Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is one of Tuscany's classic red wines, made primarily from the Sangiovese grape. When Carpineto was founded in 1967 by Giancarlo Sacchet and Antonio Mario Zaccheo, they set out with the purpose of making great Sangiovese like no one else in Tuscany. The winery opened their first Vino Nobile estate in 1998.

The grapes of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

The specific type of Sangiovese used for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is known by the locals as Prugnolo Gentile. Purgnolo (meaning "little prune") gives a reference to the prune-like aromas, shape and color of the grapes. The grapes for Carpineto's Vino Nobile di Montepulciano are dry farmed on the Tuscan hillsides, producing an average of one bottle of wine per vine. This allows for great concentration and exceptional quality of grapes.

DOCG status

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano gained DOCG status in 1980, being one of the first wines approved for this status in Italy. These wines must be aged for a minimum of two years, one of those years aging in oak barrels or casks. For the ‘Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva' title, such as the Carpineto Riserva, it must be aged an additional year for a total of three years.

The Carpineto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva

In its youth, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano has aromas of bright, ripe red fruit. The Carpineto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva has aromas of strawberries, violets, cocoa, and vanilla. It has a freshness to the palate due to the high acidity, yet has great depth due to the tannin structure and fruit concentration. Due to all of those qualities, these wines are known for being age-worthy. You will find many Vino Nobile
di Montepulciano that can stand the test of time and age up to two decades. As this wine ages in the bottle, flavors develop to tobacco and earth, while still retaining its bright acidity.

The pairings

All of those characteristics mentioned above makes the Carpineto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano the perfect wine to pair with food. It is extremely versatile because it has high acidity, medium body, medium, smooth tannins, and a medium alcohol level. The rich fruit concentration and medium tannin structure makes it a great option to pair with all sorts of meats. A fatty meat such as a T-bone or Ribeye cut is a wonderful selection, as the acidity of the wine can cut through the richness of the fat to create a harmonious pairing. Quality, aged cheeses also make a great pairing with Carpineto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. They bring a bit more character and flavor, which is a perfect match as neither one overpowers the other.

Next time you're in the mood for a delicious, quality red wine from Italy try the
Carpineto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva, and don't forget to pair it with something delicious.