Canalicchio di Sopra
Canalicchio di Sopra is a historic, family-run winery in the Brunello di Montalcino region of Tuscany, Italy, known for producing classic, terroir-driven Sangiovese wines including Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and Rosso di Montalcino DOC. The estate was founded in 1962 by Primo Pacenti, and just a few years later in 1967 it became one of the twelve founding members of the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino, a testament to its early influence on the region’s rise to global recognition.
The vineyard holdings cover about 60 hectares of land around Montalcino, with roughly 19–22 hectares planted to vines and the remainder in olive trees and natural terrain. These vineyards sit mainly on the northeastern side of the hill, between 270 and 325 m above sea level, with soils varying from clay and limestone in the Canalicchio cru to galestro (shale) and marl in the Montosoli cru. This combination of terroirs gives the wines both structure and minerality, often marrying depth and freshness.
Winemaking remains a multi-generational family endeavor: after Primo, his son-in-law Pier Luigi Ripaccioli took a leading role in the late 1980s, and today the grandchildren Simonetta, Marco, and Francesco Ripaccioli continue the tradition, combining respect for territory with careful viticulture.
Canalicchio di Sopra’s Brunello di Montalcino DOCG is made from 100% Sangiovese, often matured long in large Slavonian and French oak barrels, resulting in wines that are complex, balanced and ageworthy, with aromas and flavors of ripe red fruit, spices, earth and mineral nuances. The Rosso di Montalcino DOC is a more approachable expression of the same grape and terroir, typically showing freshness, vibrant fruit and supple structure.
Overall, Canalicchio di Sopra is regarded as one of the classic producers in Montalcino, combining decades of heritage with modern quality standards to showcase the expressive potential of Sangiovese and the unique soils of its cru sites.