The Brunello di Montalcino wine was invented by Ferruccio Bionti-Santi thanks to his experiments with a sub variation of the Sangiovese grape: The Sangiovese Grosso. The Sangovese Grosso is locally called Brunello because of its dark color.

The first bottle of Brunello was produced in 1888.

in 1980, this high quality wine was the first Italian wine to obtain the DOCG guarantee (DENOMINAZIONE DI ORIGINE CONTROLLATA E GARANTITA), a standardization trademark that certifies the origin and the quality of a wine.

A Brunello is aged for five years before being released on the market while a Riserva is aged for six.

In general it’s characterized by the ruby red color and the dry and warm taste. The perfume is deep and elegant with a touch of wild berries.

A Brunello is good on it’s own but is also a great match harmony with slow-cooked game or cheeses such as the Tuscan Pecorino.

The prices vary from 30 up to 150 euros a bottle depending on vintage, producer and aging.

A younger and less elaborated version is the Rosso di Montalcino. It is released every year and costs about 12-18 euro a bottle in a wine shop.

In 2001, the well-recognized American magazine “The Wine Spectator”, world-wise considered the “wine-bible”, elected a Brunello di Montalcino “The best wine in the world”.