About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
The grapes grow on the hills of Orvieto in the province of Terni, at 300 metres above sea level. The vines are trained using Cordon and Guyot systems on fine clay soils with excellent exposure, yielding 100 quintals per hectare.
Vinification
The grapes are harvested at full ripeness in early October. They undergo gentle pressing, crushing and cryomaceration, followed by fermentation at a controlled 15–17 °C with added natural yeast.
Ageing
The wine remains in stainless-steel tanks until bottling.
Label / history
Melini was founded in 1705 in Pontassieve, near Florence. Its wines were sold exclusively on the domestic market until the mid-19th century. In 1865, Alfredo Laborel Melini developed a woven straw bottle covering that allowed the wines to be transported safely abroad. In 1877, the Florence Chamber of Commerce awarded Melini a diploma and Gold Medal for developing and strengthening overseas markets for Tuscan wines.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Melini family expanded the estate by acquiring approximately 200 hectares of vineyards in the Chianti Classico area and constructing a winery in Gaggiano di Poggibonsi, where it remains. Melini is part of GRUPPO ITALIANO VINI (Italian Wine Group).
