For its fruity Brunello, red wine lovers from around the world make the journey, but this sleepy medieval town in Tuscany will also captivate you with its rich history and outstanding hotels of a truly special kind.
From a distance, the enchanting hilltop town of Montalcino in the province of Siena looks almost like a medieval painting, so little has changed since its heyday. In summer, the surrounding landscape bursts into vibrant hues—golden fields of rapeseed and sunflowers, bright red poppies, and deep purple grapevines. The view is especially idyllic at sunset, when Montalcino is bathed in a rusty-red glow. The town may not be particularly large, but for lovers of Italy, it hits the mark with its neoclassical cathedral, a Gothic loggia, a Romanesque church, and countless charming alleyways. At the end of the day, however, it’s the atmosphere, the fortress, and—above all—the wine that leave a lasting impression on visitors.
The town became famous for its Brunello, one of Italy’s finest and most beloved wines, made from the Sangiovese grape. This variety can be traced back to ancient Rome, and as early as the 15th century, Montalcino was renowned for its red wines. However, the precious formula for the exceptional Brunello as we know it today was created in 1888 by Ferruccio Biondi Santi. He was the first to omit the grapes traditionally used in Chianti, such as Canaiolo and Colorino, and rely solely on Sangiovese. Before Brunello is ready, it must age for at least five years—two of them in oak barrels—whereas Rosso di Montalcino has a much shorter maturation period of just one year.
Compared to other Sangiovese wines, Brunello offers a rich, fleshy texture with aromas of blackberries, black cherries, black raspberries, chocolate, leather, and violets. Brunello wines typically have medium to high tannins, high acidity and alcohol content, and a medium body. Today, it's produced by more than 200 wineries, including „Biondi Santi“, „Schidione“ and „Banfi“. For connoisseurs, Montalcino is an essential destination, where wine tastings naturally top the to-do list.
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