TUSCAN WINES - GRACCIANO DELLA SETA, SIENA
The Gracciano Estate is one of the oldest wineries in the Montepulciano, Siena region.
The property was inherited by the current owners, Marco, Vannozza and Galdina della Seta Ferrari Corbelli Greco, through their father Giorgio.
Today, the winery covers roughly 70 hectares of which 20 are vineyards. The vines grow on the clay and silty soil of the Gracciano hills, one of the oldest and most prestigious crus of Montepulciano. Already in 1864 the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano produced by the today Gracciano della Seta Estate (former Svetoni winery) was awarded the first prize at the International Fair of Turin.
The cellars of the Gracciano Villa still contain several bottles of wine from exceptional vintage years.
Giorgio della Seta, after working for many years abroad as a manager in a multinational company, decided to return to Tuscany and take up the family Estate. He proceeded to renew the vineyards and build, in 2013, a new winery alongside the traditional unit which is still used for ageing wine in wood. The winery has always been run by renowned oenologists (such as Nicolò d’Afflitto from 1985 and Beppe Rigoli since 1995) who ensured that the Tenuta di Gracciano produced an excellent Vino Nobile, fully respecting the terroir and using autochthonous vines.
The old cellars of the main villa are currently used only for ageing wine in large barrels and tonneaux. The new winemaking facility, designed by the Studio Caruso e Torricella in 2013, coexists harmoniously with the old buildings of the Estate, consisting of the Villa and the adjoining farmhouse, as well as with the garden and the surrounding countryside. The sleek new buildings seem to blend perfectly with the sloping terrain. Their traditional red brick exterior, however, hides state-of-the-art wine-making equipment and machinery.
The new unit contains 50, 100 and 120 hl stainless steel vats, with temperature control systems as well as pumping over and punching down equipment.
Ageing takes place in large Slavonian oak barrels (with a capacity of 25-50 hl) and tonneaux (with a capacity of 5 hl) of medium roasted French Allier oak.
A pneumatic wine press, a wine pump and a crusher-distemmer complete the equipment. The grapes are transported from the vineyards on carts with vibrating inclined planes and emptied directly into the crusher.
RED
ROSSO DI MONTEPULCIANO d.o.c. ORGANIC
Grapes : Prugnolo Gentile 90%, Merlot 10%
The Prugnolo Gentile di Gracciano has the freshness of youth: it is cheerful, attractive, sometimes pleasantly unpretentious. A little big wine that can mature well for even over 10 years, to reach a peak of great delicacy and harmony.
Crus : Casale, Maramai Exposure: S/SE/SW. Altitude: 300-350. Soil type: Silty-clay. Age of vines (year of planting): 1970- 1993- 1997-2001. Planting density: 3.300 (old)-4.500-5000 vines/ha. Growing system: Guyot and spur pruning. Yield: 40 hl/ha Wine making process: Fermentation and maceration on the skins in stainless steel vats at controlled temperature (28° C) with local yeasts for about 15 days and daily pumping over.
Tasting Notes : Bright ruby red. Bouquet : Hints of red fruits, particularly cherry and raspberry. On the palate : Dry, fresh, with persistent but silky tannins, very pleasant
Food Pairings : Its freshness makes this wine suitable for all types of dishes. It goes well with first courses, charcuterie, semi-aged cheeses as well as certain fish dishes. Serving : 16-18
VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO d.o.c.G. ORGANIC
Varieties: Prugnolo Gentile 90%, Merlot 10%
The Vino Nobile has a bright ruby colour, an intense, ripe cherry and plum nose and a dry, balanced and persistent taste of rounded tannins.
Crus: Rovisci, Maramai, Toraia Exposure: S/SE/SW. Altitude: 300-350 m.a.s.l. Soil type: Silty-clay Age of vines: 1970- 1993- 1997-1999. Planting density: 3.300 (old)-4.500-5000 (new) vines/ ha. Growing system: guyot and spur pruning Harvesting period: first 2 weeks of October. Harvesting: by hand. Yield: 40 hl/ha. Wine making process: Fermentation and maceration on the skins in stainless steel vats at controlled temperature (28° C) with local yeasts for about 20-25 days and daily pumping over
Ageing : 18 months in 3,5 and 5hl French oak tonneaux (first, second and third passage) (40%) and in 25hl French and Slavonian oak casks (60%)
Tasting Notes : Bright ruby intense red. Bouquet : Intense, complex, delicate, fruity with hints of cherry, morello, plum, violet and slightly spicy. On the palate : Dry, with pleasantly acid notes, well integrated tannins, sapid, balanced, intense, persistent, elegant, with a fruity finish
Food Pairings : Traditional dishes: roasts, game and mature cheeses. Serving : 16-18
VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO D.O.C.G. riserva
Our Vino Nobile encompasses the entire terroir of Gracciano as is demonstrated by the great collection of vintages dating back to 1947. An elegant and harmonious body with delicate, autumnal notes, that evolves and matures for up to 30 years.
Crus: Maramai, Podere Rovisci. Exposure : S/SE/SW. Soil type: Silty-clay Age of vines (yearAltitudeof :planting):300-350 m.a.s.l.1970 - 1993. Varieties: Prugnolo Gentile 90%, Merlot 10%. Growing system : guyot and spur pruning. Yield: 30 hl/ha. Wine making process: Fermentation and maceration on the skins in stainless steel vats at controlled temperature (28° C) with local yeasts for about 20-25 days and daily pumping over. Ageing : 24 months; the first 12 months in 3,5 and 5 hl French oak tonneaux and the remaining months in 25 hl Slavonian oak casks. In bottle : At least 6 months. Production per year : 6.600 0,75 litre bottles
TASTING NOTES : Ruby red tending towards garnet. Intense, complex, delicate, with hints of violet, morello cherry, ripe plum, red berries, leather, spices. Dry, with velvety tannins, sapid, balanced, elegant, with a persistent and vibrant finish
FOOD PAIRINGS : A wine for meditating or enjoying alongside typical Tuscan dishes such as Florentine steaks, roasts, game and mature cheeses. Serving : 16-18
ROSE
ROSATO DI TOSCANA I.G.T. ORGANIC
Varieties: Prugnolo gentile 100%
The Rosato di Gracciano reminds one of violets. A selection of the best hand-picked of Prugnolo Gentile grapes create our vibrant and sophisticated rosé wine.
Crus: Toraia, Casale. Exposure: S/SE/SW. Altitude: 300-350 M.A.S.L. Soil type: Silty-clay. Age of vines (year of planting): 19701993- 1997-2001-2008. Planting density: 3.300 (old)-4.500-5.000 (new) vines/ha . Growing system: guyot and spur pruning. Yield: 40 hl/ha. Wine making process: Cryomaceration on the skins for 4-5 hours and fermentation in steel vats at controlled temperature. Production per year : 4.000 bottles.
Tasting notes : Cherry red Intense, persistent, fruity, hints of cherry, raspberry and rose Dry, fresh, sapid, persistent, with a fruity finish
Food pairings : Excellent as an apéritif, it goes well with first courses, pizza, charcuterie, vegetable soups. Serving : 10-12