Restored Argiano cellar
Argiano is over 500 years old, and with this history comes a great responsibility to care for this estate and its land for future generations.
Montalcino, Italy (PRWEB) August 27, 2013
The new ownership of Argiano is undertaking a three phase restoration of the property in order to improve the quality of the already well-known Tuscan producer.
Andre Esteves and a group of Brazilian investors were carefully selected as the new owners of Argiano because of their passion for Montalcino and classic Brunello wines. They purchased the property with the specific goal of making a large investment in the property that would not be a revolution in production, rather the facilitation of terroir-driven wines.
The first phase of the project was the restoration of the historic cellar and winery. Located in the lower level of a villa constructed in 1581, the natural humidity of the winery had bred black mold over the years. The entire surface of the cantina and the aging cellar were power-washed, removing the slightest trace of mold.
The next step will be the arrival of new barrels and barriques for the aging of Argiano’s wines. The estate will receive barriques and tonneaux from the renowned coopers, Taransaut, Seguin Moreau and Surteq , as well as, 50 hl barrels from Garbellotto. The new barriques will be used for the refining of Solengo and Non Confunditur, Argiano’s modern blends. While the barrel and tonneaux will be implemented for the crafting of Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino that has a stronger territorial signature in a more traditional style.
The third and longest phase is the restoration of the estate’s oldest Sangiovese vineyards and the planting of 12 acres of new Sangiovese vineyards on estate land previously uncultivated, using carefully selected clones. Over-stressed vines in the vineyards dedicated to the production of Arigano’s flagship wine, Suolo, will be replanted with G76, M32 or M1 clones. The clones were selected after a detailed study of which clones were best adapted to the microclimate at Argiano. The revitalized old vineyards and new plot of Sangiovese will ultimately facilitate fruit that provides a strong qualitative foundation and a potential for significant aging.
“Argiano is over 500 years old, and with this history comes a great responsibility to care for this estate and its land for future generations,” says Argiano Export Manager Bernardino Sani, “We are very fortunate to have owners who have taken on this responsibility with enthusiasm and see it as a part of our winery’s overall philosophy.”
This restoration series integrates with Argiano’s existing sustainable practices. While not certified, the winery has pursued organic and biodynamic techniques at the estate since the arrival of Argiano’s current consulting enologist, Hans Vinding-Diers, in the early 2000s as part of their efforts to perserve not only the land, but the inherent character of the vines and their fruit.
About Argiano—http://www.argiano.net
Since 1500, noble families have produced wines from the vineyards, which were acquired by the Countess Noemia Marone Cinzano in 1992. The estate of Argiano extends over 250 acres in a fantastic rural environment. The reasonable altitude allows the vineyards to benefit from the warm Maremma winds, thus creating a mild microclimate, with many clear days during the entire phase of vegetation, essential to both the health and complete maturation of the grapes. In the winery, Hans Vinding-Diers and Adriano Bambagioni combine their extensive experience to craft elegant wines that celebrate Tuscany’s flagship varietal and Argiano’s distinct microclimate to the fullest. In 2013, Andre Esteves and a group of passionate Brazilian investors purchased the estate in order to preserve this historic property and refocus efforts on the cultivation of terroir-driven wines.
