Belgian investor buys Poggio Antico in Brunello

Marcel van Poecke, owner of Belgian investment company AtlasInvest, has snapped up Poggio Antico in Brunello di Montalcino, for an undisclosed sum.

Poggio Antico is one of the highest altitude vineyards in Brunello

As reported by Wine Spectator, as part of the deal Poecke will acquire the 202-hectare Poggio Antico estate, which includes 32 hectares of vineyards, a winery and a restaurant called Ristorante di Poggio Antico.

The Tuscan estate, which lies 450 metres above sea level, makes around 10,000 cases of wine a year. The range, including a Brunello di Montalcino, Brunello Riserva and a Rosso di Montalcino, is brought into the UK by Berkmann Wines.

Poggio Antico is one of the highest altitude vineyards in Brunello. The breezes at this height keep the grapes disease-free, promoting purity in the wine, while the stringent yields give concentration.

“I’m happy to have reached the goal to see Poggio Antico consistently highly rated over the last three decades among the top Italian wineries. Now it is time for new adventures,” owner and estate manager Paola Gloder told Wine Spectator.

Gloder’s parents bought the property in 1984 and she became manager of the estate shortly after, aged just 17. Wine Spectator reports that Federico Trost will replace Gloder as general manager of the estate on 1 August.

Run by entrepreneur Marcel van Poecke, AtlasInvest invests and operates in the energy and property industries.