Brunello, a highly valuable grape, because  the wine it fruits can be aged lon and, hence, red wines of the best quality can be produced from it. In 1980, it is the first wine to be branded a Docg (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita, a guarantee of superior origin reserved to selected wines in Italy). The acknowledgments that attest to the quality of the wine are countless: in 1999, the prestigiosus U.S. magazine "Wine Spectator" lists a Brunello wine among the 12 best ever wines of the 21 century, and in 2006, a brunello wine is crowened the absolute best in a worldwide ranking. The secret of the quality of the Brunello of Montalcino is treausred in the grapevine: a meticulous labor by hand, fron dry pruning to the section of the most fit offshoots, from the containment of the vegetation to the trimming of the bunches, processes that all share the goal of reaping and selectin the best fruits. The Brunello di Montalcino Docg, the Rosso di Montalcino Doc, the Moscadello do Montalcino Doc and the Sant'Animo Doc are only and exclusively made in the territory of the Municipality of  Montalcino. The "Brunello di Montalcino" is obtained fron Sangiovese grapes, a viene tradionally referred to as "Brunello" in Montalcino. The disciplinary committee that governs wine production establishes on the dates of sale onto the market of the wine produced, which takes place on January 1 of the fifth year after the harvesting. During this long period, the winwe must remain for at least two years in wooden barrels and undergo a ninimum of four months of refinement in bottle. The period of preservation in bottle is prolonged to as many as six months for reserve wines, which are sold onto the market a year later. Vintage Brunello of Montalcino 2012 turns out to be awarded the reconiton of 5 stars. Excellent. For James Suckling "the Brunello 2012" is a  rockstar.

The Wineries

Our wine tour will lead you with an expert Sommelier around the wineries of  Montalcino, educating you about the important production of the famous Brunello and visit beautiful cellars.

Tenute  Silvio Nardi

The vineyards of Tenute Silvio Nardi extend east and west of Montalcino in a primarily hilly area that ranges between a height of 140 metres and 480 metres above sea level. Two estates, two slopes, West and East eight plots, several terroirs. The finesse and identity that Sangiovese grosso expresses in each vineyard of the two estates, so different in their soils and climates, are undeniable Manachiara, exposed to the east where sun rises, offers full bodied and powerful wines Casale del Bosco, in the west side where sun goes down, offers elegant and complex wines. In the cellar the winemaking process then brings out of the fruit all of the qualities that derive from the vineyard. The lots are kept separate even during the maturation process in small oak barrels and larger casks. Nature has bestowed on this area a mild climate, rich and varied soils and a splendid position. The wine arises from that precious heritage of differences and equilibrium. The Silvio Nardi wine cellar's production of wines is:

• Manachiara Docg Cru -  Grape variety: Sangiovese, Aging: French oak barriques 18 months bottled 2 years:
• Rosso di Montalcino Doc - Grape variety: Sangiovese, Aging: used casks for 12 months followed by bottled;
• Poggio Doria  Docg Cru - Grape variety: Sangiovese, Aging: French oak tonneaux 30 months followed by bottled;
• Brunello di Montalcino Docg - Grape variety: Sangiovese, Aging: French oak barriques 12 months bottled 6 months.

​Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona

The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona estate is located on the south west slope of the nunicipality of Montalcino, close to the medioval village of Castelnuovo dell'Abate and to the famous Romanesque Abbey of Sant'Antimo, which dates back to the 9th century. The Sangiovese Grosso clone is selected from the eldest vines of the estate characterized by straggly bunches and big berries with thick skin. It is a particularly representative kind of Sangiovese coming from Montalcino area, which gives quality even in difficult vintages. The  Piccolomini d'Aragona wine cellar's production  of wines is:

• Pianrosso Docg - Grape variety: Sangiovese, Aging:  Slavonian oak barrels 36 months bottled 8 months;
• Brunello di Montalcino riserva Docg - Grape variety: Sangiovese, Aging: Slavonian oak barrels bottled 12 months;
• Rosso di Montalcino Rossofonte Doc - Grape variety: Sangiovese, Aging: 12 months Slavonian oak barrels in bottled 8 months;
• Brunello di Montalcino  Docg - Grape variety: Sangiovese, Aging: Slavonian oak barrels 24 months bottled 8 months.

