Italy · Montalcino

Castello Tricerchi

Castello Tricerchi is a Montalcino estate with northern slopes, Sangiovese Grosso, castle cellars, and Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino.

The producer

Castello Tricerchi is a Montalcino estate on the northern slopes, with Sangiovese Grosso for Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino. Tommaso represents the new generation. Grapes are hand selected, fermented with local yeasts, and given long skin macerations before maturation in Slavonian durmast barrels. Former dungeons inside the castle serve as cellars, with thick walls and air chambers keeping the temperature constant throughout the year.

Known for

Montalcino Sangiovese in castle cellars

Notable facts

The story

The First Brunello Vines

Emanuele planted the first Brunello vines at Castello Tricerchi, beginning the estate's modern vineyard chapter. The vineyards now produce Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino from Sangiovese Grosso. Grapes are selected by hand, fermented with local yeasts, and given long periods of skin maceration before the wines mature in Slavonian durmast barrels. The cellars occupy former dungeons inside the castle, where thick walls and air chambers keep the temperature constant throughout the year. Tommaso represents the new generation and plays a pivotal role in the company.

From the atlas

Castello Tricerchi

Castello Tricerchi is a Montalcino estate where Sangiovese Grosso from the northern slopes becomes Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino.

At A Glance

FieldDetail
RegionTuscany, Italy
PlaceMontalcino's northern slopes
Main grapeSangiovese Grosso
AppellationsBrunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino
Estate scaleMore than 400 hectares, with 13 hectares devoted to Sangiovese Grosso
Wine in focusCastello Tricerchi Rosso di Montalcino

The Producer

Tommaso was born in 1988 and represents the new generation at Castello Tricerchi, where he plays a pivotal role in the company. The estate's Sangiovese Grosso vineyards produce Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino. The red range uses one grape variety across two Montalcino appellations.

Place

Montalcino's northern slopes are the estate's geographic setting. The Sangiovese Grosso vineyards supply both Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino, so the two appellation wines share one grape source.

Soil And Site

The vineyard soils contain limestone clay and sand and are rich and even. The vines face north almost exclusively, which allows uniform ripening. For a red grape, uniform ripening lets fruit, acidity and tannin develop together before harvest.

Story

In 1800, Maddalena passed the castle and its property to her eldest son Julio Squarcia, an ancestor of the present family. That handover sits inside an older Tricerchi history: by 1290, the family belonged to Siena's Government of Nine, and the building on the Via Francigena was completed in 1441. Italy recognised Tricerchi Castle as part of the country's historical and artistic heritage in 1982. The former dungeons now house the wine cellars, where thick walls and air chambers above and below keep the temperature constant throughout the year.

Vineyards And Cellar

Castello Tricerchi hand selects its grapes. Local yeasts carry the fermentations, and long periods of skin maceration leave the fermenting wine in contact with grape skins for extended time, extracting colour and tannin. Maturation follows traditional methods in Slavonian durmast barrels. Oak ageing softens tannin and adds gentle spice as the wine develops.

Wines

Castello Tricerchi makes two red Montalcino appellation wines, Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino, from Sangiovese Grosso. Rosso receives at least nine months in 20 hectolitre Slavonian casks and at least four months in bottle, with further development possible. Brunello comes from the same Sangiovese Grosso vineyard base, so the range holds its grape source constant while the appellation name changes.

In The Glass

Brunello shares the Sangiovese Grosso vineyard base. In the Rosso, that grape appears as strawberry, cherry jam, light spice, flowers and mineral notes. The palate is intense and balanced, with dense tannins and a long savoury mineral finish.

A Bottle To Understand It

Castello Tricerchi Rosso di Montalcino 2022 is the first bottle. The wine is 14 percent alcohol. The Rosso is pure Sangiovese from Vigna del Piano and Vigna dei Cipressi, with 25 days of maceration in steel tanks held at 23°C. It comes first because named vineyard sources, pure Sangiovese and steel maceration are all present in one Rosso.

Anecdote

In 1995, Emanuele planted the first Brunello vines at Castello Tricerchi. That planting began the estate's modern vineyard chapter. The vineyards now produce Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino from Sangiovese Grosso. At the estate, grapes are hand selected, fermented with local yeasts and given long periods of skin maceration before maturation in Slavonian durmast barrels.

Final Word

Castello Tricerchi works from one red grape and two Montalcino appellation wines, with a historic castle at the centre of the estate. Sangiovese Grosso remains the link between Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino.

Sources

Open Castello Tricerchi in the interactive map →