The art of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano: 40 years of Tenuta Vallocaia

Tenuta Vallocaia’s fortieth anniversary brought together the estate’s history, wine, art and music and marked the transfer of leadership from founder Rudi Bindella Sr. to his son Rudi.

The founder’s path to Montepulciano began with the Bindella family’s Italian wine-trade activity in Switzerland and with journeys through Tuscany. In 1983 he purchased a small, semi-ruined holding at Vallocaia in Argiano, then containing 2.5 ha of vineyards. He envisioned a property able to demonstrate the territory’s value while maintaining equilibrium among land, people and business.

With technical director Giovanni Capuano, the estate expanded through additional vineyard parcels, olive groves and woodland. The diversified property reached 175 ha. Vallocaia also supported the development of the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG zoning project known as Le Pievi, created to distinguish expressions of Sangiovese from different parts of Montepulciano.

The modern winery combines visible red brick, barrel and barrique areas and large windows overlooking the Montepulciano landscape. Hospitality spaces serve simple seasonal Tuscan food incorporating produce from the estate garden. Rudi Bindella’s art collection is integrated into the building because he regards art as part of the winery environment, capable of affecting both the people who work there and those who visit.