Avignonesi

Avignonesi takes its name from a noble family of the 16th century, and the modern estate was established in Montepulciano in the 1970s by the Falvo family. In 2007 Virginie Saverys bought a 30 percent stake from Ettore Falvo, who left the company that year. The Falvo family then sold a majority share to Saverys, a director of the Belgian shipping company Compagnie Maritime Belge; under the terms of the sale the Falvo family kept a 10 percent share and would continue to manage the company for the next five years, with Alberto Falvo staying on as president and managing director. The sale included Classica, an international distribution company owned by Avignonesi, while Li Veli, an estate in Puglia, remained with the Falvo family. In 2009 Saverys began the transition to biodynamic farming and expanded the estate; by 2018 production had increased to more than 42,000 cases a year. In 2024 the estate passed from Virginie Saverys to her children, Basile and Eline Aloy, and it is owned by the Saverys family.

• 1970s: the modern estate was established in Montepulciano; the name comes from a noble family of the 16th century.
• 2007: Virginie Saverys bought a 30 percent stake from Ettore Falvo; the Falvo family later sold her a majority share and kept 10 percent.
• 2009: Saverys began the transition to biodynamic farming and expanded the estate.
• 2024: the estate passed from Virginie Saverys to her children, Basile and Eline Aloy.

Basile Aloy is President and Eline Aloy is a Board Member, representing the Saverys family together with Carmen Christiaansen, Le Capezzine Sr Advisor. The Executive Committee comprises Matteo Giustiniani (CEO), Alessio Gorini (COO), Claudio Benvenuti (CFO), Gaetano D’Afflitto (Commercial Director), Daniele Carlini (CMO) and Suzie Alexander (Hospitality Director). Giustiniani was recruited as winemaker and was CEO by 2018; Gorini, an agronomist, came to Avignonesi from Burgundy's Domaine Leflaive. Max de Zarobe, the husband of Virginie Saverys, had led the creation of "The Alliance" of six Nobile producers by 2018.

• Saverys family: Basile Aloy, President; Eline Aloy, Board Member; Carmen Christiaansen, Le Capezzine Sr Advisor.
• Executive Committee: Matteo Giustiniani (CEO), Alessio Gorini (COO), Claudio Benvenuti (CFO), Gaetano D’Afflitto (Commercial Director), Daniele Carlini (CMO), Suzie Alexander (Hospitality Director).
• Matteo Giustiniani joined as winemaker and was CEO by 2018; agronomist Alessio Gorini came from Domaine Leflaive.

Avignonesi is a 310-hectare ecosystem between Montepulciano and Cortona, where vineyards, woods and olive groves share the same seasonal rhythm. The estate cultivates 177 hectares and vinifies only what it grows. In Montepulciano, over 100 hectares of Sangiovese are harvested as more than 60 distinct micro-parcels, each vinified separately, a parcel-by-parcel approach followed since 2010. The new La Stella vineyard is grafted with several local Sangiovese selections; 5% of its vines have been replaced with resilient shrub hedges, "married" vines are present, and fruit varieties such as pomegranates, almonds, peaches and pears are integrated. La Tonda was planted in 1990 as an experiment to study the effects of vine training methods and planting density. Le Capezzine, founded in the 19th century as a model farm by the philanthropist and scientist Angelo Vegni, is home to the vinsantaia, the restaurant and the spaces for guests. Avignonesi also has 2,270 olive trees for its certified organic extra virgin olive oil, all processed in its own mill.

• More than 300 hectares between Montepulciano and Cortona; 177 hectares cultivated.
• Over 100 hectares of Sangiovese in Montepulciano, harvested as more than 60 micro-parcels and vinified separately since 2010.
• La Stella: several local Sangiovese selections, shrub hedges in place of 5% of the vines, and fruit trees among the rows.
• La Tonda: planted in 1990 to study vine training methods and planting density.

Avignonesi farms organically and biodynamically, observing each parcel as a living system; it sows cover crops, works the soil with care and measures biodiversity. Its practices are certified organic and biodynamic. Avignonesi is a Benefit Corporation and a B Corp, and it publishes impact reports, listed for 2021 to 2025, together with a JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) declaration and action plan for 2026 to 2030.

• Organic and biodynamic farming, with cover crops and biodiversity measurement.
• Practices certified organic and biodynamic.
• Benefit Corporation and B Corp; impact reports listed for 2021 to 2025.

Since 2013, Lodola, a few kilometres from Le Capezzine, has been Avignonesi's centre for vinification and ageing. Each parcel is vinified separately, and only estate-grown grapes are vinified. Amphorae, stainless steel tanks, concrete eggs, barriques, large casks and caratelli are all used. The Vin Santo and Occhio di Pernice are made using the "madre", a natural yeast starter passed down through generations, and Vin Santo ages for over ten years in small caratelli in the vinsantaia, during which more than half of the liquid evaporates.

• Lodola: centre for vinification and ageing since 2013.
• Vessels: amphorae, stainless steel tanks, concrete eggs, barriques, large casks and caratelli.
• Vin Santo: made with a "madre" yeast starter and aged for over ten years in caratelli.

