years later his daughter, Alessandra Zorzi, took charge with the intent of making a new wine estate out of an old castle.

Signora Zorzi and her husband, Marco Sbernardori, officially named the property Palazzo Vecchio and embarked on a major renovation program. The first phase involved rebuilding the old cellars and preparing them for a new breed of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, potentially one of Tuscany’s truly “noble” reds but not always well known outside the district. Old vines were removed and replaced with new clones of Prugnolo Gentile, the local name for Sangiovese grown in the Montepulciano district. Signor Sbernardori also saw the potential for a unique type of Super Tuscan wine, eminently suited to the Montepulciano area and its volcanic tufa soils. He decided on a blend of 70% Sangiovese with 30% Merlot, with the Merlot aged in barriques, and since 1996 this has been sold as Vino Rosso dell’Abate Chiarini, under the appellation IGT Toscana.

Because of its great potential, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano has been a D.O.C.G. for over two decades – thus qualifying it as one of Italy’s very finest wines. The estate now has over 62 acres producing Vino Nobile, and yields are deliberately kept low. Production now stands at 9,200 cases of Vino Nobile a year, and the goal is to increase this to 12,000 cases. It is available in three versions: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Terrarossa, uniquely from the Terrarossa vineyard planted in 1961; Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva, a selection of the best grapes from superior harvests; and straight Vino Nobile. The latter two types have a small component of Canaiolo Nero to soften the wine and add complexity. As in the nearby Montalcino area, a Rosso di Montepulciano is grown from the younger vines or from lots not destined to be sold as Vino Nobile. Finally, as is the case with many Tuscan wineries, a fine Vin Santo is made from grapes dried in lofts during the winter, and Palazzo Vecchio rounds out their offerings with a racy, scented white wine, Poggiolo, sold under the D.O.C.Valdichiana Bianco Vergine.
 

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Website: http://www.vinonobile.it