Origins
The history of Montecucco reaches far back in time to the ancient Etruscans in a territory situated between northern and southern Etruria. With the ascent of the ancient Romans, Mount Amiata became the destination of important spa tourism, thanks to the health of its sulphurous waters.
Later in the 6th Century B.C., the Longobards invaded in an effort to control the Francigena Road, an important connection between Rome and northern modern-day Europe; they also established the Benedictine Abbey of San Salvatore in Mount Amiata, whose monks colonized the territory and began erecting fortifications at the Aldobrandeschi stronghold of Arcidosso, Campagnatico, and Roccalbegna; with the castles of Porrona, Monte Antico, Potentino, Colle Massari; and the papal station of Vicarello. These are only a few examples of defensive structures built over the centuries, testifying to the strategic importance of this area.
Later under Sienese rule, the Medici family began their long rule of the area. Finally, the 19th Century saw the discovery and exploitation of numerous mines for over one hundred years, now memorialized with the presence of dedicated museums. Today, the territory has become an area of high-quality agricultural production, developing admirable agriturismo and farm holiday offerings.
Vines have been cultivated throughout the centuries in the Montecucco territory, so rich with history. Beginning with the Etruscans, whose wine practices have been rediscovered and reproduced today, vines and wine have accompanied our territory year after year, coloring the fields, preparing the tables, and contributing to a commerce that grew from selling local grapes to supplying the world with high-quality wines.
In the 1970s, the first two geographical appellations in our territory were officiated, considered forerunners of the Montecucco appellation; the Montecucco Denomination of Origins was then officiated in 1998.
The Consortium
In 2000, a group of farmers and wine producers created the Montecucco Consortium (Consorzio Tutela Montecucco) for the protection and promotion of the Montecucco appellation and with the aim of contributing to the growth of this wine and its region through shared effort. Initially composed of 20 members, the care and passion with which they worked helped form a Consortium that has become a leading guide of the territory and a center of promotion and stewardship for the surrounding region.
Over time, the Montecucco Consortium gained the trust of local as well as nationally acclaimed wine producers with their daily work to actively promote the brand and care for the quality of the product in every step of production. From just a few dozen producers and a few thousand bottles, the territory has grown today to produce over one million bottles and over 60 Consortium members. And, although the number of producers continues to grow and includes ever more unique expressions of Montecucco, they are united in their absolute respect for the territory, the environment and its products, and the full symbiosis between humans and nature.
Whether small or large, all producers are consistent in their adherence to high quality production, from the vineyard to the cellar, and produce wines that are sincere and genuine expressions of the territory that come from a part of Tuscany that remains untouched by mass tourism.
Montecucco producers have become increasingly aware of the need to preserve the integrity of the territory in which they operate, and have begun to adopt organic farming; today, the majority of production is in fact organic.
