Campogiovanni
The Campogiovanni tenuta, located in the Montalcino area, was acquired by San Felice back in the days when Brunello did not yet enjoy the well-deserved success it has achieved today. Lying at elevations that range from 250 to 300 metres, the estate comprises some 65 hectares on the southwest slope of the Montalcino hill, precisely where it can receive the beneficent influence of the mild Mediterranean breezes. These conditons ensure an earlier ripening of the grapes compared to those in the north or northeast quadrants.
The local climate is characteristically Mediterranean, with average levels of rainfall and good ventilation, complementing perfectly the area’s soils. Largely clay with an admixture of sand, they were covered by the sea for lengthy periods of time and thus contain abundant quantities of mineral salts, substances essential for growth of the vine.
The sangiovese grosso variety achieves some of its finest quality results in this type of climate and soil, since the gradual but uninterrupted growth allows the grapes to achieve a level of ripeness rarely possible in other areas.
14 hectares of vineyards at Campogiovanni are dedicated exclusively to the production of Brunello, while the remaining 6 go to Rosso di Montalcino. In the more recently planted vineyards, trained to the spurred cordon system, a rather high vine density, over 7,000 vines per hectare, was selected, following modern vineyard management precepts, which prescribe a lower yield per individual vine in order to achieve a more even distribution of nutrients for the vineyard as a whole.
