Vineyards

After purchasing the estate in 1973, Ivo Nuti quickly realised that he could – and must – expect more from the vines. Starting in 1997, the old vines – which had become unproductive – were systematically replaced with the best and most suitable varieties for the specific soil and climate conditions at Fattoria Montecchio: Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Alicante.

Studies were undertaken into the best growing style for each area, with spurred cordon alternating with guyot, a technique used mainly for the more recently planted vines and only with the Sangiovese variety.

We also employ green harvesting, which is done a few months before the harvest itself to ensure quality. This has been a fundamental part of rebalancing the production potential of the plants..

As is so often the case at large wineries, our vines aren’t one big organism, but a collection of different vineyards. All are located around Fattoria Montecchio, and each one has its own identity and characteristics which change based on exposure, the height of the vines, microclimate and the geological make-up of the land.

Podere Belvedere
This podere takes its name from a nearby patch of land where, in the past, families who worked for the company stayed. Nowadays, some of their children continue to work with the Nuti family, keeping the ties with the past intact. Fully planted up in 1997, the podere spans around four hectares and is divided into Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Vineyard info

Year of planting	1997
Size	Approx. four hectares
Plants per hectare	6,250
Growing system	Spurred cordon
Varieties	Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
Orientation and exposure of vines	335° with north-west exposure
Altitude	Between 375 and 415 meters above sea level
Type of terrain	Monteverdi Marittimo formation Flysch from underwater plain from the Cretaceous age layers of limy, marly earth or arenaceous/silty earth clusters of over one meter in size present
Standard agronomic practices	management of the land without mechanical processes and with spontaneous grassing manuring using organic substances only manual pruning in the winter selection of buds prior to flowering early leaf-stripping when flowering
Type of harvest	Initial hand-selection harvest followed by mechanical harvest

Podere Montecchiuzzo
Planted in 2001 and 2002, this five-hectare vineyard sits on a natural terrace just over the Cantina Nuova, halfway between the main house and the farmhouse from which it takes its name, and from where – once upon a time – there was a stream in which the wives would do the laundry. Nowadays, it’s the perfect place for our Cabernet Sauvignon and Alicante Bouschet grapes to ripen.

Vineyard info

Year of planting	2001-2002
Size	Approx. 5 hectares
Plants per hectare	6,250
Growing system	Spurred cordon
Varieties	Cabernet Sauvignon, Alicante Bouschet
Orientation and exposure of vines	115° with south-east exposure
Altitude	between 370 and 405 meters above sea level
Type of terrain	Monteverdi Marittimo formation predominance of white limestone with conchoidal fracture from the Eocene age
Standard agronomic practices	management of the land without mechanical processes and with spontaneous grassing manuring using organic substances only manual pruning in the winter selection of buds prior to flowering early leaf-stripping when flowering
Type of harvest	Initial hand-selection harvest followed by mechanical harvest

Podere Ripoli e San Polo
Here, between the Ripoli farmhouse, dating back to the 1800s, and the small village of San Paolo, home to a watchtower dating back to the 11th century (which has been under the tutelage of the Province of Florence's Superintendence for Architectural, Landscape, Historic and Artistic Heritage since 1913), the company’s largest vineyard – at 9 hectares – was planted in 1998. It was the site of the first agronomic and geological studies conducted on Fattoria Montecchio land. The result? Rows and rows of Sangiovese and Merlot, perfectly exposed to the south/east.

