Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano reinforces Caviro's Leonardo da Vinci wines

The collection of Leonardo da Vinci wines - a brand inspired by the Tuscan genius owned by the Caviro Group, Italy's largest wine co-operative based in Faenza - has been enriched with new labels designed to boost sales and image: these are the Nobile di Montepulciano (vintage and reserve) and Rosso di Montepulciano produced by Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano, a historic cooperative with an 18 million turnover, 33% of which is abroad, which now joins the Caviro membership.

The operation, whose common thread is the Sangiovese vine, the heritage of Tuscany and Romagna, was announced in Vinci (Florence) by the president of the Caviro Group, Carlo Dalmonte; the general director of Leonardo da Vinci spa (the Caviro Group company that owns the brand and markets Leonardo da Vinci wines), Giovanni Lai; the president of Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano, Andrea Rossi; and Mario Marchi, vice-president of Confcooperative Toscana.

The collaboration guarantees Vecchia Cantina new market outlets; allows Caviro to strengthen its offer with quality wines to complement its current Chianti and Vermentino wines; and gives an initial response to the concerns of the members of the cooperative Cantine Leonardo, which a few months ago went into compulsory liquidation. Since 1 September, the business branch has been leased by Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano, pending the auction to be held by the liquidator. In the meantime, the 30 remaining members of the former Cantine Leonardo have another entity in the Confcooperative galaxy to which they can confer their grapes, now part of the Caviro giant's network.

The Leonardo da Vinci wines - which have just undergone rebranding with the Vitruvian Man placed at the centre of the label - today are worth 500 thousand bottles and 16.5 million in turnover; the forecast,' explains Giovanni Lai, 'is that they could grow by 30-35% within three years, reaching 20-25 million in turnover.

Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano will also bring to the Leonardo da Vinci line a label of Chianti Classico, which today is purchased from external producers but which in the future they would like to produce in Vinci, thanks to the exemption enjoyed by the vinification and bottling plant.