Cupano Wines: The Excellence of Brunello and Montalcino Organic Wines

Welcome to the world of Cupano, an extraordinary estate of dedicated winemakers (vignerons) in Montalcino. The estate is located on a beautiful stony hill overlooking the Ombrone river, featuring excellent drainage, high mineral content, and a breathtaking view. Year after year, this land confirms its status as “un vrai, grand terroir”.

The estate spans 35 hectares entirely dedicated to organic farming: 6.4 hectares of vineyards, 2 hectares of olive trees, 18 hectares of woodland, and 8 hectares of arable land. Cupano's profound vision is to instill in every single bottle of wine a memory, the Tuscan landscape, a season, and the story of their enchantment.

A Family Story at Podere Centine

The history of this winery is deeply tied to Ornella Tondini and Lionel Cousin, who moved to Montalcino from Paris with their daughter Orsa in the 1990s. Ornella, formerly a journalist at L'Autre Journal, and Lionel, a film director and cinematographer, already shared a strong bond with this region, having hosted contemporary artists, actors, musicians, and writers for years during their summer holidays in Tuscany.

In 1994, they purchased Podere Centine, located southwest of Montalcino, near the charming medieval village of Camigliano. That land had been left uncultivated for over 40 years: an extremely pure soil, completely untouched by chemicals, fertilizers, or industrial pesticides.

Cupano Vineyards: A Unique Terroir in Montalcino

In 1997, the first 3.4 hectares of vineyards were planted around the south-facing hill, certified organic from the very beginning: 2.4 hectares of Sangiovese for Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino, 0.6 of Cabernet Sauvignon, and 0.4 of Merlot. The renowned winemaker Carlo Ferrini assisted in selecting the best soils and clones, while François Bouchet introduced the estate to the philosophy of biodynamics, simple and effective. In 2013, the vineyard area was expanded with 3 additional hectares of Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.

Located just 30 km from the Mediterranean Sea, the estate enjoys a temperate climate and constant sea breezes. The terroir is truly unique within the Montalcino landscape, consisting of sandy clay with a widespread substructure of river pebbles. This is due to the ancient bed of the Ombrone river, which was lifted over millennia by tectonic movements triggered by Mount Amiata, leaving behind invaluable river sediments for the vines.

Style and Philosophy: Great Age-Worthy Wines

With their first vintage released in 2000, Cupano established its clear vision: to produce age-worthy wines in true French style, seeking evolution, elegance, and complexity. Lionel Cousin, born in Cognac and educated in wine in Burgundy by Jacky Rigaux, took the winemaking philosophy of the legendary Henri Jayer as his absolute benchmark.

This translates into rigorous standards: limited yields, meticulous and artisanal care of the vines, exclusive use of indigenous yeasts, aging on fine lees in barriques bourguignonnes, no filtration, and no fining. The result is pure, structured wines of incredible finesse.

Discover our exclusive selection below and buy Cupano wines online at the best prices on Oltrevino.it.