La Braccesca
One of Antinori’s largest wineries, La Braccesca spans the border between Montepulciano, which has a long history of fine wine production, and Cortona, a more contemporary winemaking region. As such, the 845-acre estate is where history and tradition marry perfectly with modern innovation.
The winery’s name and coat of arms – an armour-clad arm holding a sword – come from its having once been the site of an old farm of the Conti Bracci. After passing from one owner to another, the estate was purchased by Antinori in 1990 and new vineyard plantings began the same year.
The estate is divided into two parts, with the main area – situated between Montepulciano and Cortona – consisting of 652 acres, of which 390 are planted with vineyards. The remaining 262 acres are almost entirely planted with vineyards and are situated between three of the best known subzones for the production of great Montepulciano wines: Cervognano, Gracciano and Santa Pia.
The estate is planted to varieties that are classic to the area, such as Prugnolo Gentile (the local Sangiovese variety) and Canaiolo Nero. Non-native varieties like Syrah and Merlot are also planted here and have found a perfect environment in the hills below Cortona.
