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Region of Tuscany
Tuscany is probably the best known region in Italy when wine is considered.It is the home of Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.Tuscany was the granary for Caesars legions,the birthplace of the renaissance, and the destination of many English writers. Tuscan winemakers have lead a renasissance in Italian winemaking during the last few decades, the old rules had to change to accommodate their better wines.
Its cities include Florence and Siena. In Italy, there provinces inside of regions. Tuscany's best known provinces are Chianti, Montalcino , Montepulciano and San Gimignano.
Tuscany's Chianti is perhaps the best
known wine in the world. Chianti Classico comes only from the Classico area of Chianti and has the Black Rooster on the label.Sangiovese is the grape of Tuscany. Clones of Sangiovese are the main grape of; Chianti Classico, Vino Nobile d Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino.These three wines are the Great Red Wines of Tuscanny.
Tuscany also produces Olive Oil that many consider the world's best.
We meet Olga Centolani , the owner of Pietranera , at VinItaly in Verona April of 2008.
She has two small estates in Montalcino; Tenuta Friggiali and Pietranera.
All three are highly acclaimed and receive high ratings. We are the first to Import wines from Pietranera into the United Stated. The wines are highly concentrated . The name Pietranera means, black rocks. The vineyards slopes south and is covered with black rocks. The south slope and the black rocks gives the vineyard warmth wich creates deep rich wines. Olga is a charming woman, a person that we enjoy doing business with.
Agricola Centolani is a world-famous wine estate located in the heart of Montalcino, one of the most evocative villages in legendary Tuscany. Brunello di Montalcino, one of the world’s top wines, grows here in the Siena area, amid Valle d’Arbia’s stark landscape and Valle d’Orcia’s wild, sunny stretches. The Peluso Centolani family owns the homonymous company and possesses two major wine estates in Montalcino: Tenuta Friggiali, with cellars and offices, and Tenuta Pietranera, whose vineyards, olive groves, arable land and woods cover approximately 200 hectares.
Their wines are located here: Order Wine.
Terre Delle Falcole - Land of the Falcons
Chianti Classico , Riserva & Super Tuscan
Terre Delle Falcole.Falcole is located at IL Volano in Panzano in Chianti. The Grace family owns the winery and the winery next door, IL Molino di Grace. Frank Grace is from the Cleveland, Ohio area. That is where I met him. Frank Grace has put together a great team lead by Gerhard Hirmer, to produce the Best in Tuscan Wines. The vineyards are of high elevation as the name indicates. Both wineries are run by the same team. IL Molino di Grace was awarded, Emerging winery of the year 2004 and has received Tre Bicchieri's for its wines by Gambero Rosso. Terre Delle Falcole's wines have not been rated yet. I predict they will be rated at least as high as IL Molino di Grace. W/S in the 90's and Tre Bicchieri. These wines are the Best Quality /Price for highly rated wines!!
Their wines are located here: Order Wine.
Winery: Cantina Crociani
Located in Tuscany south of Florence in the town of Montepulciano is the farm and winery Cantina Crociani. Montepulciano is renowned for the wine Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano. The wine name means" wine of nobles from Montepulciano" The wine is given the highest status in Italy, D.O.C.G. The wine is made from a clone of Sangiovese called Prugnolo Gentile and the grapes Canaiolo Nero and Mammolo.
Arnaldo Crociani was a cellarman as were his father and grandfather. Arnaldo acquired 20 acres of vineyards and olive trees and started his own winery. Arnaldo was very active in the community and truly was "a man of Montepulciano."
Now the winery is run by Arnaldo's children: Georgio and Susanna. They also have accomodations for tourists. If you are in Montepulciano stop by and meet Greogia and Susanna.
The Crociani Wines are located here: Order Wine.
Winery: Poggio Delgi Ulivi - in Montalcino
The estate of Poggio Delgi Ulivi is situated on the southern side of Montalcino at 300 meters above sea level. Lucilio and Nicla have 11 acres of Brunello grapes on their 180-acre estate. The 11 acres were selected for their southern exposure and soil type.
