One of Tuscany’s most revered estates, Montevertine, was founded by Sergio Manetti in 1967. The hilltop estate, based in Radda, produces exceptional wines from native grape varieties – predominantly Sangiovese, but also including small percentages of Canaiolo and Colorino.

Despite being in the heart of Chianti Classico, Montevertine does not produce a wine labelled as Chianti. In 1981, Montevertine left the Chianti Classico consortium after being required to blend Trebbiano (a white grape variety) into all wines being produced. Eventually the Chianti Classico consortium changed this rule, but Montevertine has continued to follow their own path, producing wines under the broader Toscana IGT appellation.  

Encompassing 18 hectares, the estate lies at 425 meters – one of the highest elevations in the region. This altitude, coupled with limestone clay soils, helps to retain structure and freshness in the wines despite the warm climate. Viticulture is organic and the winemaking is traditional. The wines are spontaneously fermented in large concrete vats and see gentle extraction before ageing in old Slavonian oak barrels. The wines are unfined, unfiltered, and moved by gravity.

Montevertine produces three wines – the Pian del Ciampolo is an excellent introduction to the style of winemaking and is classically elegant with bright fruit. The flagship wine is the Montevertine Rosso, an exceptionally pure and ageworthy Sangiovese. And the top cuvee, Le Pergole Torte, is an absolutely stunning wine. In the words of Vinous’ Antonio Galloni: “Le Pergole Torte isn’t a great Tuscan or Italian wine. It is simply one of the world’s elite wines.”