Cantine Dei in Montepulciano
During the visit to Montepulciano during Anteprime di Toscana, I was lucky enough to be the guest of Cantine Dei for a tasting and dinner at her family’s distinguished winery.
Cellar visit
Standing outside the winery, Catarina explained that her family had been involved in the excavation and processing of travertine, a form of terrestrial limestone deposited around mineral springs, especially hot springs.
She said that her father Glauco Dei, at eighty, conceived the idea of uniting the world of stone with that of wine by building an architectural masterpiece cellar that would be a travertine palace for his wine.
To enter the building, one must walk down a circular ramp made of travertine. The spiral shape represented the precious fossil shells that long with limestone and sandstone, make the prized Bossona vineyard grow such premium grapes.
Dei Family History
Catarina explained how her grandfather bought the key vineyards in the 1970s and how the winery evolved over the decades.
The winery itself was established in 1987 by Alibrando Dei, who was passionate about producing premium wines that reflected the unique terroir of Montepulciano.
Alibrando’s son, Glauco Dei, later took over the reins of the winery and brought his own vision and expertise to the production process.
At first, Caterina’s focus was her singing career. But with the passing of her grandfather and father, she realized that the harmony and balance found in music can also be achieved in winemaking.
As owner and winemaker, she continues her family’s goal of creating elegant wines that capture the essence of Montepulciano’s terroir.
The Tasting of Wines from the Bossona and Madonna Della Quercia vineyards
Four vintages of these wines, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 were presented to taste side by side.
The tasting exemplified how dynamic Montepulciano vintages can be, as well as the striking differences in two of the highest quality vineyards within the region.
The tasting concluded with a delicious casual dinner and more Dei wines to try.
