Montepulciano is a charming medieval town between the Val d’Orcia and the Valdichiana Senese in south-eastern Tuscany. It lies gently on hills that do not exceed 605 metres above sea level. This area was certainly inhabited by the Etruscans (3rd-4th centuries BC), who already recognised its extraordinary potential for red wine production.

Wine is the first wonder of this area, the land of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG. Montepulciano offers various tourist itineraries amidst evocative landscapes, history, art and culture. The area’s traditional cuisine brings a fitting end to any day, with simple, typically country-style dishes such as pici al sugo di nana, pecorino cheese, fine meats, and local game. The Dei family produced its first bottle of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano in 1985, thus starting a tradition as independent winemakers. For three generations, the Dei Family has been profoundly linked to this territory and its rich resources. In addition to making Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, the family business is involved in extracting travertine marble from the quarries in Rapolano Terme. Maria Caterina Dei’s main goal is to produce high quality Vino Nobile that is the best expression of the terroir, representative of the typical characteristics of this indigenous variety. It all began in 1964 when her grandfather, Alibrando Dei, decided to buy the Bossona land and plant his first vineyard there. There, he discovered an extraordinary place, ideal for the production of great red wines. The property expanded in the 1970s with the purchase of Villa Martiena and the surrounding vineyards. In 1985, the year of an exceptional harvest, the first bottle of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano signed by the Dei family was finally released.

Since then, the family has carried on the great passion for wine while respecting tradition and being open to innovation. Their aim is to bring to life in wine the best expression of the Montepulciano area, the splendid corner of Tuscany where they live and which gives their prized grapes their unmistakable character, appreciated throughout the world.

Caterina Dei, didn’t always know that wine would be her path, however, her father had a dream, that of top-quality winemaking and a modern, sustainable winery. That dream swept her away and captured her. Now, for more than twenty years, she has been the spokesperson for the knowledge and values of her family, heir and interpreter of the agricultural and viticultural tradition that has had its place of election in Montepulciano. When the wine notes meet the music notes, the harmony will be just perfect. Music and singing have always been a passion for her. In the place of her wine, she has brought her albums to life.

For several generations, the family has been involved in the excavation and processing of travertine. Caterina’s father, Glauco Dei, marked an important turning point in the family business by creating architectural works all over the world. At the age of eighty, he conceived the idea of uniting the world of stone with that of wine, deciding to design and build a travertine home for his wine. The structure blends harmoniously into the gentle hilly landscape surrounding Montepulciano. The natural shades of travertine blend with the colours of the land, creating a beautiful architectural spectacle.

To enter the building, you have to walk down a characteristic circular ramp, also made of travertine, which descends into the heart of the earth in the form of a spiral. We chose this shape for the entrance of the cellar to recall the precious fossil shells that, together with the limestone sandstone, make the subsoil on which our Bossona vineyard grows so beautifully. The ageing room resembles a temple of wine: the roof, also made of travertine and realised according to her father’s design, is supported by important columns. It is a modern and clean structure, but with strong hints of classicism. The large windows of the bottling and packaging area overlook a square that recalls the shape of an amphitheatre: it is here that the combination of wine and art reaches its maximum expression. Caterina’s desire has always been to ensure that the place and its territory are experienced to the full.

Cantine Dei is her travertine treasure chest: the most cherished treasure inside is Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. In July 1980 it was the first in Italy to be awarded the Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG). Today it is recognised as one of the most prestigious wines in the country and in the world.

According to the philosophy of her grandfather, her father and now her, wine is a heritage that, like the land, must be protected. Knowing the history and understanding the culture behind the production of a bottle of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, with unique characteristics, is a way to celebrate and appreciate not only each sip of the wine itself, but the entire region of Montepulciano. Caterina’s mission with Cantine Dei is to protect and promote Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and its terroir, with total respect for the environment. This is why you are welcomed to the winery, to hear the story of their land, and to celebrate the precious gifts.