| Region of production: | Brunello diMontalcino |
| Winery Location: | Piandellorino |
| Year Established: | 1996 |
Vineyard Holdings
6.5 ha
- Pian dell’Orino: 1.5 ha, south- to southeast-facing at 1,500 feet elevation, planted in 1970 and expanded in 1997; soil is limestone and clay with fossilized mussels
- Pian Bossolino: 3.5 ha, south- to southwest-facing at 1,300 feet elevation, planted in 1999; soil is limestone with iron-rich rocks
- Cancello Rosso: 0.7 ha, south-facing at 1,000 feet elevation, planted in 1999; soil is red and ferrous mixed with yellow clay and limestone
- Scopetta: 0.8 ha, southeast-facing at 1,100 feet elevation, planted in 2005; soil is clay and limestone
Top Wines Produced
- Brunello di Montalcino
- Rosso di Montalcino
- Piandorino: from more prolific vines and made in a fruitier style, with a shorter fermentation and aging prior to release
Average Total Production
- 18,000 bottles
Summary
Caroline Pobitzer (from the Süd Tyrol) bought the Pian dell’Orino estate in 1996. She runs it today with her husband, Jan Hendrick Erbach (who studied viticulture and enology in Germany); they emphasize organic and biodynamic vineyard management, and they work exclusively with Sangiovese Grosso. Jan is also focused on carrying out studies on clonal variations and various vineyard parcels in Montalcino in order to further map out the local terroir. Together with Stella di Campalto (Az. Ag. San Giuseppe) and Francesco Leanza (Podere Salicutti), they launched the “Sangiovese Per Amico” initiative, seceding from the local Consorzio and encouraging “the rigorous observance of production rules, in addition to the enhancement and promotion of the Sangiovese grape variety.”
Style & Vinification Techniques
A green harvest restricts yields to four bunches per vine, and grapes are entirely hand-harvested, then hand-sorted and vinified parcel by parcel. Fermentation occurs with native yeasts and no temperature control (lasting approximately three to five weeks for the Brunello and two to three weeks for the Rosso), followed by aging in a combination of barriques and botti. Sulfur additions are kept to a minimum, and the wines are never fined or filtered.
Producer Website: Pian dell’Orino