Vineyard info

Year of planting	1998
Size	Approx. 9.5 hectares
Plants per hectare	6,250
Growing system	Spurred cordon and Guyot
Varieties	Sangiovese, Merlot
Orientation and exposure of vines	135° with south-east exposure
Altitude	between 300 and 350 meters above sea level
Type of terrain	Monteverdi Marittimo formation predominance of white limestone with conchoidal fracture from the Eocene age in contact with Sillano formation clay-like substances with greenish marly limestone and solid sandstone dating back to between the Upper Cretaceous and Lower Eocene
Standard agronomic practices	management of the land without mechanical processes and with spontaneous grassing manuring using organic substances only manual pruning in the winter selection of buds prior to flowering early leaf-stripping when flowering
Type of harvest	Initial hand-selection harvest followed by mechanical harvest

Vigna San Donato
Vigna San Donato is one of our most recent vineyards, but has already acquired vital importance in terms of quality and production. With five hectares of Sangiovese vines, the vineyard looks out at the medieval town of San Donato in Poggio, which gives it its name. The vineyard is also one of the first thing our guests see when they visit Fattoria Montecchio: in order to reach the main house, which once belonged to the Torrigiani family, guests must cut through the vines, which are used to produce the finest grapes for our Prīmum Chianti Classico line and IGT wines. Toscana Priscus.

Vineyard info

Year of planting	2010
Size	Approx. 5.5 hectares
Plants per hectare	6,250
Growing system	Spurred cordon
Varieties	Sangiovese
Orientation and exposure of vines	215° with south-west exposure
Altitude	between 395 and 415 meters above sea level
Type of terrain	Monteverdi Marittimo formation Flysch from underwater plain from the Cretaceous age layers of limy, marly earth or arenaceous/silty earth clusters of over one meter in size present
Standard agronomic practices	management of the land with superficial treatments to promote root growth manuring using organic substances only manual pruning in the winter selection of buds prior to flowering early leaf-stripping when flowering
Type of harvest	Initial hand-selection harvest followed by mechanical harvest

Vigna del Frantoio
Fattoria Montecchio’s highest vineyard in terms of altitude, at 425 meters above sea level in places, Vigna del Frantoio encompasses around one and a half hectares of Sangiovese vines. The vines are planted around our olive press, with the vineyard also known as “Angeli’s tractor store”, after a country man who used to drive tractors in Montecchio decades ago.

Vineyard info

Year of planting	2017
Size	Approx. 1.5 hectares
Plants per hectare	5,435
Growing system	Guyot
Varieties	Sangiovese
Orientation and exposure of vines	240° with north-east exposure
Altitude	between 405 and 425 meters above sea level
Type of terrain	Monteverdi Marittimo formation Flysch from underwater plain from the Cretaceous age layers of limy, marly earth or arenaceous/silty earth clusters of over one meter in size present
Standard agronomic practices	management of the land with superficial treatments to promote root growth manuring using organic substances only manual pruning in the winter selection of buds prior to flowering early leaf-stripping when flowering
Type of harvest	Initial hand-selection harvest followed by mechanical harvest

Vigna di Pietracupa
Reborn after the previous vineyard by the same name was replanted after over 40 years, Vigna di Pietracupa is always visible to guests, stretching from the main house all the way to the stunning Santuario di Santa Maria delle Grazie di Pietracupa shrine, which gives the vineyard its name. Planted in a herringbone pattern, to accommodate the slopes of the hill where the farm is located, the Sangiovese vines are grown using the Guyot system to allow the natural vigor of the plants to adapt to the variable nature of the soil.

Vineyard info

Year of planting	2016
Size	Approx. 3.5 hectares
Plants per hectare	5,435
Growing system	Guyot
Varieties	Sangiovese
Orientation and exposure of vines	170° with south-west exposure, 260° with south-west exposure
Altitude	between 390 and 415 meters above sea level
Type of terrain	Monteverdi Marittimo formation Flysch from underwater plain from the Cretaceous age layers of limy, marly earth or arenaceous/silty earth clusters of over one meter in size present
Standard agronomic practices	management of the land with superficial treatments to promote root growth manuring using organic substances only manual pruning in the winter selection of buds prior to flowering early leaf-stripping when flowering
Type of harvest	Initial hand-selection harvest followed by mechanical harvest

Vineyards

Podere Belvedere

Podere Montecchiuzzo

Podere Ripoli e San Polo

Vigna San Donato

Vigna del Frantoio

Vigna di Pietracupa

Tour & Tasting

La Papessa

The Furnace

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