Montevertine

Sergio Manetti purchased the property in 1967 as a vacation retreat, drawn to the ancient hilltop fortress dating to the 11th century near Radda in Chianti. The first vintage was produced in 1971, and the estate quickly developed a reputation for wines of uncommon precision and character. The pivotal moment in Montevertine's history came in 1981, when Sergio Manetti chose to leave the Chianti Classico Consortium rather than comply with regulations requiring the blending of white Trebbiano grapes into red wines. That decision cost the estate the Chianti Classico appellation but gave it complete freedom to pursue pure Sangiovese winemaking. Today, Martino Manetti leads the estate, with oenologist Paolo Salvi shaping the wines.

• Property acquired 1967; first vintage 1971 from an 11th-century hilltop fortress near Radda in Chianti
• Resigned from Chianti Classico Consortium in 1981 to avoid mandatory Trebbiano blending
• Now classified Toscana IGT despite sitting within the Chianti Classico geographic zone
• Currently run by Martino Manetti with oenologist Paolo Salvi

The estate covers 18 hectares divided into 19 individual vineyard parcels, all situated at 425 meters elevation. This high altitude creates a notably cool microclimate, slowing ripening and preserving acidity and aromatic complexity in the fruit. Harvest typically takes place in early October. The soils are a complex mix of galestro schist, alberese, limestone, and iron-rich soils, a combination that contributes to the mineral precision that defines Montevertine's wines. The oldest parcel, Le Pergole Torte, was planted in 1968 and forms the foundation of the estate's most celebrated wine.

• 18 hectares across 19 parcels at 425 meters elevation in the Chianti Classico zone
• Soils include galestro schist, alberese, limestone, and iron-rich deposits
• Cool high-altitude microclimate means harvest falls in early October
• Le Pergole Torte parcel, the oldest, was planted in 1968

Montevertine produces three flagship wines: Le Pergole Torte, Montevertine, and Pian del Ciampolo. All are based on Sangiovese, with small proportions of Colorino and Canaiolo. Le Pergole Torte is widely regarded as one of the finest expressions of pure Sangiovese produced anywhere in the world. Winemaking is traditional throughout: fermentation takes place in concrete vats, and aging proceeds in Slavonian and Allier oak. The result is wines of elegance, structure, and mineral complexity rather than the extracted, oak-driven style associated with many Super Tuscans. Montevertine is frequently mislabeled as a Super Tuscan, but the estate produces Sangiovese-dominant wines with no international varieties, placing it in a distinct category.

• Three flagship wines: Le Pergole Torte, Montevertine, and Pian del Ciampolo
• Concrete vat fermentation followed by aging in Slavonian and Allier oak
• Le Pergole Torte recognized globally as a benchmark for pure Sangiovese
• Not a Super Tuscan; wines are Sangiovese-dominant with no international grape varieties

Although Montevertine sits within the geographic boundaries of Chianti Classico, its wines carry the Toscana IGT designation rather than DOCG status. This is a direct consequence of the 1981 departure from the Chianti Classico Consortium. At the time, Consortium rules required white grape inclusion in red wines, which Manetti refused. The decision aligned Montevertine with other prestigious estates working outside the appellation system, but unlike the Super Tuscans that blended Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, Montevertine remained committed to indigenous varieties. The estate's continued prestige under IGT classification demonstrates that the quality of the wine, not its appellation label, determines its standing.

• Classified Toscana IGT since 1981; previously sold as Chianti Classico
• Operates within the Chianti Classico geographic zone but outside the Consortium
• IGT status resulted from refusal to include Trebbiano in red wine blends
• Distinct from Super Tuscans in its exclusive use of indigenous Tuscan varieties