Casanova di Neri

Casanova di Neri does in fact stands for the Casanova Estate of the Neri Family.In the course of our small yet at the same time great history we have received awards from the most important reviews and opinion leaders of national and international wine critics.Currently the estate covers a surface of around 500 hectares of which 63 are vineyards, 20 olive groves and the rest arable land and forest. Giacomo Neri and his family manage the estate directly together with a group of collaborators with whom they form a closely knit team. The grapes are the product of a variety of Sangiovese Grosso taken from our Cerretalto vineyard and from a long process of reproduction and planting of vineyards on the various slopes that give varying results that all spring originally from Sangiovese. The Casanova di Neri wine cellar's production of wines is:

• Tenuta Nuova  Docg - Grape Variety: Sangiovese, Aging: oak barrel 36 months;
• Brunello di Montalcino  Docg - Grape Variety: Sangiovese, Aging: oak barrels 43 months;
• Rosso di Montalcino Doc - Grape Variety: Sangiovese, Aging: in oak barrels 15 months;
• Brunello Figuranti Docg - Grape variety: Sangiovese, Aging: oak barrels 45 months bottled 6 months.

Castiglion del Bosco

Castiglion del Bosco's is located in the northwest of Montalcino, where the rocky, nutrient-poor soils are perfect for yielding wines of superb structure and complexity, the 62 hectares of vineyard are planted exclusively to Sangiovese. Nestled against the side of a hill, almost out of sight, the new wine cellar was designed to coax the absolute best from the grapes grown in Castiglion del Bosco's vineyards. When the fermentations are complete, the wines go to a spacious, climate-controlled area that is partially underground, containing French oak barriques and barrels. The Castiglion del Bosco's wine cellar's production of wines is:

• Rosso di Montalcino Doc - Grape variety: Sangiovese, Aging: stainless steel 15 day;
• Brunello di Montalcino Docg - Grape variety: Sangiovese, Aging: 24 months in French oak;
• Campo Del Drago Docg - Grape variety: Sangiovese, Aging: French oak 24 months followed by bottled;
• Millecento Riserva Docg - Grape variety: Sangiovese, Aging: French oak barrels 36 months bottled 24 months.

Mastrojanni

The Wine Estate Mastrojanni lies in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, in the south easternmost corner of Montalcino Municipality, in the Province of Siena. An artistic and architectural heritage, surrounded by the majesty of its natural landscapes and, above all, an area particularly suitable for vine cultivation: the homeland of Brunello. Right from the very first vintages, the wine showed itself to be very interesting, with its wonderful and typical aroma of elderflower that every fine Sangiovese should express. No transformation in our cellar, traditional winemaking and aging in big barrels: no barriques, seldom tonneaux. The vine variety: Sangiovese dominates, it is the absolute protagonist. The Mastrojanni wine cellar's production of wines is: The Mastrojanni wine cellar's production of wines is:

• Brunello di Montalcino Docg - Grape variety: Sangiovese, Aging: oak barrels 36 months bottled 6 months;
• Schiena d'Asino Vineyard Docg - Grape variety: Sangiovese, Aging: oak barrels 36 months bottled 12 months;
• Vigna Loreto - Grape variety: Sangiovese, Aging: oak 36 months bottled 8 months;
• Rosso di Montalcino Doc - Grape variety: Sangiovese, Aging: oak barrels 7 months bottled 3 months.

Le Potazzine

Potazzine is the italian word for very colorful and vivacious birds which inhabit the Tuscan countryside. The estate consists of five hectares of vineyards registered in Brunello, three of which are located in the proximity of the winery, 507 meters above sea level, with an age average of 14 years. The rest are located in the area of Sant’Angelo in Colle, about 340 meters above sea level, implanted in 1996. The aim pursued right from the first vinification at Le Potazzine, was to make wine in the most natural way possible, seeking balance, elegance and outstanding personality. This is obtained with natural fermentantions, thanks to indigenous yeasts, which, together with long macerations and ageing in medium-sized Slavonian oak barrels, in compliance with the tradition. Brunello usually aged in barrels 40 months, the Brunello Riserva, produced only on vintages 2004, 2006, 2011 and 2015, rests in wood for about 60 months, while our Rosso di Montalcino remains there for 12 months. The  Le Potazzine wine cellar's production of wines is divided between Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino, and only in years of particular value, is produced a small amount of Riserva of Brunello. It also produced a pure Sangiovese, the Parus, vinified in steel only by great freshness and pleasantness that does not renounce in any way the elegance and personality of his “older brothers”.

This tour includes