Altesino is one of the most renowned wineries in the Montalcino region in the heart of Tuscany. The estate covers 80 hectares, of which 44 are vineyards divided into individual crus, meaning separate parcels with special soil and climatic qualities. Altesino was a pioneer of cru-class wines in Montalcino – they were the first to designate the Montosoli vineyard as a separate cru and among the first in the region to experiment with aging in small oak barrels and en primeur sales, meaning the pre-sale of wines before they are ready for bottling. Montalcino – Tuscan vineyards with history. Altesino's vineyards are spread across four crus: Macina, Castelnuovo dell'Abate, Pianezzine, and Montosoli – the latter is considered the source of the estate's most elegant wines. The dominant grape variety is Sangiovese – the variety on which the famous Brunello di Montalcino is based. In addition, they grow Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Trebbiano, Malvasia, Vermentino, Chardonnay, and Viognier. Part of the cellars is housed in the historic walls of Palazzo Altesi, while the newer part is equipped with modern technologies supporting production. Altesino's philosophy is attention to every detail of the process – from work in the vineyard to aging in the cellar.