Montenidoli THE BRAND Montenidoli: the Mountain of bird s nests Sono Montenidoli: I am Montenidoli I am this land, I am the fruit of this land. OUR LOCATION In the heart of Tuscany, facing San Gimignano and the hills of Chianti Classico, between Florence and Siena. THE VINYARDS ON THE HILL overlooking San Gimignano: 24 Ha 59 acres of vines scattered in 200 Ha 490 acres of woods THE SOIL From the Quaternary shores of the Ligurian Sea, 5 million years ago, in the lower part of the farm, to the 250 million year old Triassic rocks at the higher elevations
PRUNING SYSTEMS Guyot Spurred cordon Bush style OUR GRAPES OUR ART GALLERY 250 million year old stone statues
ORGANIC FARMING Flowers bloom with the new vines The grass between the rows of old vines A vine born centuries ago still bears many good grapes ORGANIC MANURE Cuttings are ground for the compost that goes back to the vineyards SOIL AFTER HARVEST Wild edible mushrooms grow in the vineyards
THE HARVEST The white grapes macerate with the skins for a few days The red grapes macerate with the skins for many weeks Traditional methods, harvest by hand, small yields
OUR WINES FROM THE GRAPES OF VERNACCIA TRADIZIONALE Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG -dry white wine- Grape: 100% Vernaccia Vinification: following the old traditions the must macerates at length with the skins and is pressed as soon as the fermentation begins thus extracting the native flavors of the land. The wine is straw white tending towards gold with herbal and almond perfumes, rich flavors, and a dry, crisp finish. Wine-food pairings: ideal with Mediterranean dishes cooked with extra virgin olive oil and dishes typical of fish restaurants--especially raw fish and sushi. Served with vegetables is has the unique ability to balance the tannins of artichokes and asparagus, or the iron of spinach and liver. FIORE Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG -dry white wine- Grape: 100% Vernaccia Vinification: made with free-run juice fermented in steel tanks and aged on the lees to gain roundness and persistence this iteration of Vernaccia displays all the finesse and elegance of which the grape is capable. Wine-food pairings: ideal with delicate dishes with white sauces, steamed fish: hake, sole, brook trout; it will bring out the best of a fish mousse or soufflé. Perfect too with white meats from chicken breast and turkey to milk-fed veal. CARATO Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG -dry white wine- Grape: 100% Vernaccia Vinification: from the free-run juice of grapes from the best vineyards this version of Vernaccia is matured on the lees in barrique for 12 months. The wood enriches the bouquet's secondary aromas and over the years delicate oaky overtones add a richness of taste and flavors evocative of citrus fruit and honey. Wine-food pairings: perfect with cheese or more substantial dishes, as a heartening aperitif after a hard day's work or as a fine after-dinner libation with its ability to rejuvenate the palate following the full-bodied reds of a rich meal.
THE WINES OF OUR HISTORY IL TEMPLARE Bianco di Toscana IGT -dry white wine- Grapes: 70% Vernaccia, 20% Trebbiano Gentile, 10% Malvasia Bianca Vinification: the free-run juice of the white grapes of Montenidoli is fermented in barrique - a barrel which resembles the small casks used in Tuscany since time immemorial. Matures in wood for 12 months as well. Wine-food pairings: typical of Tuscan whites this is the wine for molluscs and crustaceans. Ideal too with stockfish, swordfish, tuna, and other large ocean-going fish. It balances the spiciness of Indian dishes and the hot peppers of Mexican food. VINBRUSCO Bianco di Toscana IGT -dry white wine- Grapes: 65% Trebbiano Gentile, 35% Malvasia Bianca Vinification: made from the free-run must of Trebbiano Gentile and Malvasia Bianca, the two white grapes of Chianti, it ferments in steel and ages on the lees to acquire body and softness. This is a country wine of an earlier era now overshadowed by the success of Vernaccia. Wine-food pairings: the perfect wine for Tuscan cuisine and for vegetarians. Excellent with Middle Eastern cuisine, with saffron flavored foods and an ideal accompaniment for Thai dishes too. CANAIUOLO Rosato di Toscana IGT -dry rosé wine- Grape: 100% Canaiolo Vinification: A free-run must that ferments slowly at low temperatures and is bottled before Spring to preserve its freshness. This Canaiolo varietal has the bouquet of a white, the hues of a red and yields a captivating rosé. Wine-food pairings: the baby-pink for a toast, the drink for yachtsmen, the flûte for a party and any time: to celebrate a baptism, a first communion or a wedding. A moment of happiness, far from whites and reds, from stereotype and conformity.
THE REDS IL GARRULO Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG -dry red wine- Grapes: 75% Sangiovese, 20% Canaiolo, 3% Trebbiano Gentile, 2% Malvasia Bianca Vinification: fermentation follows the dictates of Barone Ricasoli, whose Chianti formula called for two red grapes, Sangiovese and Canaiuolo, and two white grapes, Trebbiano Gentile and Malvasia Bianca. The result? A delightful, easy to drink wine that is smooth, aromatic, and persistent. Wine-food pairings: Perfect with tomatoes! So it goes without saying that it is therefore ideal for a great many Mediterranean dishes. Excellent at a barbecue, or with grilled fish, meats or greens, it is the light, easy-to-drink wine for all occasions. MONTENIDOLI Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG -dry red wine- Grapes: 70% Sangiovese, 30% Canaiolo Vinification: from the two red grapes of Chianti, Sangiovese and Canaiolo. After a long maceration on the skins it matures for 12 months in barrique which enriches its secondary aromas and its dry flavor, a genuine, fruity Chianti. Wine-food pairings: a perfect wine for meats, from poultry to beef to pork, whether grilled, roasted, or cooked atop the stove. Also excellent with lamb, duck and pheasant or prosciutto and other fine cold cuts. SONO MONTENIDOLI Rosso di Toscana IGT -dry red wine- Grape: 100% Sangiovese Vinification: made from the best bunches of Sangiovese from Montenidoli's vineyards. After a long maceration on the skins it spends 18 months in barrique. This is Montenidoli's richest red wine, a classic expression of a native varietal. The 2001 is still in its early youth. Wine-food pairings: Its fullness and structure make it ideal for important occasions; enjoy it with furred game, braised meats and red meats. This wine is a perfect remedy for everything that afflicts the body or the mind.
THE OLIVE OIL The olives are hand picked and when pressed have an acidity less than 0.20% Our olive oil is made from Moraiolo and Corregiolo olives. It is unfiltered and long-lived THE GUEST HOUSE LA FIDANZA Picture this: Awakening to the songs of birds, with possibly a rooster crowing in the distance, and planning your day while seated on the terrace, sipping freshly brewed coffee and looking out across the valley directly toward San Gimignano's towers... You can begin with a swim in the pool in the summer months, or with a run through the vineyards, or a stroll through the woods and valley, as far as San Gimignano. MONTENIDOLI di Maria Elisabetta Fagiuoli I - 53037 San Gimignano (SI) Tel.: 0039 0577 941565 Fax: 0039 0577942037 e-mail: montenidoli@valdelsa.net www.montenidoli.com