Fortius S.r.l. S. Angelo in Colle - 53024 Montalcino - Italia
Head quarters
Via Lungo il Ficarello, 9 - 59100 Prato - Italia
Tel. +39 0574 813730 - Fax +39 0574 811970
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 The “Il Grappolo” estate covers some 25 hectares south of Montalcino, right in the centre of Tuscany. It is about 90 km from Florence and 30 km from Siena, near the Tyrrhenian sea and the hills of the Maremma district, in an area thick with Mediterranean macchia, or scrub vegetation. Its vineyards enjoy exceptional exposure and distinctive soils, plus a climate particularly favourable to vinegrowing. Cluster thinning and rigorous selection of the grapes before harvest are practised, since only the finest selection goes into “Brunello di Montalcino.” All these factors have always resulted in great wines.
The fields occupied today by Il Grappolo’s Brunello vineyards have been cultivated for many centuries; the extensive terrace facing south to the valley of the Orcia river and west towards the valleys of the Maremma has been agricultural land going back to the Etruscans. Very large stretches of the main Etruscan road, which connected Cortona, in the Apennines, with the seacoast city of Roselle (Grosseto) are visible just a few hundred metres from the vineyards. In the Middle Ages, the properties that are now planted to Il Grappolo’s vineyards and olive groves belonged in all likelihood to the Castello di Argiano, a fortified manor, whose inhabitants cultivated olives. The castle goes back to the 12th century, with first written evidence dating to 1208, but the hill overlooking the wine estate had settlements going back to the Roman era. Later, various political and economic vicissitudes brought these lands, where viticulture was already flourishing, under the republic of Siena; one centre was the ancient hamlet of Sant'Angelo in Colle, whose inhabitants were involved in grapegrowing.
The current owner belongs to the Giovannelli family, which has ancient roots.
“Originally from Siena, they belonged to the Reformers of 1384, enjoyed noble status and occupied the highest offices. Tommaso Giovannelli was provveditore of Biccherna in 1450 and 1467; Conte, the son or Orsolo, was customs officer in 1527; and Benedetto was doctor and later mathematics chair in the Siena university in 1468. When they moved to Florence they continued their eminent social position, as attested by Cirri and Targazzi.”
- Extract from "Dizionario Storico Blasonico," by G.B.Di Crollalanza
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