About Biondi Santi
Biondi Santi is a historic estate based in Montalcino, in the Tuscany region of Italy. The family is widely credited with creating and defining the Brunello di Montalcino wine style in the late 19th century, using a selection of Sangiovese Grosso clones known locally as Brunello. The estate's Riserva bottlings, produced only in exceptional vintages, are among the most collected and long-lived wines in Italy.
Prices are for take away and shipping. The wine bar serves from its own list.
The winery
About Biondi Santi
History
Biondi Santi is the family name tied to the birth of Brunello di Montalcino. The line starts with Clemente Santi in the middle of the nineteenth century, a man trained in pharmacy, and the family was first known for Moscadello di Montalcino. Sources differ on the exact timeline of Brunello. One says Clemente won a prize for his Brunello in 1869, another that Ferruccio created it around 1870 by selecting Sangiovese. Ferruccio is credited with bottling the first Brunello made from Sangiovese alone.
His son Tancredi organised production and made the 1955 Riserva, which Wine Spectator later named among the twelve best wines of the twentieth century. After Tancredi died in 1970, Franco Biondi Santi took charge of Il Greppo, expanded it and defended a traditional, long lived style of Brunello until his death in 2013, aged 91.
The land and the vineyards
The estate is Il Greppo, at Villa Greppo outside Montalcino in the province of Siena. When Franco took over in 1970 the property had only a few hectares of vines. He later combined it with the nearby Azienda Pieri, which belonged to his wife. Recent press mentions about 70 acres in production, split into a dozen parcels that are vinified separately.
The wines
The range is short and clear: Brunello di Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino Riserva and Rosso di Montalcino. All are Sangiovese. The Riserva, made only in the best years, is the wine that built the reputation, and old vintages are still among the most sought after bottles of Tuscany.
Today
In 2019 the French group EPI, owned by the Descours family, bought the remaining shares of the estate, having taken a majority stake earlier. Press reports differ on what roles the sixth generation, Jacopo and Tancredi Biondi Santi, now hold at Il Greppo. The winery continues to bottle the three Montalcino wines under the family name.
- Main grapes
- Sangiovese
- Owners
- EPI group (Descours family)
- Vineyards
- about 70 acres in production (press, c. 2021)