Le Poggette

In the region of Umbria, between the tiny, charming town of Montecastrilli and the much larger commercial city of Terni, deep in the foothills of the Apennine Mountains, there is a theater shaped valley that is nestled into the surrounding hills.

This special place is perfectly protected from the cold winds that constantly descend from the mountains to the north. In this sheltered microclimate, the growing season begins as many as three weeks earlier than it does in the surrounding hills. In the 1960s the Lanzetta family, moving from the neighboring region of Abruzzo, bought the Le Poggette farm. This land lies entirely in the shelter of the valley and enjoys its unique climate. The family quickly made sure that Montepulciano vines from their homeland were planted amidst the numerous acres of grain and sunflower fields.

In Abruzzo, the Montepulciano vine, when tended to properly, makes some of Italy’s finest red wines, but the DOC zone runs from the Adriatic coast up into the lower elevations of the Apennine foothills. It is generally thought of as a grape that could not do well at higher elevations, away from the temperature moderation brought by proximity to the sea.

However, there are a few exceptions, one of which is the tiny district where Le Poggette lies. Along with their unique Montepulciano (named after the nearby “Torre Maggiore” mountain), the Lanzetta family also produces other wines using Sangiovese, Canaiolo, and Montepulciano. The yield per vine is kept low and vineyards are planted densely with carefully chosen clones revealing the beauty and potential of the indigenous grapes.

Franco Santucci is the cellar master and was the Vice-Mayor of Montecastrilli and Commissioner of Agriculture of the area.