Contucci is among the most historic wineries in the Montepulciano region of Tuscany, Italy. The owning Contucci family–currently Conte Alamanno Contucci–has roots in the town dating to the 11th-century, were vineyard owners before the medieval Renaissance (‘Rinascimento‘), and have made wine since at least the seventeenth century (1646). They started bottling in the nineteeth century as a bottle of the 1887 ‘Vino Scelto Montepulciano’ (as Vino Nobile was then known) proves. Wines currently made include Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG and Rosso di Montepulciano DOC reds; and sweet Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC white wines.

Owner: Conte Alamanno Contucci.

Vineyards: 170 hectares (420 acres) of land in total of which 21 hectares (52 acres) are vines, mainly for Vino Nobile with 3.2 hectares (7.9 acres) for Rosso di Montepulciano DOC and Vin Santo di Montepulciano. The vines are just north of the town, in the northern sector of the the DOCG zone, at the Podere Mulinvecchio and the Pietra Rossa in the Pietrose sub-zone.

Cellars: The 16th-century Palazzo Contucci in Montepulciano’s Piazza Grande lies opposite the town hall (the Palazzo Comunale). It dates from 1520 and was designed by Antonio da Sangallo the Elder. It has belonged to the Contucci family since the end of the 17th-century. Before that it was the property of Pope Julius III (pope from 1550-1555). The Palazzo Contucci is built on a hillside and is a ‘multi-storey’ palace at the rear, with winemaking cellars at ground level. Contucci is the only company to vinify their wines in the town. The rabbit warren-like ageing cellars and barrels rooms are deeper below. The cellars are among the most visited in Montepulciano. The oldest part of the cellars dates from the thirteenth century, and includes part of the inner wall of the town, built during the conflict between Florence and Siena (Rosemary George MW 2004, p.180).

White wines

Bianco della Contessa: Trebbiano and Malvasia. Oaked.

Red wines

Pietra Rosso: Canaiolo, Mammola, and Prugnolo Gentile (Sangiovese). Barrel aged.

Sansovino: Named after Andrea Contucci, a sculptor and architect, who lived at the end of the 15th-century. 100% Sangiovese.

Rosso di Montepulciano DOC, Contucci: 2012 Traditional style with the promise of old vine denseness but essentially thin, dry and bitter (Anteprima, 2014).

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Contucci: 2015 80% Prugnolo Gentile (Sangiovese), 20% Canaiolo and Colorino 10%. 14% alcohol. Bretty (Anteprima, 2018). | 2017 Bretty (Anteprima, 2018).

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Mulinvecchio: 2014 Funky, turning acetic (Anteprima, 2018).

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Pietrarossa: 2014 Feral, a little thin, green notes (Anteprima, 2018).

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG Riserva, Contucci: 1998 Bottled. | 2011 Dry, bitter (Anteprima, 2014).

Sweet wines

Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC, Contucci: 1986 Bottled. | 2007 Bottled.

Bibliography

Rosemary George MW, Treading Grapes (London, 2004), p.180.

Contact

Contucci

Palazzo Contucci, Via del Teatro, 1

I-53045 Montepulciano (SI = Siena), Italy

Tel+39 0578.757006 | www.contucci.it