Preludio
Preludio is Cantina le Pietre’s pure Merlot, born from the vineyard that carries the same name planted in 2004 in Reggello.
The first vintage released is 2023, though the project began in 2019 from the desire to explore Merlot in its purest form, a grape often used in blends.
The result is an elegant and fresh expression of Merlot. This character is shaped by the unique terroir of Valdarno di Sopra: summer temperature swings and careful vineyard management allow for excellent total acidity, which brings freshness and balance to the natural softness of the variety.
Appellation: Toscana IGT Rosso Merlot
First Commercialized year: 2023
Annual average production: 1700 bottles (750ml) each numbered
Awards:
Falstaff - 94/100 Trophy Valdarno di Sopra 2025
The vineyard
The vineyard, located in the municipality of Reggello and planted in 2004, is a 0.3-hectare parcel with low-yielding French clones and narrow-row planting.
Facing east, it enjoys optimal sun exposure. The soil is rich in clay, galestro, and sandstone—typical of the Valdarno di Sopra region.
Every detail is carefully attended to: manual work is favored to preserve the microcosm of beneficial fungi, insects, bacteria, and vines.
The vineyard is managed to maintain the plant’s natural balance, avoiding any type of fertilization, trimming, or invasive intervention.
The wine
Vinification places great emphasis on the fermentation phase, with minimal intervention to allow for the fullest expression of the terroir and grape variety.
Harvesting for our Preludio takes place in multiple stages, from mid-September to the end of October, with a staggered picking of grapes at different levels of ripeness.
The various selections are fermented in open tanks as whole berries, with daily punch-downs. No selected yeasts are added.
Each lot is then aged separately in stainless steel, with regular bâtonnage on the fine lees.
The final blend of the different micro-vinifications is assembled just before bottling, followed by at least 6 months of bottle aging.
