Biondi Santi

When it comes to Italian wine, it seems as though Biondi Santi was the first to do it all. They became the first estate to receive a DOCG certification from the Italian government, the first to create Brunello di Montalcino, and the first to hold a generations-long family legacy at the top of the industry. With such prestige comes immense focus, creativity, and tradition. Known for their wines with unheard-of longevity, (they still have reserves of the original 1888 Brunello di Montalcino vintage in their cellar!) Biondi Santi has carved out a name in the record books and continues to uphold this impressive run. 

Biondi Santi's Lasting Family Legacy

The estate was founded in the mid-19th century by Clemente Santi, a pharmacist and naturalist who healed bodies during business hours and nurtured the soul by crafting wines in his spare time, He bought the now-famous Tenuta Greppo and was intrigued by the idea of crafting wines for long-term drinking rather than short-term profit. Through innovative methods that included racking and barrel-aging, he created Italy's first Brunello di Montalcino in 1888, gaining immediate praise for the vintage. After tending to the estate for nearly 50 years, Clemente eventually passed ownership to his grandson, Ferruccio Biondi, who combined his last name with his grandfathers to create the now iconic name, Biondi Santi. 

Once Ferruccio passed away in 1917, his son, Tancredi, took over the estate and cared meticulously for the vineyard. He ensured that past vintages were stored away safely and even had the foresight to lock away older vintages in a secret cellar before World War II. And, despite his incredible efforts to boost the status of Biondi wine, it was his son, Franco, who helped the estate's fame skyrocket to international levels. Thanks to global promotions of the wine and tastings for the immaculately aged drinks, Biondi-Santi reached unprecedented levels of success entering the 1980s.

Italy's Original "Super Tuscan"

Located southeast of Montalcino, Biondi Santi's vineyard, Tenuta Greppo, has seen many transformations throughout the estate's storied history. Tenuta Greppo began as a small 4-acre vineyard, then was later upgraded to 25 acres of 100% Sangiovese. It was the brilliance of Ferruccio who created Fontodi's unique grape, Brunello Biondi Santi, better known as BBS11. He cloned the most pristine Sangiovese vines on the vineyard, then replanted Greppo with these clones. In doing so, he allowed the Brunello di Montalcino to have a taste unique to Biondi's vineyards, giving them a competitive advantage over rivaling estates.

Tenuta Greppo's Exeptional Terroir

The vineyard's unique location gives the estate a welcomed advantage in crafting long-lasting wines. Located at a high altitude, the vineyard is in a ventilated area and contains galestro-rich soil. The mixture of climate and terrain allows the grapes to grow fresh and contain fruity notes with good acidity.

Biondi Santi's unique harvesting approach also adds a layer of intrigue to the winemaking approach. As believers in "regenerative viniculture," the estate emphasizes a holistic approach to treating the soil to increase organic matter, ensuring the soil is still healthy for future generations. 

Historic Vintages

With over 150 years of winemaking, Biondi Santi has perfected Brunello di Montalcino and produced spectacular vintages. The 1955 vintage has reached near mythical levels, as some claim Queen Elizabeth's love for the wine catapulted sales in the country. The vintage was also the only Italian wine included in the Wine Spectator's list of best wines from the 20th century. The 2010 vintage also drew mass acclaim, as Antonio Galloni named the drink a "real knockout" that is "built to age." 

Such a historic wine defined a region and seeped into legendary levels of fine wine. Adding this producer to your cellar is sure to wow your guests and delight your eyes whenever it comes into view.