Caterina Dei - Cantine Dei

Cantine Dei

Italy, Tuscany
http://www.cantinedei.com/

Back in 1964, Alibrando Dei, a wine-growing enthusiast, recognised that the area of Bossona in Montepulciano, with it's splendid exposure and exceptional terroir, was predestined to produce great red wines and promptly purchased the land and planted the first vineyards.

Later, during the course of the 70s, the family acquired the Martiena property with the attached manor - restored in the 1930s by the architect Piacentini -surrounded by a vast age-old garden and situated at the foot of the village of Montepulciano.

In the early years, the grapes that were produced were sold. However due to the quality of the grapes being picked, the family decided to embark upon making their own wine and in 1985 -an exceptional vintage year -they decided to produce the first bottle of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Dei, renting an old winery in the historic town centre.

In 1989, the family built its own winery, beside Villa Martiena, in the heart of the vineyards and today produce a series of outstanding wines, olive oil and grappa under the watchful eye of Alibrando's daughter Catharina.

At the same time as replanting many of her vineyards and having enlarged and restructured the cellars, Caterina Dei is now making the best wines of her career to date. While these are not the showiest wines of Montepulciano (she very much eschews the excessive use of new oak), they are almost perfect examples of Sangiovese from the area (specifically Prugnolo Gentile). They also remain very well-priced.