2019 Montepulciano

Montepulciano, the grape, is still a rarity in California. Yet, the climate here is perfect. Not to be confused with Sangiovese, as is often the case, Montepulciano instead exhibits slightly softer structure and darker color.

APPELATION
Siletto Ranch, San Benito County

ALCOHOL
13.80%

BLEND
100% Montepulciano

PRODUCTION
132 Cases

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"These are my go-to wines when I travel in Italy. Dark and rich, yet approachable relatively young."
Christopher Ferrara, Winemaker

Montepulciano Tasting Notes

For the Casual Wine Drinker

This wine is dark with minerality. It’s mysterious like the region from which it originates.

For the Wine Connoisseur

Not as dramatically bright as many Italian grapes, this variety is known for its rich pigment with moderate structure.

Montepulciano & the Italian Tradition

Often confused with Sangiovese grown in the hill village of Montepulciano, this is the Montepulciano grape from the village of Abruzzo. It is late to harvest and is deep purple, nearly black in color.

Wine Profile

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California Wines in the Italian Tradition

Like the Sicilian trinacria stamped on the label, the inspiration behind Clesi is a symbolic trifecta. Equal parts legacy, curiosity and culture, winemaker Chris Ferrara brings his Sicilian-American farming roots, love of eccentric varietals and reverence for Italian culture into his winemaking process.

Donning the surname of the winemaker’s great, great grandmother Anna Clesi Ferrara, Clesi’s wines are deeply influenced by Chris’ extensive travels throughout Italy’s wine regions. As a viticulturist, Chris immediately noted the similarities in climate and soils between parts of Italy and California and he naturally began planting old world varietals on the Central Coast, the results of which are beautiful food-focused wines that are iconic, restrained and elegant.