The moderate rainfalls at Argiano serve to barely nourish the vines, promoting healthier ripening while achieving greater concentration and flavours in the finished wine. Neighbouring Monte Amiata is one of Tuscany's highest peas, providing shelter for the fruit and protecting the vines from bad weather. Grapes are all hand picked into shallow crates for transport to the wineworks, individually sorted and transferred to vat fermenters. The clear juices are vinified on skins for two or three weeks for optimum extraction. Upon completion of malolactic, Montalcino is matured in a selection of prior use French oak barrels and larger format Slovenian oak casks before bottling the following autumn.