The range is organised in five families. The Sangiovese Tales include the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, made from 100% Sangiovese; Poggetto di Sopra, a single-vineyard Vino Nobile di Montepulciano from 100% Sangiovese; In Grandi Annate, a Toscana IGT Sangiovese produced only in the best vintages; a Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Vintage Release; Rosso di Montepulciano DOC; and QX, a Toscana IGT Rosato named for the holm oak (Quercus Ilex) and dedicated to Fattoria Capezzine. Wines Steeped in Vision and History include Desiderio, a Toscana IGT Merlot named after a bull that lived on the Capezzine farm more than one hundred years ago and helped define the Chianina breed of cattle; Grifi, a Toscana IGT of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese; and Il Marzocco, a Toscana IGT Chardonnay named after a stone lion in front of Palazzo Avignonesi in Montepulciano. 50&50, first made in 1988, is an even blend of 50% Sangiovese and 50% Merlot born of the friendship between the owners of Avignonesi in Montepulciano and Capannelle in Chianti Classico. The Vin Santo family comprises Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC, from Trebbiano and Malvasia, and Occhio di Pernice Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC, from 100% Sangiovese. The Da•Di wines, a Toscana IGT Bianco and Rosso, are fermented and aged in amphora, and the estate calls Cantaloro Rosso Toscana IGT its ideal everyday wine. At Le Capezzine, guests have access to single-vineyard wines produced in small quantities, among them the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wines El Grasso, La Banditella, La Stella, Le Badelle and Oceano, and La Tonda Toscana IGT Sangiovese.

• Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG: 100% Sangiovese; 233,306 bottles of the 2022 vintage.
• Poggetto di Sopra Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG: single vineyard, 100% Sangiovese; 13,921 bottles of the 2022 vintage.
• Grifi Toscana IGT 2022: 61.77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38.23% Sangiovese.
• Occhio di Pernice: 100% Sangiovese; Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC: Trebbiano and Malvasia.

The Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG requires only 70 percent Sangiovese. By 2018 Max de Zarobe had led the creation of "The Alliance" of six Nobile producers: Avignonesi, La Braccesca, Boscarelli, Dei, Poliziano and Salcheto. Starting with the 2015 vintage, each Alliance member committed to producing a single-vineyard cuvée from 100 percent Sangiovese bearing the group's logo; Avignonesi's version, Poggetto di Sopra, was to fill 250 cases.

• Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG minimum: 70 percent Sangiovese.
• The Alliance: Avignonesi, La Braccesca, Boscarelli, Dei, Poliziano and Salcheto; single-vineyard 100 percent Sangiovese cuvées from the 2015 vintage.
• Poggetto di Sopra was Avignonesi's Alliance wine, at 250 cases.

The 1997 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Grandi Annate Riserva scored 96 points on release and was ranked fourth on Wine Spectator's Top 100 list of 2001. Wine Spectator called the Vin Santo 'one of the most famous wines in Italy,' with the 1990 vintage achieving a perfect 100-point score on release in 2000.

• 1997 Grandi Annate Riserva: 96 points on release and fourth on Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2001.
• 1990 Vin Santo: a perfect 100-point score on release in 2000.

In Avignonesi's own words, its Vino Nobile di Montepulciano shows 'a sleek medium body, seamless tannins and a distinctive tasting profile.' Of Poggetto di Sopra, the estate writes: 'We do not impose a style on Poggetto di Sopra, nor do we favour one trait over another: we simply allow the character of the site to emerge.' CEO Matteo Giustiniani puts the estate's approach this way: 'At Avignonesi, we are merely custodians of the land.'

Primary sources (producer's own site): https://www.avignonesi.it/en/about-us/, https://www.avignonesi.it/en/philosophy/, https://www.avignonesi.it/en/vino/, https://www.avignonesi.it/en/vino/vino-nobile-di-montepulciano-docg/, https://www.avignonesi.it/en/vino/poggetto-di-sopra-vino-nobile-di-montepulciano-docg/, https://www.avignonesi.it/en/vino/occhio-di-pernice-vin-santo-di-montepulciano-doc/, https://www.avignonesi.it/en/vino/vin-santo-di-montepulciano-doc/, https://www.avignonesi.it/en/vino/desiderio-toscana-igt-merlot/, https://www.avignonesi.it/en/vino/grifi-toscana-igt/, https://www.avignonesi.it/en/vino/il-marzocco-toscana-igt/, https://www.avignonesi.it/en/vino/rosso-di-montepulciano-doc/, https://www.avignonesi.it/en/vino/5050-toscana-igt/, https://www.avignonesi.it/en/vino/in-grandi-annate-toscana-igt/, https://www.avignonesi.it/en/experiences/, https://www.avignonesi.it/en/300sangiovese/. Secondary sources: Decanter (Kerin O'Keefe, last updated 28 May 2015, https://www.decanter.com/wine-news/avignonesi-sold-to-belgian-businesswoman-78965/) and Wine Spectator (5 August 2008, https://www.winespectator.com/articles/one-of-montepulcianos-best-estates-changes-hands-4268; Robert Camuto, 7 May 2018, https://www.winespectator.com/articles/facelift-for-vino-nobile-di-montepulciano-camuto). Last verified 2026-10-20. Where the producer's site and a secondary source disagree, the producer's site governs.