First Release Under Virginie Saverys’ Ownership Reflects Sangiovese-Focused Philosophy
New York, NY, April 6, 2015 — After a void of five vintages, Avignonesi recently unveiled a new style of one of the estate’s most historically significant wines – the Grandi Annate Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG – over a series of lunches and sommelier events earlier this month in Chicago, San Francisco, and New York.
In 2009, when Belgian-born Virginie Saverys acquired Avignonesi, a flagship producer of Vino Nobile, she desired to further develop the winery’s tradition for research and experimentation, with the objective of defining and refining the expression of Sangiovese in the terroir of Montepulciano. She diligently introduced organics and biodynamics to the winery, which is now 100% organic and the largest biodynamic producer in Italy, and dedicated herself and her team to producing a mono-varietal Vino Nobile. Avignonesi, which owns Sangiovese vineyards in various areas of Montepulciano, has spent the last five years listening to and learning about its site-specific terroirs, and the re-launch of Grandi Annate is an important milestone for the new winery team.
Keeping in the current style of Avignonesi, the Grandi Annate 2011 is a pure Sangiovese wine produced exclusively with grapes from 40 year old vines on its historic I Poggetti estate. In the past, Grandi Annate was only produced in the best vintages from a blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon, and going forward, the estate will continue this tradition, producing a special selection, pure Sangiovese wine in the best years. In some years, like in 2011, this may be a single vineyard expression, and in other year it may be a blend of more vineyards.
“The Grandi Annate 2011 is, for me, the perfect example of how we like to craft our wines: a balance of concentration and structure from the clay-dominant soils, with elegance and finesse coming from the age of the vines,” says Virginie Saverys. “I think we’ve managed to create a wine that is quintessentially Tuscan while also highlighting the specific terroir that makes Sangiovese from Montepulciano shine and age gracefully over time.”
The Avignonesi Grandi Annate Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG 2011 retails for $95 and is available nationwide. For images, more information, or to request media samples please contact Jennifer Ziplow at jziplow@colangelopr.com or 646-624-2885, ext 104.
Trade Contact:
Giuseppe Santarelli
Avignonesi
giuseppe.santarelli@classicainternational.be
347-820-4421
About Avignonesi: One of the pioneers in the quality renaissance of Sangiovese production that earned Vino Nobile di Montepulciano its DOCG status in 1984, Avignonesi today owns 200 hectares/495 acres of vines spread over the Montepulciano DOCG and Cortona DOC appellations in Tuscany. Under Virginie Saverys’ tutelage, who acquired the winery in 2009, Avignonesi has implemented organic and biodynamic farming methods to produce 100% estate grown wines that fully express the richness and beauty of the extraordinary Montepulciano terroir. Sangiovese wines have been produced for centuries in Montepulciano, and Avignonesi wishes to contribute to its future by being the finest representative of its heritage that it can be.
