The Wines of Montepulciano
Wine lovers get together with like-minded connoisseurs to sniff, sip and swish select wines in an attempt to describe their aromas and flavors in the most poetic of terms. You can picture these aficionados holding a sparkling wine glass up to the light, expressing delight at a particularly deep, rich color.
Some of us who appreciate wines also spend time sitting at the kitchen table with our wines decanted into water goblets, marveling at a robust Chianti or a lighter Valpolicella's ability to hold its own between mouthfuls of a delicious cannelloni.
Whether you're a sophisticate or a weekend warrior of the wine world, you owe it to yourself to sample one of the many wines of Montepulciano.
Montepulciano Vineyards
Italian wines conjure up images of ancient hillside towns with Medieval architecture and fountains surrounded by vineyards carpeting the countryside. That's a pretty accurate description of Montepulciano, a town in Tuscany famous for several signature wines.
The name itself is a six-syllable tongue-twister with a distinctly Italian rhythm. But if that isn't enough, Franseco Redi, a well-known poet of the 17th century, helped put the town on the map with his poem, Bacco in Toscana, which means, "Bacchus in Tuscany." In the 1685 poem, Bacchus, the god of wine, declares, "Montepulciano d'ogni vini è il Re," or "Montepulciano is the King of all wines."
The Noble Wines of Montepulciano
The wines in question were specifically Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, known today as the Noble Wines of Montepulciano. Like Chianti, these Noble wines are made mostly of sangiovese grapes with other types blended in to soften the flavors. In fact, only the most skilled wine connoisseurs are able to distinguish Montepulciano wines from other sangiovese-based wines.
The best of the Noble Wines are labeled Riserva, which signifies that they have been subject to more extensive aging in wooden barrels. In some varieties, a hint of oak flavor rounds out the dark fruit flavors.
Not much is known about the origin of "Nobile" in the name, although one can probably assume that it was the wine served to the nobility centuries ago. Today, vintners are hard at work improving their product so that it can compete with other robust Italian reds. They're adjusting blends and balancing flavors to enhance the wines' already growing reputation in world markets.
Rosso di Montepulciano and Others
Wine lovers looking for a medium-bodied counterpart to the full-bodied Noble wines are sure to appreciate Rosso di Montepulciano. The slight differences between the Noble wines and the Rosso have to do with aging, alcohol level and crop yields.
The wine's dark, fruity flavors can surprise you with fragrant hints of chocolate, caramel or pepper.
The Vin Santo dessert wine is known as "the wine of friendship and hospitality." In Italy, it's served on special occasions, paired with a type of biscotti that's actually dipped into the wine. If you're invited to dinner, take along a bottle of Vin Santo as a gift for the host.
Vigna Corvino Montepulciano varies from rosé hues to ruby red. Generally, it's a bit more delicate than other Montepulciano wines.
Food and Montepulciano Wines
Because the wines are hearty and acidic, all of them can take on full flavored dishes. They're particularly recommended for serving with heavily herbed lamb dishes, garlic-basted poultry or savory pot roasts. Montepulciano wines aren't intimated by spicy pasta sauces, onions or fat, juicy steaks. Even the lighter Corvina does well with tomato sauces.
You'll also find a range of prices. A high quality Riserva may set you back hundreds of dollars but kitchen sippers can do well for less than ten dollars too.
Popular Producers
Two of the top producers of Montepulciano wines are Avignonesi and Poderi Boscarelli. The Avignonesi brothers have a good quality Vino Nobile, and Boscarelli's are among the best wines in the region. Other fine producers include, but are not limited to:
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