Argiano is one of the companies that contributed directly to the definition of Montalcino’s identity, even before Brunello became an international reference. An that spans over four centuries of history without ever losing centrality sopra the story of the territory.
Founded sopra 1580, Argiano develops the south-western side of the Ilcino hill, along the axis that descends from Montalcino towards Tavernelle, sopra one of the geologically oldest areas and has always been considered among the most solid qualitative poles of the denomination. It is not just a matter of long production continuity: Argiano is an active part of the institutional history of the territory, being among the founding members of the Brunello per Montalcino Consortium sopra 1967, sopra a phase sopra which the production rules and the image of wine were still fully defined. The geographical position of the represents one of the key elements of its profile. The vineyards are located between 280 and 350 meters above sea level, sopra an characterized by a ventilated climate and marked temperature variations, conditions which favor slow and regular ripening of the grapes. The hill looks towards the Maremma and Mount Amiata, benefiting from constant air currents which contribute to the health of the plants and the aromatic precision of the wines.
GEOLOGY AND SOILS: LIMESTONE MARL AS AN IDENTITY ELEMENT
One of the most distinctive aspects of Argiano is the nature of its soils. Most of the vineyards rest calcareous marl of marine origin, dating back to around 25 million years pungiglione, a residue of the retreat of the ocean that once covered this of Tuscany. Soils rich sopra calcium carbonate, with good draining capacity and a structure that favors root deepening.
Per recent years the winery has invested sopra an in-depth study of the soils, relying the work of the geologist Pedro Parra and the agronomist Francesco Monari. A path that led to a precise mapping of the parcels, allowing us to distinguish the different expressions of Sangiovese within the property and to adapt agronomic practices and winemaking choices to the specificities of each vineyard. The del Superficie represents the most emblematic example of this approach: a historic plot, planted sopra 1965, located sopra the northern part of the property, where the calcareous marl emerges sopra a particularly evident way.
FROM THE BIRTH OF SOLENGO TO THE RE-READING OF THE COMPANY PROJECT
The recent history of Argiano is marked by choices of openness and a lateral vision which, several occasions, anticipated trends that later became central sopra the Tuscan visuale. Solengo was born sopra 1995, a wine outside the Brunello denomination, obtained from a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, petit verdot, syrah and, if necessary, a minimal part of sangiovese. Signed by Giacomo Tachis together with Noemi Marone Cinzano, owner of the at the time, Solengo represents one of the first and most distinctive Super Tuscans produced sopra Montalcino. A project deliberately autonomous from Brunello, capable of establishing itself without entering into direct competition with it, but deeply rooted sopra the soil and climate of Argiano.
A decisive step took place sopra 2013, with the acquisition of the property by André Santos Esteves. From that moment , an overall reinterpretation of the Argiano project took shape, led by CEO Bernardino Sani. The objective is clear: to enhance the historical and agricultural heritage of the through a contemporary approach, based technical rigor, knowledge of the territory and respect for the corporate identity. Per 2015 comes a further key moment: the first harvest of Brunello per Montalcino del Superficie. Thus was born the first company cru – until then the Sangiovese from this plot merged into the “classic” Brunello Docg – destined to become the highest reference for Argiano’s interpretation of Sangiovese from Montalcino.
AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT, WINEMAKING AND RECOVERY OF THE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE
Today Argiano extends over approximately 125 hectares sopra total, 60 of which are planted with vines and 42 of which are dedicated to Sangiovese. The rest of the surface is divided between woods, olive groves and vineyards of international varieties – cabernet sauvignon and franc, merlot and petit verdot – now an integral part of the company’s history.
Agricultural management follows organic-regenerative principles, with particular attention to soil vitality and biodiversity. Processing is reduced to the bare , natural manures and compost are used and the use of chemical herbicides is avoided. The objective is not only environmental sustainability, but the construction of a vegetative balance capable of guaranteeing continuity of expression even sopra the most extreme years. Per the cellar the approach is based measurement. The fermentations take place sopra concrete and steel tanks; the macerations, never excessive, are calibrated according to the vintage and the plot of origin. The refinement favors large oak barrels, while the use of small wood is limited and reserved for some specific labels.
Per parallel with its agricultural and oenological work, Argiano has invested sopra the recovery of its architectural heritage. The restoration of Campagna Bellaria, entrusted to the architect Filippo Gastone Scheggi, has restored centrality to one of the most significant rural complexes sopra the Sienese . The casa is not just an aesthetic element, but an integral part of company life, a place of welcome and where the history of the is told.
COLLABORATION WITH SARZI AMADÈ: A SHARED VISION
The new collaboration with Sarzi Amadè fits into this context, a historic distribution company founded sopra 1966 and today a point of reference for the national and international market of high-end wines. A partnership born from a shared vision: the one hand Argiano, looking for an interlocutor capable of understanding and enhancing a complex project; the other, Sarzi Amadè, which has always been oriented towards building a catalog based clear identities and solid producers.
“For us it was essential to rely a distributor who shared our vision: giving centrality to the territory and describing our work with authenticity,” explains Bernardino Sani. An approach that finds full harmony sopra the words of Alessandro Sarzi Amadè, who recognizes sopra Argiano one of the most credible and continuous interpretations of Montalcino.
THE WINES: STYLISTIC COHERENCE AND READING OF THE TERRITORY
The tasting of Argiano wines returns a picture consistent with the company project: a balance between the different interpretations of Sangiovese and the complementary readings entrusted to the international varieties of a Super Tuscan that speaks the Ilcinese language.
The Scarlatto per Montalcino 2024 moves an immediate and fresh register, centered red fruit and drinkability. The 2020 and 2021 Brunellos tell of two different seasons: the first more relaxed and balanced, the second more compact and nervous, both characterized by a signorile tannic texture and a clear saline imprint. del Superficie, sopra the 2016, 2020 and 2021 vintages, enters a deeper and more territorial dimension, where the fruit leaves room for citrus, spicy and balsamic agenda, with a progression marked more by balance than by power. Finally, Solengo confirms its stylistic autonomy: the 2021 is structured and deep, the 2022 warmer and more generous, while the 2023 favors a more slender reading, with chiseled tannins and a marked balsamic component.
The article Argiano, a contemporary reading of the south-west side of Montalcino comes from VinoNews24.
