(July 20, 2016; Napa, CA)—Badia a Coltibuono, a historic family-owned winery in the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany, is pleased to introduce a new wine to its portfolio: 2011 Montebello IGT Toscana ($60). Montebello is a blend of nine indigenous varietals, including Mammolo, Ciliegiolo, Pugnitello, Colorino, Sanforte, Malvasia Nera, Canaiolo, Fogliatonda and Sangiovese. These grapes are grown in Monti in Chianti, a small area where Badia a Coltibuono has been cultivating vines for centuries.
The Stucchi Prinetti family chose the excellent 2011 vintage to launch their new wine. Montebello IGT Toscana is the result of a long research period focused on the recovery and growth of historical heirloom grape varieties from Chianti—many of which were rarely cultivated. They are thrilled to introduce this wine to the US market.
Grapes for the Montebello are harvested from organically farmed vines ranging from 10-28 years of age. For the vinification process, each varietal is harvested and fermented separately in 500 liter open top barrels with indigenous yeast and manual punchdowns. The wine is then aged separately in barrels and then blended for a final maturation in oak casks for 12-16 months.
About Badia a Coltibuono
Owned and operated by the Stucchi Prinetti family, Badia a Coltibuono is a benchmark producer in the Chianti Classico region. Translated as “abbey of good culture,” Badia a Coltibuono was established in 1051 by San Giovanni Gualberto, founder of the Vallombrosan order. The Vallombrosans built the abbey and planted the first vineyards in the Chianti area. The word “Chianti” was first mentioned in the manuscripts of this thousand-year-old abbey.
Today, the estate is an epicurean’s dream and center for learning about the Tuscan culture—featuring a bed and breakfast, a popular restaurant focused on regional cuisine, and a culinary school founded by Stucchi Prinetti’s wife, Lorenza de’Medici.
The family makes wines under two separate labels: Badia a Coltibuono (Estate) and Coltibuono. All Badia a Coltibuono wines are made from the family’s estate vineyards, which are situated on the hills of the village of Gaiole in Chianti. In 2003, Badia a Coltibuono received ICEA organic certification due to their employment of natural production methods and their hand-picked organically grown estate fruit. The grapes are organically grown and vinified using natural yeast.
The Coltibuono line is a collaborative effort—over the years the family has forged relationships with a select group of local growers, and, as a result, the Coltibuono label features wines that are made with some of the best fruit Tuscany has to offer.
Imported exclusively by Dalla Terra Winery Direct, Badia a Coltibuono and Coltibuono wines are offered at an incredible value due to Dalla Terra’s unique business model, which forgoes the traditional three-tiered distribution system. Their model allows distributors to purchase and ship wine direct from the wineries, eliminating an average of 25% in mark-ups on each bottle imported.
About Dalla Terra Winery Direct®
The Dalla Terra Winery Direct® roster reads like a who’s who of some of the most esteemed family-owned wineries in Italy. Each producer has played a major role in the significant strides Italy has made over the last twenty years in improving the quality of its wines. Dalla Terra Winery Direct® is changing the nature of the wine importing and distribution business. The company’s unique business model skips the national importer level in the three-tier distribution system, allowing U.S. distributors to buy directly from the producer. Dalla Terra’s business model offers a more efficient, economical and consumer-friendly way of shipping, distributing and marketing wine, eliminating on average 20 to 25% in markups on each bottle. While Dalla Terra’s services are sought after by winemakers all over Italy because of the company’s economically competitive edge, producers are also attracted by the company’s commitment to highlighting individuality by choosing to work with only a few top producers from each wine-growing region in Italy. Founder Brian Larky considers each of the producers he works with part of a roundtable on innovation and quality, at which each producer has a voice. In 2009, Wine Enthusiast nominated Dalla Terra for Importer of the Year for its annual Wine Star Awards. On January 24, 2011, Larky was inducted into the Italian Trade Commission’s Wines of Italy Hall of Fame at the opening reception for Vino 2011 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, NY. This marks the highest level of distinction presented by the Italian government to wine industry leaders. For more information on Dalla Terra and the wineries they work with, go to www.dallaterra.com or call 707.259.5405.
