Poggio di Sotto

 Piero Palmucci was the driving force behind Poggio di Sotto for many years, imbuing the winery with his distinctive, intense character. His wines reflected his strong personality—reserved, classic, and deeply impactful. Since 2011, the 32-hectare estate, located in the warm southwestern region of Montalcino, has been under the ownership of Claudio Tipa, a Sicilian with a deep passion for wine and viticulture. Tipa, who decided to turn his lifelong interest into a career, already owns several top estates in Tuscany, including ColleMassari, Grattamacco, and Tenuta di Montecucco.

Fattoria Poggio di Sotto’s ten-hectare vineyard is dedicated entirely to Brunello production, with an additional four hectares planted with around 1,400 olive trees, and the remainder of the property left as forest. The estate produced its first Brunello di Montalcino from the 1991 vintage, just two years after its founding. In a short time, the estate garnered a reputation for producing wines of remarkable elegance and complexity. All farming on the estate adheres to organic principles. The steep vineyards in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, situated at the base of Monte Amiata, are planted at altitudes ranging from 200 to 400 meters. The rocky soils vary from gravel and clay in the lower areas to sandy loam higher up. Yields are deliberately kept low at three to three and a half tons per hectare.

In the cellar, fermentation occurs in both wooden and stainless steel tanks with a seven-ton capacity. Following malolactic fermentation, the wines age in Slavonian oak barrels before bottling—two years for the Rosso, four years for the Brunello, and five years for the Brunello Riserva.

Under Palmucci, Fattoria Poggio di Sotto achieved cult status, and the current Brunello vintages still reflect his influence. Experts note that the young wines currently aging in the cellar demonstrate that the new owner has successfully continued the estate’s distinctive style.