Rocca di Montegrossi Rosato IGT Toscana

Rocca di Montegrossi Rosato IGT Toscana

Fresh and fruity through the summer

The Rosato IGT Toscana from Rocca di Montegrossi is a genuine wine from the Chianti Classico: firstly, because it consists of (in recent years) one hundred per cent of the autochthonous grape variety Sangiovese - the leading variety of Tuscany. Secondly, because as an aperitif - or sometimes in between - it is simply a fixed component of every real Tuscan summer evening. And third: because a Rosato always fits in summer! Only the colour in the glass makes you feel like summer: from salmon through cherry to pink, the colour shades of the Rosato vintages present themselves. Depending on the vintage, the Rosato will beguile you with a real fruit basket in the nose: from strawberries and raspberries to cherries, peaches, pink grapefruits, rhubarb and lychee. Drunk well chilled, it is fresh, juicy, smooth, with many fruity aromas on the palate, which have already mixed in the nose to a wonderful "fruit salad". Depending on the weather, the grapes for the Rosato are harvested by hand between mid-September and early October. The grape must is then fermented for about three weeks in steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 16 degrees. During the following four months, the young wine remains at 10 degrees on the natural fine yeast - this provides for a full and soft taste. And then: salute - for the summer!

Rocca di Montegrossi: a piece of history of Tuscany and Chianti Classico

Coming from Florence on the way to Monti in Chianti, you drive towards Siena through the oldest wine-growing area in the world, the Chianti Classico. And there, at the southern tip of Chianti, is the Rocca di Montegrossi winery of Marco Ricasoli-Firidolfi. Immediately after the centre of Monti a gravel road leads to the property. From the car park you can already see the Romanesque church of San Marcellino, built in 1,000 AD. Around the church there are 20 hectares of vineyards, 20 hectares of olive trees and forest areas that make up the 100 hectares of land of Rocca di Montegrossi. The Castello di Brolio in Gaiole in Chianti - seat of the Ricasoli noble family - is also in the immediate vicinity. Here Marco grew up surrounded by history(-ies). For example, with the history that makes the name Ricasoli so important for the whole of Tuscany: Bettino Ricasoli, one of Marco’s direct ancestors, is considered the inventor of the "Chianti formula" - and thus the founder of Chianti Classico.

Soil, climate, organic: perfect conditions for perfect wines

The basis of Rocca di Montegrossi’s range of red wines is of course Chianti Classico. The Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto di San Marcellino comes from the single vineyard of the same name with vines that are more than 45 years old. The Geremia, the super tuscan and thus another red wine of the assortment is a blend of the international grape varieties Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. This name, Geremia, also has historical significance: Geremia was the founder of the noble family of Marco Ricasoli Fridiolfi. A summer drinking pleasure apart from the red wines is the fruity fresh Rosato. The Vin Santo from Rocca di Montegrossi is undoubtedly a highlight in the range - it is one of the best in the Chianti Classico wine region. This unique result is made possible by a very elaborate production process that extends over several years. And what of course should not be forgotten: the fruity and spicy olive oil.

A wine assortment with national and international roots

The vineyards of the estate are located in the gentle hills around the village of Monti at an altitude between 340 and 510 metres above sea level, all facing south and south-east. The soil is characterised by stone and lime. The dominant grape variety is of course Sangiovese, which is cultivated on about 13 hectares of the total 20 hectares of vineyards. The native varieties Canaiolo, Colorino, Pugnitello and Malvasia Bianco di Toscana are also found here. The Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon international grape varieties account for only a small proportion. The Rocca di Montegrossi winery has been certified organic since 2013, but has been managed according to organic criteria for almost two decades. Sustainability can also be seen in the fact that the cellar technology is operated via its own solar system or that rainwater is collected and used as service water.