Salicutti Archivi — Enoteca di Piazza

The Salicutti winegrowing estate, owned by legendary Munich restaurateurs Felix and Sabine Eichbauer of Tantris fame, is a place of untamed beauty located in the southeastern corner of Montalcino. The precise history of the property, which lies roughly two hours from Florence, have been lost to the mists of time, but at least the origins of its name are clear: it refers to the stream that marks the estate’s southern boundary. Certainly few would have expected this patch of land to become a cradle for grand terroir when Francesco Leanza first tilled it almost 30 years ago. The estate house and cantina now form the heart of an enclosed 11-hectare cosmos, including 4.5 hectares of vines, an olive plantation and forest. The land preceded us; it now nourishes our vines, and it will be here when we are gone, Sabine and Felix Eichbauer affirm — a mantra that encapsulates their abiding respect for nature and its creatures and their growing concern about the impact of humans and the technology of culture. Salicutti is the first organically certified estate in Montalcino, with vines dating back to 1994 and soils unsullied by conventional pesticides. Wines are cultivated here as they have been since time immemorial: by heeding nature’s voice and following the guidance she provides. The estate’s simple rustic architecture has been gently remodeled and retrofitted with the forward-looking infrastructure of a modern estate. Sabine Eichbauer has led this effort, drawing on her experiences at the offices of noted Roman architect and designer Massimiliano Fuksas. The result: a refuge from the outside world, a place for independent life and wine production where true pristine beauty is given space to unfold.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Podere Salicutti winery located and in what part of Montalcino does it produce?

Podere Salicutti is located on the southeastern side of Montalcino, two hours from Florence, in an area of wild beauty whose first human settlement is lost to history. The name comes from the stream of the same name that borders the property to the south. The estate covers 11 hectares in total, of which 4.5 are under vine, plus an olive grove and woodland.

Who founded the Podere Salicutti winery? Is it a recent project?

About thirty years ago Francesco Leanza was the first to put this land to agricultural use, with the current vines planted in 1994. Since 2016 the property has belonged to Sabine and Felix Eichbauer, owners of the historic Tantris restaurant in Munich, founded in 1971 by Felix's father together with Eckart Witzigmann.

Does the Podere Salicutti winery produce organic or biodynamic wines?

Yes: Salicutti was the first certified organic winery in Montalcino, with vines that have never been treated with conventional pesticides. Since 2022 management has been fully biodynamic under the Demeter standard, and the winery is part of the exclusive respekt-BIODYN association, which brings together only 36 European grape growers.

Does the Podere Salicutti winery have distinctive architecture?

Yes: the estate's renovation, led by Sabine Eichbauer (a trained architect who worked in Massimiliano Fuksas's studio), introduced a turquoise glass column designed by Fuksas himself inside the traditional cellar, a contemporary element set within a historic rural context.