Italian Wine Region, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

Profile of Italian Wine Region, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

Tuscany Wine Map

A wine-growing center since the days of the Etruscans, the tumbling hillside village of Montepulciano is the epicenter for the production of the well-regarded Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. An enchanting Tuscan town often dubbed a "miniature Florence" for its mix of beautiful churches, wonderful art and architecture and lively café culture, Montepulciano has long been famed as the birthplace of wines enjoyed in centuries past by noblemen (hence the name as a 'vino nobile'). Popes, poets, proprietors and politicians first made the region's wines famous, but its popularity has endured thanks to the wines' spicy flavors and balanced acidity.

Perhaps the least well known of Tuscany's "Big Three" DOCGs (which also include Chianti Classico and Brunello di Montalcino), Montepulciano is equally praised for its wines as for its delightful setting. Some 2500 acres are planted with vines, most of them with the local Sangiovese strain called Prugnolo, a reference to its prune-like shape, color and aroma. (Don't confuse the wines made here with the grape varietal Montepulciano, which is ubiquitous throughout southern and central Italy, especially in the Abruzzi region.) Vino Nobile's Prugnolo-based wines are often blended with up to 40 percent Canaiolo, Malvasia or Trebbiano to add structure and balance, although there are also wines made with 100 percent Sangiovese.

An unusual variety of blends and techniques find their way into Vino Nobiles, making it difficult to define the style of the DOCG. Depending on who's offering the opinion, this is either a frustrating aspect of the region, or it's an exciting joker card that permits winemakers to explore new territory uninhibited by tight appellation regulations. With ever-varying blends and aging times, wines from this area may be more or less spicy, resiny, herbal, fruity or rich. Most, however, reveal the typical aromas and flavors of Sangiovese, while toning down the tannins in comparison to the Brunellos made nearby and smoothing out the acidic notes of many Chianti Classicos.

The vineyards around Montepulciano, many of them planted in the sandy clay soil of gently sloping hills at around 600 feet above sea level, are sunny and well-drained, which promotes a favorable maturation. Plantings stretch over the low, rolling hills typical of this area toward the large city of Siena, at the southern tip of the Valley of Chiana. The prized T-bone steaks ("bistecca alla fiorentina") that come from cattle raised in the valley are an ideal accompaniament to quality Vino Nobiles.

Also revered are the Rossi di Montepulciano wines, made with the grapes of younger vineyards near Montepulciano. These wines, while aged for less time and generally less expensive than Vino Nobile, are often just as exciting as the noble wines, thanks to a punch of fruitiness and appealing youthful aroma.

Recommended Wine Producers in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano:

• Avignonesi
• Salcheto
• Tenuta Valdipiatta
• Poliziano
• Boscarelli
• Fassati
• Fattoria del Cerro
• Lodola Nuova
• La Braccesca (run by Antinori)
• La Ciarliana
• Il Macchione

More Information on Luxury Wine Vacations in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano:

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