Salcheto

Salcheto was founded in 1984 as a classic multi-crop farm on the outskirts of Montepulciano. Michele Manelli took over in 1997 and steadily redirected the estate's focus toward wine production exclusively, presenting the first wines within roughly two decades of the estate's founding. Under Manelli's leadership, Salcheto pursued a radical commitment to sustainability that would eventually make it the first self-sustaining winery in Italy.

• Founded 1984 as a traditional mixed-agriculture farm
• Michele Manelli assumed ownership and direction in 1997
• Transformation into a dedicated winery completed within the estate's first two decades
• Member of both Alliance Vinum and the Cuore Nobile farmers network

The main Salcheto vineyard covers 22.5 hectares (56 acres), with total organically farmed holdings exceeding 60 hectares. Situated at an average altitude of 450 meters, the vineyards are oriented south and south-east to maximize sunshine throughout the day. The soils are composed of tuff-clay with ancient marine and fluvial-lacustrine sands and clays of Pliocene and Pleistocene origin, offering a distinctive mineral character. The climate is cool and breezy, which preserves acidity and supports the purity of fruit that defines Salcheto's style.

• 22.5-hectare main vineyard; over 60 hectares total under organic farming
• Average elevation of 450 meters with south and south-east facing aspects
• Tuff-clay soils of Pliocene and Pleistocene marine and lacustrine origin
• Cool, breezy microclimate supports freshness and fruit precision

Prugnolo Gentile, the local Sangiovese clone, anchors the Salcheto range. The estate's Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is produced as 100% Prugnolo Gentile. Supporting varieties grown on the estate include Canaiolo, Mammolo, Colorino, Merlot, Trebbiano, and Vermentino. The flagship bottling, Salco Evoluzione, is crafted from a specific Prugnolo Gentile clone identified on the estate in 1992. Production of Vino Nobile runs approximately 120,000 to 160,000 bottles per vintage, depending on the year.

• Vino Nobile di Montepulciano produced as 100% Prugnolo Gentile
• Salco Evoluzione sourced from a unique Prugnolo Gentile clone found in 1992
• Additional varieties include Canaiolo, Mammolo, Colorino, Merlot, Trebbiano, and Vermentino
• Annual production of Vino Nobile ranges from approximately 120,000 to 160,000 bottles

Salcheto's sustainability credentials are unmatched in Italian wine. The estate was the first winery in Italy to disconnect entirely from traditional power networks, operating as a fully off-grid facility. It holds the first carbon footprint certification for wine in Italy under ISO 14064 standards. Production practices include native yeast fermentation, low-sulfite or sulfite-free bottling, and a 40% reduction in bottle weight achieved between 2010 and 2020. Gambero Rosso recognized these achievements with its Sustainable Winery of the Year Award in 2014.

• First Italian winery to operate entirely off the national power grid
• ISO 14064 carbon footprint certification, a first for an Italian wine producer
• Bottle weight cut by 40% over a decade from 2010 to 2020
• Gambero Rosso Sustainable Winery of the Year, 2014