SANTACROCE
-MONTEVEGLIO-
TENUTA
The Vineyards
Tenuta Santa Croce, one of the most important wine producers in the area, lies in the Bologna Hills in the designated ‘Colli Bolognesi’ wine zone and consists of a 60-hectare estate, 30 of which are dedicated to the cultivation of grapes. An important characteristic of these vineyards – which include almost all the grape varieties stipulated in the Colli Bolognesi designated wine zone production specifications – is their position, placing them at different altitudes, between 100 and 250 meters above sea level. These varying locations provide them with the perfect conditions to produce both white wines with delicate aromas and full-bodied, structured red wines.
Soil characteristics
The hills lie on an average gradient, and consist of loose-textured soils with a loamy clay element and limestone and a slightly alkaline pH. The soil dates back to the Pliocene age and was originally rocky with a high clay content and sandy layers.
Vineyard layout
The vines have been trained using the Double Curtain system, suitable for the complete mechanization of pruning, spur pruning and topping – all procedures that are applied throughout the year except for harvest season. Grapes are harvested by hand and placed in 15 – 18 kg crates ready for pressing. The new vineyards, already partially planted, are trained and pruned with the Spur Cordon and Guyot systems.
Grape Varietals
Our vineyards consist predominantly of the Pignoletto Colli Bolognesi DOCG varietal which accounts for approximately 50% of the vineyards, while other white varietals such as Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc (all with the Bolognese Hills DOC designation) represent 25% of the total. The remaining 25% consists of red, international varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Barbera (all corresponding to the Bolognese Hills DOC designation).
The position of the vineyards on both the east and west-facing hillsides allows an excellent exposure to sun and wind for both red and white wines. Each area varies depending on the varietal cultivated and the soil characteristics, the plant density per hectare (2500 to 3333) and the rootstocks planted (SO4, Kober, 420A, 1103P, etc.).The result is a selection of wines, each with a distinct set of characteristics, which interpret their terroir in the best way possible.
Vineyard fertilization
The vineyard is fertilized using natural products that adhere to organic farming procedures.