ABOUT THE PRODUCER: Biondi Santi is widely considered the “original” creator of Brunello: The first recorded mention of a Brunello was Clemente Santi’s award-winning “select red wine (Brunello) of 1865” from his family’s Greppo estate in Montalcino at a local fair in 1867. The family has produced this wine continuously ever since, and bottles of 1888 Riservas still exist in the family cellars. Clemente’s daughter married Jacopo Biondi, and it was this couple’s son, Ferruccio, who inherited the estate and joined both last names on the wines’ labels. At a time when both oidium and phylloxera threatened the local vineyards, and turning a quick profit was in vogue, Ferruccio steadfastly focused instead on extended aging of 100% Sangiovese. Ferruccio was succeeded by his son, Tancredi, and Tancredi by his son, Franco. As Brunello became popular and much more widely produced in the second half of the 20th century, with many producers pushing for shorter aging in smaller oak barrels or the addition of international grapes to the wines, Franco Biondi-Santi remained a staunch advocate of the “traditional” style of Brunello his family had crafted for over 100 years. Franco Biondi-Santi passed away in 2013 at the age of 91. His son and daughter, Jacopo and Alessandra, now helm the estate.