Lucilio and Nicla are traditionalists and perfectionists in their grape growing and wine making. They refuse to submit their wine to any rating authority because they "do not believe in those societies." You can see from the picture I had taken with them in Verona that Lucilio and Nicla are people who enjoy life. They sell their wines only to people they like. I am fortunate.
The Poggio Wines are located here: Order Wine.
Winery: Villa Buonasera in Greve in Chianti
Villa Buonasera is 17.5 acres of estate vineyard in Greve in Chianti. This enables the owner Barbara Schwenniger, with the help of winemakers Vittorio and Jurij Froie, to make "Chianti Classico" with the Black Rooster on it. Their Chianti Classico is traditional, showcasing the fruit yet not tannic. The Casa Eri is a Chianti Classico aged in fifty-gallon barrels (barriques) that gives the wine a bigger taste that we particullary like in the USA.
This is a classic, small estate with highly regarded winemakers who make excellent Chianti Classico that are great values.
The Buonasera Wines are located here: Order Wine.
Winery: Casisano Colombiao Winery
We have just received 28 cases of 2003 Brunello Montalcino Casisano Colombiao it is rated 92 points in the Wine Spectator and 14 Cases of their 20065 Rosso di Montalcino. I have tasted both and I believe that they are great representations of Montalcino. The Vintage 2003 was very hot in Tuscany and yield were low so this wine is very rich and concentrated. them both listed under News and Specials. The label picture are of prior vintages.
Casisano-Colombaio - Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2003: 92 Pts Wine Spectator This wine also comes highly recommended by Wine Spectator: "Offers wonderful aromas of black cherry, mineral, flowers and raspberry. Full-bodied, yet balanced and silky, with lovely fruit and a long, flavorful finish. Very well done for the vintage from this producer. Best after 2010. 5,800 cases made. -JS Release Price 60" Our Price 58 Case Discount 10% Only 52.20 case price per bottle Producer: Fattoria Casisano Colombaio Appellation: Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
Their wines are located here: Order Wine.
Vecchia Cantina in Montepulciano Tuscany
Vecchia Cantina is the oldest winemaking cooperative in Tuscany. It has vast experience in the sector and continues to expand today. It is situated at the centre of the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano production zone, an area whose winemaking roots go back hundreds of years, at least to the time in which Francesco Redi (17th Century) wrote his famous poem "Bacco in Toscana", which testifies that 'Montepulciano is the king of all wines.'
Founded in 1937, thanks to the initiative of fourteen pioneering wine producers, the Vecchia Cantina started production in 1940, with its first bottled wine.
After surviving the difficult years of the Second World War and the reorganisation of its land in the 1950s, the Vecchia Cantina became a real driving force in the area and during the 1960s and 1970s it single handedly brought about a revolution in the whole Montepulciano area.
Today, it maintains its important role in the wine world and is not only one of the foremost wine aking companies in Montepulciano, but also an important promoter of Polizian culture and traditions.
Their wines are located here: Order Wine.
Cantina Del Redi Tuscany
Eight Grape Growers contributes grapes to the Winery. working in the best vineyards of Montepulciano: Ascianello, IL Greppo, Sanguneto, Terrarossa, Valaino, Nottola, and Le Caggiole. In Accordance with strict rules.
The Medieval structure was built under the 1337 rules of thye town of Montepulciano.
the cellar still is used to day and is a great place to visit.
Their wines are located here: Order Wine.
Vineyards at Fontodi
The vineyards at Fontodi, comprising of 67 hectares, are wholly situated in the valley of the Conca D'oro (the Golden Basin) which lies to the south of the town of Panzano and has an average altitude of 400m above sea level. The southern aspect of the vineyards and their position in a natural amphitheatre provide optimum climatic conditions to achieve perfect ripening for the grapes and therefore wines of great character and structure. The natural marl soil ensures perfect drainage and the roots of the vines grow down deeply encouraging the absorption of the minerals needed for their metabolism.
Their wines are located here: Order Wine.