Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, a wine of excellence
The landscape of the Val d’Orcia is at times punctuated by long expanses of rows of vines, parallel lines that seem to meet on the horizon, where quality grapes and vines known throughout the world are expertly cultivated, the basis of even more renowned wines.
One of these stands out in importance: the Brunello di Montalcino, prince of the table, has its roots in history during the medieval centuries, when its value was already perceived throughout the territory and the Republic of Siena suppressed local rebellions by threatening to devastate the vineyards around Montalcino, thus destroying its economy. It was the second half of the thirteenth century, and since then the fame of this wine has grown by leaps and bounds.
While the first bottle of “pure” Brunello is documented in the late nineteenth century, it was in the 1960s that its preciousness was recognized with a presidential decree awarding it the DOC designation and enshrining its name. Before that time, in fact, “Brunello” was the way winegrowers called the Sangiovese grape variety.
Further recognition came in 1980, when Brunello di Montalcino became the first Italian wine to obtain the DOCG designation.
During a stay in the Val d’Orcia, it is impossible not to stop and taste a glass of this wine, which enhances traditional dishes and accompanies the journey into the flavors of the territory, those flavors that tell of homemade pasta, cured meats and cheeses with honey or artisanal compotes.
Tours in the cellars allow you to immerse yourself in the production and aging process, admiring the large barrels and listening to the producers’ stories during a tasting, while the harvest is the ideal time to immerse yourself in a unique atmosphere, in contact with nature, enveloped by the scent of ripe grapes. One idea to discover it in the round is to visit the Temple of Brunello, an interactive and sensory project not to be missed, which also includes visits to numerous art venues.
Along with Rosso di Montalcino and DOC Orcia, Brunello is one of the wines that are never lacking on the tables of the Val d’Orcia, a wine treasure that is protected by a tutelary consortium, the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino, which organizes Benvenuto Brunello every year, a high-profile event that presents the new vintage and awards the best harvest of the year.
Read more: Temple of Brunello
