Luteraia is a small family-run property situated in the heart of old Etruria. It is the Montepulciano region, one of the jewels in Tuscany’s justly celebrated wine crown. Luteraia, the name of our estate, is a place name of Roman origin; it derives almost certainly from Lutearia indicating the presence in the soil of yellowish sandy clay, rich in body. The estate, a single plot of three and a half hectares, has an ideal position witch catches the sun throughout the day, enjoys the slightest breath of wind and at between 250 and 280 meters above sea level is at optimal altitude.
Our logo “Tre Vigne” (Three Vineyards) reflects the contribution made by the three generations who have given life to the estate. In 1965 my grandfather Guido planted the first vineyard of a single hectare; in 1970 my father Marino planted the second vineyard of a hectare and a half. In 2002 I, Sergio, the current manager, planted the third vineyard of one hectare, from which we have yet to make wine.
THE WINE
Our grape varieties are San Giovese, San Giovese Grosso (called Prugnolo Gentile in Montepulciano), Canaiolo, Mammolo and Malvasia. All of these, strongly associated with Montepulciano, are grown on our estate. My grandfather Guido used to say “Wine is the result of the fermentation of ripe, slightly withered grapes. Indeed for us, late-picking is a golden rule, as fundamental as combined vinification, with the mixing of the various types of grapes in the right proportions before pressing. The aging in tonneaux of fine oak lasts twelve months, with another minimum of 2 years in bottle.
These traditional procedures produce our wine, a marvellous red wine of Montepulciano, which has been described as follows: “Intense clear red, ruby verging on first eyes then nose and mouth – a fine direct bouquet of surprising intensity and duration, first with hints of wild berries and violets, then releasing scents of plum jam, finally its own ample mix of musk, of spices – cloves, black pepper, delicate vanilla. When you taste it in your mouth, you will appreciate its genuine naturalness, its elegant body, its dryness, the balance of tannis which are never too pronounced, its lasting intensity, all qualities which are particularly suited as accompaniment to substantial first courses red meat and game”
