History and Origins
The Consorzio del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano‘s “Pieve” project was born with the aim of highlighting the characteristics of Montepulciano’s individual micro-terroirs, encompassed in specific areas called Additional Geographical Units (UGA), identified through the recovery and valorization of ancient place names from the Leopoldino Land Registry.
Pieve Cerliana: composition and soils of the UGA
The “Cerliana” Additional Geographical Unit, one of twelve, takes its name from the parish church of San Michele, located northeast of Montepulciano, around which the villagers gathered on feast days to pray, sing, and tell stories…until time stood still. Today, although only a ruin, the church continues to be the focal point of our Pieve.
Cerliana stands out from other UGAs for its varied and complex soil profile, a key characteristic in lending elegance and aromatic complexity to the grapes, while also ensuring incredible aging potential:
- Calcareous Soils: The dominant areas feature a clay-loam texture with significant sandy intercalations, making them clay-loam. The limestone component gives the wines great structure, depth, and longevity.
- Flat Terraces: Characterized by clay and sand matrices rich in small siliceous pebbles (fine skeleton). These soils, ranging from non-calcareous to slightly calcareous and with a sandy-clay-loam texture, ensure excellent drainage and impart aromatic finesse and pronounced minerality to the wine.
Vino Nobile “Pieve”: Our Interpretation of Sangiovese
Our Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG Pieve Ciarliana is created following the strict guidelines of the denomination:
- Grapes: Produced exclusively with grapes grown from our oldest and most prestigious vineyard. We chose to fully exploit the potential of the grape variety, relying on 100% Sangiovese. This precise choice was designed to best express the identity and personality of this great varietal.
- Expression of the Cru: Low yields per vine and long aging allow the glass to faithfully express the authenticity and soul of our Pieve. 18 months of wood maturation in 15hl barrels, followed by at least one year of bottle aging: a process that allows the wine to achieve perfect balance, combining elegance and complexity.
