Cecchi at the forefront of new areas buys
Cecchi, the renowned Italian winemaker, has spent $2.2 million on the Tenuta di Montefalco property in neighbouring Umbria in the company's first venture outside Tuscany. A projected 3,900 cases are likely to result from the new 70-acre estate, bought from the Paulucci family. The Palazzo Paulucci has also been included in the sale. The entire estate will be planted with the Sagrantino grape and wines and, it is expected, will be on the market in three years time. The move could presage further ventures in other parts of Italy by the company, taking case production over the one million mark. Last year Cecchi produced 800,000 cases of wine under the Cecchi and estate brand names. Cecchi will be showing a new wine, a white 2000 IGT Vermentino de Maremma, at this year's Vinitaly, in Verona. "Cecchi is particularly interested in the indigenous grape, Sagrantino," said Cecchi commercial manager Sandra Muzzi. Peter Bisley, commercial manager at International Wine Services, Cecchi's UK distributors, added: "Land is expensive in Tuscany. It shows too how, once again, Cecchi is at the forefront of buying into new areas. Cecchi was one of the first companies to invest in Maremma (Val delle Rose), and all the grand old companies in Tuscany have followed them." Cecchi also owns Casa Vinicola Luigi Cecchi and three estates in Tuscany:, Villa Cerna, in Chianti Classico; Castello di Montauto, in San Gimignano; and Val delle Rose, in Maremma.