The Marche region in central Italy stretches all the way from the Apennines to the fashionable coastal resorts of the Adriatic. High up in Cupra Marittima lies this tiny estate which is owned and run by Marco Casolanetti and Eleonora Rossi, assisted by consultant oenologist Giovanni Basso. They cultivate a south-facing 1.4-hectare vineyard - the soil is predominately calcareous.

Kurni was first released from the 1997 vintage - it caused a sensation in Italian wine circles and the consequent vintage showed that this was no fluke. It is produced from 100% Montepulciano grapes, which have a high average vine age of 35 years. The grapes are fermented in stainless steel vats and the wine is then aged in French oak barriques for 18 months.