Abbadia Ardenga
Nina's Notes
A Different Path to Finding Excellence
As many DOCG Imports members and followers know, I have a long relationship with Italy and celebrate the biodiversity of their fabulous wines. I have a summer home on the island of Sardegna (Sardinia), and a passion for exploring all of the Italian wine regions, bringing back the best varietals for you to enjoy. However, with the worldwide pandemic of 2020 and 2021, travel to Europe came to a stand still. Fortunately, my contacts in Italy remained active, keeping me up-to-date on the most exciting wines available from the best small-production wineries in Italy and beyond. My trusted advisors were Paolo Tucci (wine and food aficionado from Lombardia, Italy), Massimiliano Giovannoni (a fine wine purveyor from the Palermo region), “Wine Telling” Ricardo, (a noted Italian wine lover, sommelier and blogger) and Lorenzo Gulinello ( a noted promoter of Italian food & wine).
They sent me their most exciting finds while my team and I, at DOCG Imports, did the rest. We made virtual contact with the winemakers then conducted wine tastings in our offices in California to determine which wines to present to you. While the process was different than usual, I am very pleased and relieved that in the end, this new process led to the discovery of some amazing, environmentally-conscious Italian-made wines showcasing the rich diversity between regions. I know you will enjoy them and love sharing a bottle with friends.
The wine I have brought you from Abbadia Ardenga is rich in history and full of flavor. Our friend Massimiliano Giovannoni raved about their wines and once you taste them you will know why.
It hasn't been easy to locate the best wines Italy has to offer during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have a trusted group of advisors and wine-hounds helping to locate the perfect wines for DOCG Imports. Please see below for more information on how we have been able to keep bringing you great new wines during these challenging times.
The Abbadia Ardenga winery lies in the picturesque countryside surrounding the ancient hill town of Montalcino not far from Siena in the world-famous Tuscany wine region. Abbadia Ardenga’s roots are deep in the area’s history of producing Brunello di Montalcino, a red DOCG Wine made from 100% Sangiovese which had proven to really thrive in the terroir of Montalcino.
The estate goes back centuries and once belonged to the powerful Piccolomini family, whose members included Pope Pius II. The land holdings of the estate occupy a total of 650 hectares (65,000 acres), yet the current owners have dedicated just 1000 acres for their vineyards. Quality, sustainability and superb drinkability are the principles that guide winemaker Paolo Ciacci. Abbadia Ardenga produces a modest 40,000 bottles a year.
In contrast to Chianti, (the other famous Sangiovese-based wine of Tuscany), Brunello di Montalcinos have a more fleshy texture with aromas and flavors of blackberry, black cherry, black raspberry and chocolate. Brunello often is described as having smooth tannins and ripe, fruit driven character with high acidity that pairs well with grilled meats. Brunellos are all cellared at least 5 years before being released and will benefit from an additional few years of ageing. These wines are considered among Italy’s best and the wait is well worth it.
Persevering Through the Pandemic
As many DOCG Imports members and followers know, I have a long relationship with Italy and its fabulous wines. I have a summer home on the island of Sardegna (Sardinia), and a passion for exploring all of the Italian wine regions and bringing back the best varietals for you to enjoy. However, with the worldwide pandemic of 2020 and 2021, travel to Europe came to a stand still. Fortunately, my contacts in Italy remained active, keeping me up-to-date on the most exciting wines available from the best small-production wineries in Italy and beyond. My trusted advisors were Paolo Tucci (wine and food aficionado from Lombardia, Italy), Massimilliano Giovannoni (a fine wine purveyor from the Tuscany region) and “Wine Telling” Ricardo, (a noted Italian wine lover, sommelier and blogger) and Lorenzo Gulinello (Pecol). They sent me their most exciting finds and my team and I, at DOCG Imports, did the rest. We made virtual contact with the winemakers then conducted wine tastings in our offices in California to determine which varietals to present to you. While the process was different than usual, I am very pleased and relieved that in the end, this new process led to the discovery of some amazing, environmentally-conscious Italian-made wines. I know you will enjoy them and love sharing a bottle with friends.
Producers
- Abbadia Ardenga
- Audarya
- Bosco
- Cantina Giba
- Cantine Ravazzi
- Cien y Pico
- Ciù Ciù
- Coffele Viticoltori
- Colli di Castelfranci
- Fattoria Nanni
- Folini
- Jacopo Biondi Santi
- La Ceriola
- La Tosa
- Mainerdo
- Milziade Antano
- Molino di Rovescala
- Pecòl Wines
- Produttori Etna Nord
- Rubinelli Vajol
- Spolert
- Tenuta Potenti
- Tenute Olbios
- Tenute Smeralda
- Vernaccia Tofanari Orsini
- Villa Parens
- Villa Penna
- Wegerhof
- Zucchetto Estate
- Frantoio Franci Olive Oil
