There is a corner of Italy where time seems to flow differently, where history, tradition, and nature merge in perfect harmony. That place is Montalcino, a medieval town nestled among the gentle hills of Tuscany, which for centuries has guarded a secret now known to wine lovers around the world: Brunello di Montalcino.
The first time I tasted a Brunello, I felt the same sensation you get when you meet someone with whom you know you’ll share a long and intense conversation. That ruby red, tinged with garnet, immediately made me realize I was dealing with something special. There was depth, there was warmth. The aromas? Underbrush, black pepper, licorice… scents that weave together like thoughts, one after the other, and you try to follow them, to decipher them.
And then, the taste. Dry, warm, yet soft, with that texture that fills your mouth and invites you to pause for a moment. It’s a wine that doesn’t allow itself to be drunk in haste, it won’t let you. There’s a savoriness that lingers, like a memory that doesn’t want to fade, that accompanies you even after the last sip.
A sommelier friend once told me that Brunello is like a book you can only read when you’re ready, one of those books you have to discover little by little. It’s not a wine you can pour carelessly, not a glass to be opened absentmindedly while talking about other things. No, Brunello deserves silence and attention. It deserves your presence because it has a story to tell.
The Story
It was 1869 when Clemente Santi, a pioneering figure in Montalcino’s history, received the first international awards for his Brunello, a name he chose for the vineyard planted with a selected clone of Sangiovese. He could not have imagined that his insight to vinify those grapes in purity, with the aim of creating a wine destined for long aging, would leave an indelible mark on the history of Italian winemaking.
In this land of rare beauty, the two pillars of Sangiovese – tannin and acidity – support the structure of a wine capable of defying time, as evidenced by the bottles preserved from 1988, the year the first bottle with the Biondi Santi label was produced. It was Clemente’s grandson, Ferruccio, who brought this new chapter to life, combining the surnames of his father Jacopo Biondi and his mother Caterina Santi.
This was just the beginning of an unstoppable rise, which led Brunello to obtain DOC status in 1966 and DOCG in 1980. Since then, Brunello di Montalcino has become one of the most sought-after and respected labels in the world, a symbol of quality and authenticity.
A Unique Territory, An Unrepeatable Wine
Montalcino is not just a name but a place where rows of vines stretch out elegantly, in perfect balance with the landscape. Where the very concept of time seems to stand still. Here, the grapes grow in an ideal climate, with mild breezes and rich soils, and the result is a wine that captivates not only for its depth but for its ability to evolve over time.
Every time you pour a glass of Brunello, it’s like opening a book with endless pages. There’s always something new to discover, a hidden aroma, a different sensation that captures the senses. It is a wine for those who love to reflect, for those who know how to appreciate beauty that reveals itself little by little, even in a young glass, knowing that it can still evolve for many springs.
For this reason, every year the event “Benvenuto Brunello” is celebrated, organized by the Consorzio di Tutela, to present the new vintage that, after five years of aging, is finally ready to be marketed. It’s like eagerly awaiting the release of the latest book in a saga.
The Value of Time
Brunello is like those moments in life when you need to stop, to reflect, to let things settle. It is not a wine for those in a hurry, but for those who know how to wait. In a world that moves faster and faster, Brunello teaches us to slow down, to celebrate the most precious thing we have: time.
