Le Ragnaie
The Vineyards
The Winery
The People
Extension: 50 acres
We have the distinct fortune of being able to coltivate our vines in three diverse microclimates in Montalcino. This allows us to offer three different types of Brunello each a testament to the land it was grown in.
Our vines are 100% Sangiovese and are worked following the strict guidelines of organic agriculture: we do not use any chemicals with the exception ofa bordeux mixture and powdered sulfur, always staying within the limits set by the guidelines of the biological agriculture association.
We do not use fertilizer instead we plant covercrops which in the Fall. These plants consist of legumes, clovers and grasses.
This covercrop helps to regenerate the land after a long summer season of work. They also aid in enriching the organic substance of the land all the while penetrating deeply the roots of the various planted species.
Moreover the diversity of plants in the vineyard prevents superficial erosion and instead favors the absorption of water and creates an important habitat for many species of animals and insects.
This process guarantees the formation of an ecosystem full of life which is essential to the health of the vines.
Ragnaie 1. Vigna del Lago 2. Vigna Fonte 3. Vigna Cappuccini 4. Vigna Vecchia
Le Ragnaie vineyards vary between 5 and 40 years of age. They are planted in the central zone of Montalcino with a south-west exposition to the sun and facing the sea. The altitude of the vineyard varies between 530 and 600 meters which allows for the harvest to begin in the second half of October. The wine from this vineyard has an elegant taste and a beautiful aroma on the nose. The vines are surrounded by an oak forrest, olive groves and a small lake. An ideal habitat for animals and insects.
Petroso
The Petroso Vineyard extends over one hectre and is located close to the village of Montalcino along the Scarnacuoia rd.
This is one of the oldest winemaking zones in Montalcino. The vineyard is 380 meters above sea level and is surrounded by a forest.
Castelnuovo dell’Abate
Our winery has three different parcels of land in the castelnuovo dell’Abate region of Montalcino. This is one of the most pretigious winemaking areas in the “ilcinesi” territory. In recent years many wineries ave purchased vines in this area because it produces wines of the highest quality. Our vines are situated in the area near the old onyx mine along the Misericorida rd.
Production: 100.000 bottiglie
Le Ragnaie is known for its elegant, terroir-driven wines that stand out in this Tuscan powerhouse category. Making complex, traditional wines from Sangiovese Grosso, Riccardo’s wines exhibit elegance and finesse by farming some of the highest altitude vineyards in Montalcino. All four Brunello wines are fermented in concrete without selected yeast followed by a long maceration up to 90 days and three years in large Slavonian oak botti. All wines are bottled unfiltered and certified organic in the vineyards and cellar.
Proprietor: Riccardo Campinoti
Winemaker: Riccardo Campinoti
When Riccardo Campinoti’s family bought some of the highest vineyards around Montalcino in 2002, few had high hopes for the place. “When I started, this area was considered …,” he laughs as he rocks his hand back and forth, “a little bit of a loser.”
Riccardo is a largely self-taught producer and wine enthusiast. In the 19 years since his first vintage, Le Ragnaie has produced 29 Brunellos, including single-vineyard bottlings, scoring 90 points or more in Wine Spectator's blind tastings.
“It was luck,” Campinoti says of Le Ragnaie’s success, which has helped him buy up vineyards throughout the appellation, increasing the estate’s vines from the initial 10 acres to 50 acres. “When we released our first wines [in the late 2000s], it was luckily the end of the fashion of rich wines and Brunellos that were nearly black.”
“It was the beginning of the trend to more elegant wines,” he continues as he walks along the top of a slope of bush-trained old vines behind his winery, “and at 600 meters here, you can only make wines with more elegance and freshness than power.”
Riccardo Campinoti (right), Paolo Pellizzari (left)