The soils in Toscana are formed from Pliocene and Pleistocene marine sediments, and from Quaternary alluvial and lacustrine deposits. The region is quite hilly, progressing inward to the Apennine Mountains. Here, many vineyards are planted on the higher elevations of the hillsides to benefit from a cooler weather. The soils composition lie mostly on clay, with a great level of nutrients and organic matter.

Col D’Orcia is one of the historic names in Montalcino. Established in 1933, this estate is nowadays owned by Count Francesco Marone Cinzano, whose family bought the estate in 1973. Here, south-facing slopes maximise sun exposure, limestone and marl soils give good drainage, which helps reaching higher quality. Col d'Orcia is the largest certified organic wine-producing farm in Tuscany. This family estate has long been celebrated as a producer of monumental Brunelli – the iconic Riserva Poggio al Vento is one of the very greatest examples of Brunello – yet they also produces some excellent value Sangiovese-based reds.