This Week's Wine: Brunello di Montalcino

Brunello and Montalcino

Brunello
I first learned about Brunello in 2002 on my trip to Italy, when we took a day trip to Montalcino from Siena.

Brunello is a red wine produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montalcino. Brunello is the local name for Sangiovese in Italian, and is one of the best-known (and expensive) wines of Italy. Brunellos are capable of aging for long periods of time, given their high tanin content. Brunello must be made from 100 percent Brunello clone of the sangiovese and cannot be released sooner than the fifth year after harvest (i.e. the 2003 Brunello will be released in early 2008). Currently, the wines must be aged in wood for 2 years and at least 4 months in a bottle before release.

Brunello was Italy's first wine to be accorded D.O.C.G. status. The Consorzio Brunello di Montalcino describes Brunello as having an intense ruby red color that tends toward garnet with ageing. The flavor can be described as dry, warm, a bit tannic, robust and harmonic.

The 14th century fortress in Montalcino, La Fortezza, has been turned into an enoteca (Enoteca la Fortezza) with a wide selection of wines and olive oils to taste and buy. They reportedly have more than 130 types of Brunello to try.

Montalcino
Montalcino is a small town located in Southern Tuscany. It is situated on a hill covered with olive groves. Surrounded by walls, the oldest part of Montalcino is located along the main street, the via Matteotii, which widens to form the Piazza del Popolo, the medieval centre of the town. Montalcino's two main attractions, after Brunello, are the Fortezza and the abbey of Sant'Antimo.


The Abbazia di Sant'Antimo (Abbey of Sant'Antimo) is set in the lush green countryside 9km outside of Montalcino. The abbey, which is Romanesque in style, was reportedly founded by Charlemagne in 781 AD as thanks for saving his troops from disease. Mass is still sung in Gregorian chant.

Back in 2002 while visiting Montalcino we had hoped to rent bikes in Montalcino and bike to the abbey in order to see it. Unfortunately Italy had a World Cup match that day and none of the bike rental places were open. Maybe next time!

Montalcino is 42km from Siena and 110km from Florence.