A Shared Stage for the Montepulciano Denomination in Tuscany at Carpineto

At its Montepulciano estate in the heart of Tuscany, Carpineto welcomed members of the press for a carefully curated Open House that unfolded into a day of dialogue, tasting, and quiet celebration. The atmosphere struck a natural balance of informal purposefulness, with guests moving easily among the tables of the producers, glasses in hand, conversations shifting from vineyard parcels to aging decisions.

Winemaker and producer Caterina Sacchet, together with co-producer Antonio Michael Zaccheo, personally guided visitors through Carpineto’s evolving vision for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG. Their commentary extended beyond vintage specifics, focusing instead on stewardship of the land, disciplined cellar work, and the responsibility of shaping wines that speak clearly of origin. Precision and patience emerged as recurring themes, underscoring a long-term commitment to both identity and quality.

 

A Denomination in Dialogue

In the spirit of the annual Anteprima del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Carpineto opened its cellar hall to a selection of fellow producers, transforming the space into a lively walk-around tasting. The result was less a showcase and more a conversation — a shared platform for diverse interpretations of Sangiovese, known locally as Prugnolo Gentile.

Among the participating estates were Canneto, Guidotti, Palazzo Vecchio, Villa Sant'Anna, Il Conventino, Le Bèrne, and Tenuta Vallocaia — each contributing its own nuance to the broader portrait of the denomination.

Guidotti
Founded in 1967 by brothers Angelo and Alvaro Guidotti, the family established itself in the Cervognano zone, now recognized as a top cru for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Today, the second generation carries the legacy: Massimiliano Guidotti, son of Angelo, serves as agronomist, managing roughly 20 hectares of vineyards, while Daniele Guidotti, son of Alvaro, is the oenologist. Guidotti produces Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, celebrated for its freshness, tart cherry, and floral notes, alongside Rosso di Montepulciano DOC. Fermentations follow a minimal-intervention approach in historic glass-lined cement vats, yielding wines of territorial clarity, structural finesse, and authentic Cervognano character.

Canneto
A historic estate on Montepulciano’s western slopes, Canneto spans about 48 hectares, with roughly 30 planted to vines. Owned by the Grassi family, the winery combines traditional cultivation with meticulous cellar management. Its red wine portfolio focuses on Sangiovese, often blended with small amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Canneto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is fragrant with dark fruit and wild herb flavors, while the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva offers a more complex expression, aged 18 months in French oak with a lengthy, dry finish. Vineyards near the Temple of San Biagio produce fruit prized for elegance and typicity, and careful winemaking yields wines of refined structure and authentic Montepulciano character.

Le Berne
Located in the Cervognano hamlet, Le Berne is a multi-generational family estate. Founded by Egisto Natalini, the estate bottles its first Vino Nobile di Montepulciano in 1997 under Andrea Natalini, who oversees vineyard and cellar work. His sister Laura Natalini manages administration and hospitality, while her son Federico Fastelli, trained in Oenology and Viticulture, assists in the cellar and promotes the wines internationally. The estate’s portfolio highlights its signature Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, typically 100% Sangiovese or with a touch of Colorino, aged 24 months in Slavonian oak and French oak, with reviewers noting its robustness and smooth dark fruit aromas. Exceptional years produce the Riserva from vines averaging 60 years old, aged 30 months for a complex bouquet. The Rosso di Montepulciano is fresher and approachable, aged 3–6 months, while the top-tier Alto Pieve Cervognano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano showcases 100% Sangiovese, noted for a dense core of minerality.

Villa Sant’Anna
One of Montepulciano’s historic estates, Villa Sant’Anna has been in the hands of the Ruggeri Fabroni family for nearly two centuries, currently led by Simona Ruggeri Fabroni and her daughters, Anna and Margherita, blending tradition and modernization. Their portfolio includes the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, aged for two years, and the Rosso di Montepulciano, a fresher, fruitier red. They also produce Chianti Colli Senesi, aged in French oak, the traditional Vin Santo di Montepulciano, matured eight years in small “caratelli” barrels, and the prestige Poldo Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, reserved for exceptional harvests. Their wines emphasize elegance, balance, and long aging potential, reflecting the estate’s deep-rooted commitment to Montepulciano’s heritage.

Tenuta Vallocaia
Acquired and revitalized by Rudi Bindella in the mid-1980s, Tenuta Vallocaia combines modern precision with terroir-driven practices. The Bindella family collaborates with technical director Giovanni Capuano, focusing on clonal selection and single-vineyard bottlings. Their portfolio highlights the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, the flagship wine often receiving high points from critics, and the I Quadri Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, a single-vineyard selection known for its density and aging potential. The estate’s approach produces wines of clarity, refinement, and expressive Montepulciano character, balancing sustainable farming with meticulous cellar work.

Palazzo Vecchio
Located in the Valiano zone, Palazzo Vecchio combines medieval heritage with boutique-scale production and is owned by the Innocenti family. The estate emphasizes personal stewardship, careful oak management, and small-lot production. Its wines include the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva, crafted from 85% Prugnolo Gentile, 10% Canaiolo Nero, and 5% Mammolo, fermented in stainless steel with controlled temperatures, and aged 36 months in French oak followed by a minimum 6 months in bottle, offering an elegant, harmonious palate with persistent spice and red fruit aromas. The estate also produces Vin Santo di Montepulciano, made from Malvasia and Grechetto, aged at least 5 years in small oak barrels.

Il Conventino
Founded in the 1970s by Alfio Carpini and acquired by the Brini family in 2003, Il Conventino has been producing organic wines in Montepulciano for over 30 years, emphasizing harmony between man and land and a deep respect for native grape varieties such as Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Colorino, and Mammolo. Its portfolio highlights the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, typically 85–90% Sangiovese blended with other local reds, aged 24 months in Slavonian oak barrels, noted for its elegance and aromas of red fruits. The Amphora Vino Nobile undergoes aging in cocciopesto amphora, producing a complex, textured expression with similar aromatic notes. The Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva sees extended maturation—around 30 months in Slavonian oak casks plus time in barriques and bottles—offering savory depth with aromas. For earlier enjoyment, the Rosso di Montepulciano, primarily Sangiovese, is youthful, fresh, and vibrant, reflecting the estate’s terroir-driven philosophy and meticulous craftsmanship.

Carpineto’s Enduring Vision

At the center of the gathering, Carpineto reaffirmed its standing as one of Tuscany’s most internationally recognized ambassadors of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG. ounded in 1967 by Giovanni Carlo Sacchet, father of Caterina Sacchet, and Antonio Mario Zaccheo, father of Antonio Michael Zaccheo, the estate has expanded from its Chianti Classico origins into a network of five sustainable properties totaling roughly 500 hectares, with 184 hectares dedicated to Montepulciano.

 

The estate’s red wine portfolio is built on long-aged, terroir-driven expressions. The Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva, aged two years in oak and at least six months in bottle, is the flagship wine, celebrated for its elegant profile with notes of violet, cherry, and wood. The Rosso di Montepulciano offers a younger, fresher, and more fruit-forward expression, intended for earlier consumption. The prestigious single-vineyard Vigneto Poggio Sant’Enrico, sourced from the best-exposed parcels at 300–350 meters above sea level, is a 100% Sangiovese cru, aged approximately 12 months in small French and American oak barrels, and represents Carpineto’s Appodiati program of unique, high-quality vineyard selections. Thanks to its exceptional soils and exposures, Carpineto is distinguished as the only Montepulciano producer to focus exclusively on Riserva and single-vineyard wines, reflecting both noble tradition and modern precision.