These days, the vine is living its adolescence: full of energy, growth, and exuberance.
After shoot selection, the canes have grown quickly, shooting up past the trellising wires. Now it’s our turn to guide them – without holding them back.
It’s topping time in the vineyard: we trim the growing tips to encourage the development of lateral shoots, known as femminelle. Their foliage creates a natural shade for the grape clusters – a crucial gesture, helping the plant reach a more balanced relationship between growth and production.
If you visited us now, you’d already see well-formed bunches: the berries are about the size of a peppercorn, a clear sign that flowering and fruit set went smoothly. Soon, the bunches will begin to close as the berries start pressing up against one another – getting ready, together, for the heat to come.
As always, the weather keeps us on our toes. After a cool, rainy spring, summer arrived fast: we’ve already hit 30°C, with peaks close to 35. For now, though, everything is under control.
In the field, the team works every day: tucking the canes between the upper wires, cleaning the base of each vine – where a few dormant buds have sprouted into non-productive shoots, which need to be removed so they don’t drain the plant’s energy – and keeping a close eye on every single vine stock.
The first phase of planting in the Madre vineyard is done: one more step forward in our most ambitious project of the year.
In the cellar, the racking cycle has ended, and bottling season has begun. We started with the 2024 Rosato, followed by a batch of the 2023 Rosso.
Now it’s time for the 2021 Brunello – a wine that’s spent slightly longer than usual in the cellar. The 2021 vintage was warm, pushing us to find the perfect balance between freshness and fruit, letting time play its part.
Life at Poggio Antico continues beyond the estate, too. We’ll soon be attending Red Montalcino, the Consorzio’s event dedicated to celebrating the identity of Rosso di Montalcino – a wine that holds a special place for us, and one we’re committed to sharing with even greater conviction.
Meanwhile, our sales team is back on the road – meeting clients, training professionals, spreading the word about Poggio Antico. The goal is always the same: building real relationships. Helping people understand what’s behind every bottle.
The coming months won’t be easy for the wine world. In an uncertain global climate, our industry too is facing challenges.
Which is why, now more than ever, we want to hold onto what sets us apart: respect. For the land, for people, and for every gesture that shapes our daily work.
And then there are the colours – of the season, the vineyard, the sky above Poggio Antico. They still find ways to surprise us. It’s this desire to keep sharing such beauty that inspires us to always give our best.
Until next time,
Pippo