Brunello di Montalcino: history, characteristics and food pairings

A synonym for exclusivity and pleasure, Brunello di Montalcino – sometimes referred to simply as Brunello, as a further testament to its uniqueness – is a red wine with Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin, produced from Sangiovese grapes cultivated in the municipality of Montalcino, in Tuscany. A territory certainly blessed and suited for the cultivation of wines of great quality.

Anciently in Montalcino, “brunello” was the name given to the grape variety from which red wine was obtained, and only later was it established that this was Sangiovese and not a different variety. The history of Brunello di Montalcino is linked to that of the Biondi Santi family. Around the mid-nineteenth century, pharmacist Clemente Santi began experimenting with the production of pure red wine, and it was his nephew, Ferruccio, who gave impetus to the wine’s development, to the point that in 1932 the Ministry of Agriculture declared that Brunello wine was “a recent creation of Dr. Ferruccio Biondi Santi of Montalcino.”
Other producers also dedicated themselves to the production of this wine and, after numerous fairs, exhibitions and national and international awards, in 1966 Brunello di Montalcino was recognised as DOC wine and subsequently as DOCG wine with regulations that govern its production.

The production territory of this famous Italian red wine is still that of the historic boundary of the municipality of Montalcino. Generally, Brunello presents a deep ruby red colour tending towards garnet due to ageing. Dry flavour, warm, somewhat tannic, robust and harmonious are the unmistakable characteristics of this wine, which is released to the market after 5 years from the vintage year (6 years for the Riserva).

Brunello di Montalcino is a masterpiece of Italian winemaking and for this reason Cantine Leonardo da Vinci has included it in two collections: Da Vinci I Capolavori, a line of labels that epitomises the excellence of Italian wine production in combination with the paintings of Leonardo da Vinci; the collection Leonardo da Vinci Vitruviano, whose wines represent the highest expression of harmony of taste and aromas, exactly as the Vitruvian Man exemplifies the perfect anatomical proportion of the human body.
In the case of the Da Vinci I Capolavori line, the Brunello di Montalcino is paired with John the Baptist, the saint with the pointing finger, and reveals the entire elegant and classical soul of Tuscan wines. As testified by the numerous awards it has received: Best of Show Brunello Gold Medal Mundus Vini 2019, Bronze Medal International Wine Challenge 2019 and Bronze Medal Decant World Wine Awards 2019.
As refined as John the Baptist, too, is the Brunello di Montalcino from the Leonardo da Vinci Vitruviano collection. The strength of the alcohol is supported by soft tannins and good acidity. Enveloping and persistent, in the glass it delivers an unforgettable sip.