De' Ricci
デ・リッチ
The 'Wine Cathedral' — a Renaissance cellar carved into Montepulciano's tufa rock.
De' Ricci is a historic winery in the heart of Montepulciano's old town, Tuscany, whose name has been tied to the town for more than eight centuries. Its most celebrated feature is a monumental cellar carved into the volcanic tufa rock beneath Palazzo Ricci, a Renaissance palace commissioned by Cardinal Giovanni Ricci and built by architect Baldassarre Peruzzi between 1534 and 1562. Documents attest that the Ricci family made wine here as early as 1337, and the vaulted, three-aisled cellar — often called the 'Wine Cathedral' or 'Cattedrale del Vino' — is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful wine cellars in the world. Since 2012 the estate has been run by the Trabalzini family (Enrico Trabalzini, with his son Nicolò as winemaker), who farm roughly 30 hectares and produce Sangiovese-based wines centered on Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, including the flagship cru Soraldo, alongside Rosso di Montepulciano DOC and several Tuscan IGT wines. The estate was welcomed into Gambero Rosso's Tre Bicchieri circle in the 2024 guide.
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Who Is This For?
For wine lovers drawn to living history and architecture as much as the glass — those who want an authentic, terroir-driven Vino Nobile di Montepulciano with a story behind every bottle.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is special about De' Ricci's cellar?
- It is a monumental cellar carved directly into the volcanic tufa rock beneath the Renaissance-era Palazzo Ricci, with three vaulted aisles that resemble a Roman-Gothic cathedral — widely nicknamed the 'Wine Cathedral.' Documents show the Ricci family was already making wine here in 1337.
- Who owns and runs De' Ricci today?
- Since 2012 the estate has been run by the Trabalzini family. Enrico Trabalzini leads the winery with his son Nicolò, a trained enologist, farming about 30 hectares of vineyards around Montepulciano.
- What grape variety does De' Ricci focus on?
- De' Ricci works almost exclusively with Sangiovese, locally known as Prugnolo Gentile, the grape required for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG.
- What is De' Ricci's flagship wine?
- Soraldo, a single-cru Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, is the estate's flagship label and has drawn strong reviews from critics including James Suckling and Wine Enthusiast.
- Has De' Ricci received any major awards?
- Yes, De' Ricci was inducted into Gambero Rosso's Tre Bicchieri ('Three Glasses') circle in the 2024 Vini d'Italia guide, the highest honor in Italian wine criticism.