The essential things to know about Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
3 April 2024
Describing the excellences of Montepulciano means recalling the origins of the Vino Nobile, one of the symbols of this part of Tuscany, where the artistic heritage is linked to the natural landscape and the peculiar set that characterizes this hamlet, which has remained largely unaltered since 1580.
We cannot avoid to celebrate the Noble of Montepulciano, in fact our historic wine cellar is the place where are produced two varieties of Vino Nobile: Santa Caterina and Simposio Riserva, all DOCG wines.
The uniqueness of Montepulciano derives from the territorial features and the long experience in wine-growing and the refining of wine in barrels, so it’s very interesting to discover the legend of the Etruscan king Lars Porsenna. He moved from Chiusi to the hill of Mons Mercurius along with the inhabitants of Chiusi who later changed the name of the hill to Mont Politicus.
Moreover, it seems that the true name of the king was not Porsenna, because the Etruscan word purth from which derives his name means leader, general or magistrate.
From the union of the words “Monte” and “Policiano” derives Montepulciano, now worldwide renowned for wine production.
Among the most interesting evidences of the ancient wine tradition is the wine cup (kylix), found in 1868 along with numerous bronze objects in an Etruscan tomb.
On the cup was depicted Flufluns, the Etruscan god of wine: which places can boast so deep roots?
The organoleptic properties of the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
The term wine bouquet is used to classify the origin of where the perfumes come from in wine: the Noble is a fine wine, characterized by an intense bouquet, a perfect harmony between plums, cherries, olives, violets, herbaceous and earthy notes; the tannins are intense but unlike the Brunello wine they are softer, the color is ruby, tending to garnet, the taste of the wine is dry, balanced and persistent.
What are the grapes from which the Noble is born?
The current production regulation stipulates that Noble must be made of 70% minimum of Sangiovese grape varietal, known as Prugnolo Gentile, blended with Canaiolo (up to 20%) and Mammolo. The aging in barrels is 26 months for the Noble and 38 months for the Noble Reserve, a period necessary to make this wine perfume ethereal.
Like all red wines of great structure and complexity, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano has an aging potential of at least 12 years, if stored in good conditions.
About the certifications, the Nobile get the DOC label in 1966 and subsequently became the first wine in Italy to gain DOCG label in 1980 and is therefore considered one of the most prestigious wines in the world.
Best dishes to pair with Noble Wine
A very common question among those who want to taste this wine is “how to pair food with Vino Nobile?”.
The ideal pairing is undoubtedly with red meats and dishes with sweet spices like cloves and cinnamon. Typical combinations are with grilled meat, stew, but even pappardelle al ragù, a kind of pasta that you can eat in our restaurant!
If you are a vegetarian, we suggest matching Nobile with Pienza cheese, seasoned cheeses, or with eggplant and radicchio based dishes, delicacies recommended to all gourmets.
Ideal serving temperature for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Another common question is the serving temperature of Vino Nobile, a wine that, by virtue of its bouquet, is recommended to be served at 16-18° to be appreciated.
In case of vintage wines, the Noble should be served at 19-20°.
Now you have some useful information on one of our treasures, we are waiting for you at Tenuta Tre Rose or at our restaurant for a guided tasting of the most elegant wine!