Produced by Stefano Amerighi in Cortona, Tuscany, Cortona Syrah has become one of Italy’s benchmark expressions of the variety and a reference point for Syrah outside the Rhône Valley. Amerighi established his estate in the late 1990s and quickly gained recognition for his conviction that the clay-limestone soils and continental climate of Cortona were ideally suited to Syrah. Long before the region attracted wider attention, he focused almost exclusively on the grape, farming his vineyards according to biodynamic principles and developing a reputation for wines of authenticity, energy and site expression. Today, the estate is regarded as one of the leading names in natural and low-intervention Italian wine, with a philosophy centred on healthy soils, biodiversity and minimal manipulation in the cellar.
Made from 100% Syrah, the wine is fermented with indigenous yeasts and handled with a restrained approach that allows the vineyard to speak clearly through the finished wine. Biodynamic farming, careful extraction and sensitive oak ageing combine to create a style that balances concentration with freshness and precision. Aromas of blackberry, black cherry and damson are intertwined with notes of violet, black pepper, cured meat and Mediterranean herbs, reflecting both the variety and the distinctive terroir of Cortona. The palate is structured yet vibrant, with fine-grained tannins, bright acidity and a savoury mineral character that carries through the finish. More elegant than many New World interpretations and more Mediterranean than its northern Rhône counterparts, Cortona Syrah has established itself as one of Italy’s most compelling and age-worthy expressions of the grape.
