Gianfranco Soldera leaves the DOCG Brunello

After the terrible event at the end of last year, life continues and Gianfranco Soldera makes some major decisions.

Because of the pressure of some major players in the Montalcino region to mix other grape varieties than Sangiovese Grosso in the Brunello make his trust in the appellation disappear.

He doesn't believe the consortium can hold on to the 100% rule to only allow the Sangiovese Grosso as the only grape variety for the Brunello wine.

Therefore from now on he is leaving the consortium and bring his wines on the market as IGT.

See pres release below.

Source: Stappato, Belgium

Franco Biondi Santi

At almost 91 years but still active in the wine cellar disappears the heir of the inventors of the most searched wine of Italy. His grandfather Ferruccio selected out up to 800 selections of the Sangiovese to find the particular Sangiovese for the region.

The Brunello has lost its prince and Italy one of the great gentleman of the wine. The 91 years old Franco Biondi leaves an empty space as he died this week.

Franco Biondi was a heir of a wine makers family. In the second half of the years 800 his grandfather Ferruccio invented at the Greppo estate in Montalcino, still the center of the company, the Brunello as it is today, still keeping 2 bottles of pure Sangiovese of the year 1888.

His father, Tancredi, one of the most important enologist of his time defined the standard of production for Brunello and was an inspiration to many, and was the craftsman of the Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 1955, the only Italian wine mentioned in the USA-bible “Wine Spectator” between the 12 best wines of the world of the years 1900.

To the son Jacopo and the collaborators our sincere condolences.