Cupano

Ornella Tondini and Lionel Cousin moved to Montalcino from Paris with their daughter Orsa during the 90s. Ornella was a journalist at L'Autre Journal, while Lionel worked as filmmaker and director of photography. They already had a strong connection with Montalcino, having spent the most of their summer holidays at Frescobaldi's Il Giardinello hosting many contemporary artists, actors, musicians and writers.

Lionel and Ornella bought Centine in 1994. That land - located south-west of Montalcino, close to the medieval town of Camigliano - had been left uncoltivated for more than 40 years. The soil they found was extremely pure, never touched by chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides or any other form of industrial agriculture.

Thus, in 1997, Ornella and Lionel chose to plant 3.4 hectares of vineyard around the hill, facing south, certified organic since the beginning: 2.4 hectares of Sangiovese for Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino, 0.6 Cabernet Sauvignon and 0.4 Merlot. Carlo Ferrini helped us to select the land for the vines and the vine-stocks, the growth system and the height of the plants. François Bouchet initiated us to biodynamic, the simple and efficient biodynamic of the old gentleman farmer he was. In 2013 we planted three more hectares of vineyard: Sangiovese (2ha), Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot.