In the 1950s Pierluigi Talenti purchased the property and the lands that he had fallen in love with and decided to move from Romagna to the gently rolling, sunny hills of Montalcino. Over the years, he devoted his time to clonal research into the locally grown Sangiovese, taking his wines to the highest levels of quality. Today, Riccardo Talenti continues that research, with the utmost respect for tradition, working with the very same passion and determination. The estate has been developed around an old farm called “Pian di Conte”, not far from Sant’Angelo in Colle, on the southern slope of the municipality of Montalcino, which has been restructured and expanded over the years. The property occupies an area of 40 hectares, among vineyards, olive groves, orchards and seed crops, surrounded by age-old holm-oak woods, characteristic of the Montalcino area.

Tenuta Il Poggione was founded in the late 1800s. Lavinia Franceschi, landowner of Florence, following the stories of a shepherd who brought cattle in transhumance around Montalcino, decided to visit the area and fell in love with the landscapes and people who lived there, he decided to buy land and make it a farm. The company was among the first to market Brunello di Montalcino since the early 1900s and one of the founding members of the Brunello di Montalcino Consortium. After more than a century, Lavinio Franceschi's work is still a point of reference for his heirs, Leopoldo and Livia who continue to strengthen the company with the same commitment and unaltered passion, combining the ancient and wise wine tradition, with the more innovative techniques. The Il Poggione estate covers approximately 530 hectares, of which 140 are vineyards, 50 are olive groves and the rest is arable land, woods and livestock.

As a winemaker, I am a minimalist in every sense of the word, especially when it comes to Pinot Noir,” said Derek. Derek founded Bravium―a Latin word meaning “gift” or “prize”―in 2007. His widely acclaimed small-lot Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are characterized by excellent structure and aging potential, along with invigorating acidity, which allows for seamless pairing with a variety of foods. Of all the influences that have shaped Derek’s path, his family’s Cherokee heritage has been the steady drumbeat that led him to the right places at the right times. His parents gifted him the name “Winter Hawk” as a child. To this day, the sight of a hawk feather in his vineyard reminds Derek that he is fulfilling his destiny. That rich heritage gently guides his hand in the cellar. For Derek, terroir is a gift.