life. well fed.
A Vineyard Under the Tuscan Sun The Estate of Castelnuovo Tancredi
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ave you ever dreamed of living in Tuscany, Italy? Lee Venturini Del Greco and her Italian husband, Guido, have found a way to make their dream come true: they split their time between Italy and Florida. Lee has been a resident of Vero Beach since 2003, when she bought her property in the Moorings. Together, with Guido, they own and manage the Estate of Castelnuovo Tancredi, which dates back to the 12th Century. There they produce some of the best Sangiovese and blended red wine under the DOC Orcia label, which is where their story begins. Q: Where is The Estate of Castelnuovo Tancredi located? A: It lies between the towns of Buonconvento, Montalcino and Murlo in the region of Tuscany, precisely in the Orcia Valley area of the province of Siena. Q: How many acres is the estate? A: It encompasses over 700 acres, of which 17 acres are dedicated to the wine production. Q: What is the estateâs main priority? A: Maintaining the flavor and tradition of the estate, while making modern improvements as 38
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necessary. The estateâs specialized vineyards are made up of various grapes and indigenous clones such as Sangiovese, Foglia Tonda, Colorino, Trebbiano Toscano, which are used to make the DOC Orcia wines. There are also vines of Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon which represent the international grape varieties. The entire production is harvested and produced on-site in the enchanting, antique wine cellar that historically housed the soldiers of the Siennese army who used the tower of the castle as their vantage point.
Q: Are the wines mass produced or very limited? A: The estate production is very limited and each yearly harvest depends on the climatic circumstances. 2006, 2008 and 2010 were excellent years for us and yielded a maximum of 20,000 bottles of 3 red wines, 1 white wine, and vinsanto. The other years, either a very limited cru was chosen to produce or the grapes were harvested and sold to the neighboring consortium of Montalcino. Q: Where can a person buy your wine locally? A: A fine selection of these wines are available at the following local establishments: Cork & Tapas, The Moorings Club, Chelseaâs on Cardinal, Joeyâs Seafood, Johnny Dâs and Osceola Bistro. Please make sure you visit these great locations to try a glass or even a bottle to enhance your meal! For more information or for making arrangements to visit the winery and the farmhouse accommodations, be sure to check out the following website: www.castelnuovotancredi.it. www.portfolio-verobeach.com