Brunello is an iconic Italian wine, primarily produced in the Tuscany region of Italy. It is made from the Sangiovese grape, locally known as Brunello, which translates to "little dark one" in Italian, referring to the grape's dark color when ripe.
The story of Brunello begins in the mid-19th century with the work of Ferruccio Biondi Santi, who is often credited with the creation of the first Brunello di Montalcino. He isolated a clone of Sangiovese that he believed had superior qualities and potential for aging, which became known as Brunello. Biondi Santi's efforts in the 1860s led to the first commercial release of Brunello di Montalcino in 1888.
Brunello is exclusively produced within the Montalcino territory, a hilltop town in Tuscany. The Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) status was granted to Brunello di Montalcino in 1980, ensuring strict regulations on production, aging, and quality standards. Only wines from this region can legally be labeled as Brunello.
Brunello has gained international acclaim for its longevity and complexity. It is considered one of Italy's most prestigious wines, often compared to Barolo from Piedmont. The wine has become a symbol of Italian viticultural excellence, with top producers fetching high prices at auctions and on the market.
In the early 2000s, Brunello was at the center of a scandal when some producers were found to have blended non-Sangiovese grapes into their wine to cut costs, leading to the "Brunellogate" scandal. This resulted in significant changes to the DOCG regulations to prevent future non-compliance.