About Tenuta Luce
Tenuta Luce is a Tuscan estate located in Montalcino, established in 1993 as a joint venture between the Frescobaldi family and Robert Mondavi. The estate is best known for its flagship wine Luce, a blend of Sangiovese and Merlot, as well as Lucente and a Brunello di Montalcino. It covers approximately 120 hectares and focuses on wines that combine international grape varieties with the native Sangiovese.
Prices are for take away and shipping. The wine bar serves from its own list.
The winery
About Tenuta Luce
History
Tenuta Luce stands at Castelgiocondo in Montalcino, in the Val d'Orcia park. It began in the 1990s as a partnership between Vittorio Frescobaldi and Robert Mondavi, with their sons Lamberto and Tim closely involved. Decanter dates the first vintage of the wine to 1993 and the formal agreement creating the company Luce della Vite to 1995. Mondavi planted Merlot on these plots as early as the 1970s. Frescobaldi became sole owner in 2005, according to Decanter, though another source says 2004. Lamberto Frescobaldi now runs the estate.
The land and the vineyards
The slopes are covered in vines, olive groves and woods, in a setting the estate describes as ideal for grapes. Sangiovese and Merlot are the grapes at its core.
The wines
Luce is a blend of Sangiovese for structure and Merlot for roundness, and it is said to have been the first in Montalcino to combine the two. Lucente is the second wine, and Luce Brunello followed from 2003. The estate also makes Lux Vitis and Grappa di Luce.
Today
Luce della Vite has its head office in Sieci, near Florence, and describes its values as respect for the land and the people who work it.
- Founded
- 1995 (Luce della Vite)
- Area
- Castelgiocondo, Montalcino (Siena)
- Main grapes
- Sangiovese, Merlot
- Owners
- Marchesi Frescobaldi