THE AREA

The Rocca di Montemassi Estate is situated in the Monteregio zone, a long-standing wineproducing district that gained D.O.C. status relatively recently. The zone itself constitutes a highly distinctive terroir between the shoreline and the local hills boasting rich metal deposits.

THE ESTATE

The Estate lies on lower to mid-hillside slopes in the hamlet of Montemassi, part of the district of Roccastrada in Tuscany’s coastal Maremma area. At present, Rocca di Montemassi cultivates 106 hectares (262 acres) of vineyards, selected from the Estate’s total area of 420 hectares (1,040 acres), in order to obtain top-quality grapes.

CLIMATE AND SOIL

The soil, which is predominantly clay-based and is almost devoid of silt, is perfect for allowing the vines to gain access to all their nutrients, while retaining rainwater in the spring during very dry spells. Sun rays bathe the area from Montalcino to Bolgheri (by the sea), providing the vines and grapes with ideal light. The pedo-climatic conditions are therefore perfect for obtaining exciting wines. Maremma undoubtedly represents the new frontier for Italian wines because it enjoys extraordinary quality potential that is virtually unexplored.

THE VINEYARDS

After extensive pedo-climatic research, Tenuta Rocca di Montemassi’s agronomists utilize either Cordon Spur or Double Guyot training systems, depending on the physiological characteristics of the individual grape variety being grown. The plant density is 5,000 vines per hectare (2,023 per acre).

CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES

The cultivation of the vines is supervised by a staff of agronomists, who study the vegetative and fruit-yielding development of the various varieties in order to highlight the specific characteristics. The techniques they adopt must also be environment-friendly: weed-killers, for example, have been replaced by traditional tilling of the soil.

GRAPE VARIETIES AND WINES

The varieties cultivated are the traditional ones of the area: Sangiovese and the indigenous cultivar par excellence of the Tuscan coast, Vermentino. Alongside these vines, there are Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Syrah. Even the very first vinifications of these international varieties have shown that they are ideally suited to the local terroir.