The Area
The Rocca di Montemassi Estate is situated in the Monteregio zone, a wineproducing district of extremely long standing which, however, only gained D.O.C. status relatively recently. The zone itself constitutes a highly distinctive terroir between the shoreline and the local hills, with their rich metal deposits.
The Vineywards
After extensive pedo-climatic research, Tenuta Rocca di Montemassi’s agronomists decided to adopt Cordon Spur or Double Guyot training systems, depending on the physiological characteristics of the individual grape variety being grown. The plant density is 5,000 vines per hectare (2,023 per acre).
The Estate
The Estate lies on the lower to mid-hillside slopes in the hamlet of Montemassi, part of the district of Roccastrada in Tuscany’s coastal Maremma area. At present, Rocca di Montemassi cultivates 106 hectares (262 acres) of vineyards, selected from the Estate’s total area of 420 hectares (1,040 acres), in order to obtain top-quality grapes.
Cultivation Techniques
The cultivation of the vines is supervised by a staff of agronomists, whose role is to study the vegetative and fruit-yielding development of the various varieties, in order to highlight the particular characteristics of each type of grape. The techniques they adopt must also be environment- friendly: weed-killers, for example, have been replaced by traditional tilling of the soil.
Climate & Soil
The soil, which is predominantly clay-based and is almost devoid of silt, is perfect for allowing the vines to gain access to all their nutrients, whilst also retaining rainwater in the spring so that it can be of use later during very dry spells. The area is bathed by the sun’s rays all the way from Montalcino to Bolgheri (by the sea), thus providing the vines and grapes with ideal light. The pedo-climatic conditions are, therefore, perfect for obtaining exciting wines. Maremma undoubtedly represents the new frontier for Italian wines, because it enjoys extraordinary quality potential that is - as yet - virtually unexplored.
Grape Varieties & Wines
The varieties cultivated are the traditional ones of the area: Sangiovese and the indigenous cultivar par excellence of the Tuscan coast, Vermentino. Alongside these vines, there are Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Syrah; even the very first vinifications of these international varieties have shown that they are ideally suited to the local terroir.
