In 1309 pope Clement V transferred the papal residence from Rome to Avignon, France. In 1377, when pope Gregory XI moved the papal residence back to Rome, some noble families of Avignon left France to follow him. It was at that time, in Italy, that one of those families became known as Avignonesi - probably to simplify an otherwise difficult, foreign name. Soon the Avignonesi family separated into three branches which settled in Rome, Siena and Montepulciano.

It is not known exactly when Avignonesi's cellars were built, but they are doubtless among the most ancient in Italy. Palazzo Avignonesi was built according to a design by Jacopo Barozzi (called Vignola) in the second half of the XVI century and it has always been the cellars' seat.

In 1974 the Falvo brothers, owners of the vineyards in the municipality of Cortona, took over Avignonesi and refounded it investing greatly in viniculture, selecting the local varieties and introducing classical ones such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir. Nowadays, Avignonesi consists of four wine-producing estates: Le Capezzine, I Poggetti, La Selva and La Lombarda. In total they comprise 225 hectares of open ground, 109 ha of vineyards and 3 ha of olive groves.

Le Capezzine

Only a few kilometres from Montepulciano, close to the village of Valiano and among the hills of the Chiuso della Valdichiana, stands the 19th-century farm estate Le Capezzine. It is the heart of the company and it has been impeccably restored. It contains spacious cellars for vinification, cellars for aging and storing, the vinsantaia, the frantoio (the olive oil mill), warehouses and offices. The estate comprises 19 hectares, of which 8 hectares of vineyards divided as follows: 6 of albarello vines in

the "settonce" pattern; 1 dedicated to density experimentation ranging from 2,000 to 8,500 vines per hectare with six different rootstocks; and finally 1 dedicated to growing 33 ancient varieties indigenous to Montepulciano and the surrounding area, once highly esteemed, but today in danger of extinction.

Poggetti

This estate is composed of two farms, all located within the boundary of Montepulciano, on the Argiano hills, where Avignonesi’s Vino Nobile has always been produced. The total land area is 68 hectares, 30 of which are used to cultivate prized clones of Prugnolo Gentile. Two hectares are planted with the Coreggiolo variety of olives which are used to produce the green and aromatic extra virgin olive oil typical of Montepulciano.

La Selva

La Selva is situated at Cignano, on the hills of the Chiuso di Cortona and consists of 4 farms – La Selva, Val DI Capraia, Paggino and Pian dell’Oca, four superior locations dedicated to the cultivation of classical vine varieties.

It covers a total area of 96 hectares, 51 of which are vineyards and 1 olive groves. Here are grown the Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc.

La Lombarda

This is a 42-hectare farm located close to Le Capezzine and within the uncontaminated countryside of the Chiuso della Valdichiana hills. The soil here is particularly well suited to vine growing. At the moment there are 20 hectares of new vineyards at high density, as per the company plan of reimplantation.

The vineyard has the topology of a flattened cone with training lines departing radially from the apex of the cone and spaced with distances ranging from 3m 50 to 1m 20 . It is composed of a total of 90 lines, one every 4°, and 34 vines each planted one metre apart starting from an empty central circle with a radius of 18 metres. There are 6 rootstocks organized in 15 repeated blocks and from these are derived a continuous variety of

densities from 2,000 to 8,500 vines per hectare giving 192 possible experimental beds.

The result is a land management system which does not take into consideration the single lines but the various segments each uniformly differentiated by number of buds and production from the center to the periphery.

Consequently, the harvest is carried out by segment and the vinification of the various beds is separately executed in small wooden vats.

Il Marzocco - Chardonnay DI Toscana
Characteristics: IL Marzocco has golden hue tending to amber; its bouquet is intense, fruity and full. Its taste is aromatic, persistent and dry, but remarkable full bodied.
Serving suggestions: fish and shellfish, as well as white meats and soft creamy cheeses.

Bianco Avignonesi
Characteristics: Bianco Avignonesi has a pale yellow color; its bouquet is intense, fruity and typical for the varieties. The taste is full, harmonious with a pleasant acidity.
Serving suggestions: risotto, light and delicate pasta dishes, fish and shellfish, as well as white meats and soft creamy cheeses.

Vino Nobile DI Montepulciano DOCG
Characteristics: Vino Nobile is garnet red in color; its bouquet is delicate and intense, with a slight scent of violet. The taste is dry with a hint of tannic.
Serving suggestions: roast and grilled meat, game and mature cheeses.

Vino Nobile DI Montepulciano Riserva "Grandi Annate"
Characteristics: Vino Nobile is garnet red in color; its bouquet is delicate and intense, with a slight scent of violet. The taste is dry with a hint of tannic.
Serving suggestions: roast and grilled meat, game and mature cheeses.

"Desiderio"
Characteristics: Intense, rubin red in color, its bouquet is delicate and persistent, with a slight scent of wild fruits. The taste is full-bodied, harmonious and round.
Serving suggestions: roast and grilled meat, game and mature cheeses.

Rosso Avignonesi
Characteristics: Intense ruby red in color with a bouquet reminiscent of wild fruits, spices and grass. The taste is round and harmonious.
Serving suggestions: it is an important and long-lasting wine, rich in smooth tannins and

Occhio DI Pernice - Vin Santo DI Toscana
Characteristics: Amber in color, its bouquet is very intense persistent and complex, reminiscent of dried fruits, spices and vanilla. Its taste is full-bodied., persistent and thoroughly unique.
Occhio DI Pernice is a great sweet wine and it should be sipped on its own, in small quantities but in large, wide glasses.

Vin Santo DI Toscana
Characteristics: Avignonesi's Vin Santo is amber in color; its bouquet is very intense,
persistent and complex, reminiscent of dried fruits, spices and vanilla;
its taste is full-bodied., persistent and thoroughly unique.
Avignonesi's Vin Santo is a great sweet wine and it should be sipped on its own, in small quantities but in large, wide glasses.