Winebow Welcomes Tuscan Winery to Portfolio

August 2005 — Winebow, America’s leading importer of premium Italian wines, proudly introduces a new winery to its portfolio: Poggiotondo. Founded in 1969 in the Chianti DOCG district of Tuscany, Poggiotondo is the family winery of world-renowned wine consultant Alberto Antonini, former winemaking director for Antinori.

"Poggiotondo is dedicated to producing wines with an unmistakable Tuscan identity in a modern, international style,� said winemaker Alberto Antonini, a consultant to wineries in Argentina, Australia, California, Chile, France, Italy, Spain and South Africa. “Our mission is to offer high quality wines of exceptional value that combine the best of the Old World and the New with richness, complexity and versatility at a popular price."

Winebow is introducing two wines from Poggiotondo to the U.S. market. "The Blend" Toscana Rosso IGT, an innovative blend of Sangiovese, Syrah and Merlot, and Chianti Superiore DOCG, made from Sangiovese and Merlot.

Available now, "The Blend" ($9.99 suggested retail) combines the complexity of Sangiovese (40%), the juiciness of Syrah (30%) and the softness of Merlot (30%). The wine expresses the characteristics of its Tuscan terroir while remaining approachable and extremely consumer-friendly. Deep purple red in color with sweet, round tannins, "The Blend" has intense aromas of red fruits, such as raspberries and blackberries, and is rich and dense in the mouth with a pleasantly sweet finish.

Chianti Superiore DOCG ($10.99 suggested retail), available this September, is made from 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot. The Superiore classification requires a minimum alcohol level of 12%, and allows for a different percentage of Sangiovese and other varieties than the discipline for Chianti DOCG. A rich and structured wine, this Chianti Superiore is full bodied and supple, delivering all the best features of Chianti in an international style. The color is deep ruby red with red fruit notes and hints of tobacco and chocolate aromas. It is rich and dense in the mouth with intensely ripe, juicy tannins, a very good mid-palate, and a pleasantly sweet finish.

"We are delighted to welcome Poggiotondo to the Winebow portfolio," said Leonardo LoCascio, founder and president of Winebow, Inc. Always on the lookout for wines to add to his portfolio, Mr. LoCascio’s meticulous selection process results in dozens of wines turned down for every one selected. "Alberto Antonini is an exciting, non-traditional producer with a modern approach to winemaking. Even his packaging is unconventional – lighthearted, colorful, and unlike any other Italian wines."

Mr. Antonini began his professional career as an assistant winemaker at Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi in 1986, later serving as production director for Col D’Orcia (Montalcino) before becoming winemaking director for Antinori in 1993. He founded his wine consultancy, Matura Group, in 1996, but even as the demand for his services grew, he never forgot his roots in Tuscany.

The Poggiotondo estate is located in the western area of the Chianti DOCG appellation, near Cerreto Guidi in the province of Florence. Mr. Antonini’s father, Carlo, purchased the family winery in 1969, transforming a traditional sharecropping farm into a modern estate with 125 acres of vineyards and a technologically advanced winery. Today, the estate is managed by Alberto, who carries on the family traditions while continuing the winery’s modernization. Recently, 22 new acres were purchased and planted with Sangiovese and two international varietals new to the area: Merlot and Syrah.

SOURCE Winebow
www.winebow.com