Vintage

Winter began with mild weather, above-average temperatures and abundant rainfall that replenished groundwater reserves. Spring remained generally dry, particularly in March, creating excellent conditions for soil management. These conditions prompted bud break 10 days earlier than seasonal averages.

Temperatures dropped in early April, reducing yields without compromising future fruit quality. Flowering occurred later than usual, in late June, amid hot, sunny daytime conditions.

Summer brought dry weather and above-average temperatures, helping grapes ripen fully and evenly. Careful soil management supported ripening by preserving groundwater reserves from winter rainfall. The team harvested Sangiovese grapes for Vigneto Santa Pia on September 24th.

Vinification

The team brought the grapes to the cellar, destemmed them and gently crushed them. They transferred the must to stainless steel tanks for alcoholic fermentation. They controlled fermentation temperatures at 26–28 °C to preserve Sangiovese’s typical aromas.

The must continued macerating on the skins for several days after alcoholic fermentation. The team used gentle mechanical techniques to extract soft, supple tannins.

After malolactic fermentation, the team transferred the wine to 500-litre tonneaux for approximately 12 months of barrel ageing. Vigneto Santa Pia then aged in bottles for at least one year before release.

History

The Antinori family crafts Vigneto Santa Pia from a small, four-hectare vineyard in Santa Pia. The vineyard occupies ridges just below the town of Montepulciano. Sandy loam soils contain abundant rocky deposits, known as “skeleton”.

These soils help the Antinori family create an elegant yet traditional expression of Sangiovese. The wine reflects the characteristics of this historic winemaking area. The family produced the first vintage in 2001.

La Braccesca Estate

La Braccesca spans 508 hectares on the site of the Bracci counts’ ancient farm. The estate takes its name and coat of arms from the counts. Its coat of arms depicts an arm in armour holding a sword. The Marchesi Antinori family has owned the estate since 1990.

The vineyards cover 334 hectares across two areas. The first covers 232 hectares along the border between the municipalities of Montepulciano and Cortona. The second includes 102 hectares of vines and extends towards Montepulciano, across Cervognano, Santa Pia and Gracciano. These three renowned sub-zones produce great red wines.

To learn more visit Marchesi Antinori or the website here.