Tenuta Sette Ponti

Tenuta Sette Ponti was acquired in 1951 by architect Alberto Moretti, who used the property primarily as a hunting retreat through the second half of the 20th century. The estate's wine production remained secondary until the 1990s, when Alberto's son Antonio Moretti Cuseri (driven by a longstanding passion for wine) took control and began the modern transformation. Antonio's vision led to the creation of Crognolo (first vintage 1998) as a Sangiovese-dominant Super Tuscan and Oreno (first vintage 1999) as a Bordeaux blend. Within a few years, both wines achieved critical and commercial success that established Sette Ponti as one of Italy's most celebrated Super Tuscan producers from outside the Bolgheri-Maremma coastal zone.

• Estate acquired by architect Alberto Moretti in 1951 as a hunting retreat
• Antonio Moretti Cuseri took control in the 1990s and led the modern wine transformation
• Crognolo first vintage 1998; Oreno first vintage 1999
• Critical and commercial success established Sette Ponti as celebrated Super Tuscan producer

The estate spans 750 hectares in the Valdarno-di-Sopra wine region in the hills between Arezzo and Florence, an area with deep historical viticultural roots tied to the medieval Chianti production zones. The property is named for the seven medieval bridges spanning the Arno River within or near the estate boundary, including Ponte Buriano, famously depicted in the background of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. Vineyards sit on rolling hills with elevations supporting diurnal variation. Soils are a mix of clay, limestone, and stony components typical of inland eastern Tuscany. The Vigna dell'Impero vineyard preserves vines dating from 1935, providing rare old-vine Sangiovese material for the estate's traditional bottlings.

• 750-hectare estate in the Valdarno-di-Sopra wine region between Arezzo and Florence
• Named for seven medieval bridges spanning the Arno River near the estate
• Ponte Buriano (on the property) appears in the background of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa
• Vigna dell'Impero vineyard contains Sangiovese vines dating from 1935

Antonio Moretti Cuseri's wine vision combines traditional Tuscan Sangiovese with international Bordeaux varieties. Crognolo is approximately 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot, sourced from clones of the historic Sangiovese vines in the Vigna dell'Impero. Oreno is the estate's flagship Bordeaux blend, typically 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Petit Verdot, all planted at Antonio's direction in the 1990s. Vigna dell'Impero is also bottled as a single-vineyard Toscana IGT from the 1935-planted parcel, in tiny quantities and high quality. The estate also produces a white wine, a rosato, and a younger-vine Sangiovese blend alongside the flagship wines.

• Crognolo Toscana IGT: approximately 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot from Vigna dell'Impero clone material
• Oreno Toscana IGT: 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot Bordeaux blend
• Vigna dell'Impero single-vineyard bottling from 1935-planted Sangiovese vines
• Additional estate wines include white, rosato, and younger-vine Sangiovese blend

Oreno regularly scores in the mid-90s with major critics and is considered one of Italy's most consistent Super Tuscan Bordeaux blends. Crognolo offers a Sangiovese-anchored alternative at lower price points. Vigna dell'Impero, from the rare 1935-planted vineyard, is one of the most distinctive single-vineyard Sangiovese bottlings in Tuscany given the age and provenance of the vine material. The estate also operates a sister property, Orma (in Bolgheri), which produces a separate Bordeaux blend Super Tuscan. The Sette Ponti portfolio collectively demonstrates the Moretti Cuseri family's commitment to Italian premium wine across multiple Tuscan terroirs.

• Oreno: flagship Bordeaux blend regularly scoring in the mid-90s with major critics
• Crognolo: Sangiovese-anchored Super Tuscan at lower price points than Oreno
• Vigna dell'Impero: rare single-vineyard Sangiovese from 1935-planted vines
• Orma in Bolgheri: sister property producing separate Bordeaux blend Super Tuscan

Tenuta Sette Ponti demonstrated that high-end Super Tuscan production could thrive outside the Bolgheri-Maremma coastal corridor, with Oreno achieving critical recognition comparable to leading coastal Super Tuscans. The estate's Valdarno-di-Sopra location in inland eastern Tuscany expanded the geographic conception of the Super Tuscan category. The Vigna dell'Impero's 1935-planted vines represent one of Tuscany's most valuable historical Sangiovese vine collections. The Moretti Cuseri family's broader portfolio (Sette Ponti plus Orma in Bolgheri) exemplifies the multi-estate luxury Tuscan wine model that has become a feature of the modern Tuscan landscape.

• Demonstrated high-end Super Tuscan production thrives outside the Bolgheri-Maremma corridor
• Oreno expanded the geographic conception of the Super Tuscan category
• Vigna dell'Impero's 1935 vines represent one of Tuscany's most valuable historical Sangiovese collections
• Multi-estate luxury Tuscan wine model: Sette Ponti plus Orma in Bolgheri