Wilson Daniels remains as committed as ever to closely following the stories of the greatest winemakers in the world. By shining a spotlight on the Tuscan wine region of Montalcino, praised by tasters and collectors for its first-in-class expressions of the Sangiovese grape, it’s our hope that wine-lovers from all walks of life will come to know and enjoy Brunello di Montalcino.

Biondi-Santi established itself centuries ago as the town’s gold standard of Brunello production—in fact, the inventor of Brunello, the life’s work of legendary winemaker Ferrucio Biondi Santi, heralded for pioneering technology in aging, racking, and barrel-aging practices. Biondi-Santi has been passed down through generations of the family since the 19th century, and has enjoyed substantial acclaim within the wine world. Devout traditionalists, the Biondi Santi family adheres to the same practices utilized by their ancestors in order to cultivate their sought-after Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Annata and Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva.

We recently spent a memorable afternoon with the brand’s 7th-generation winemaker, 27-year-old Tancredi Biondi Santi, on the family’s property. He gave us a tour of the vineyards, as well as a rare glimpse at some of the library wines in their cellar. The highlights of our tour included getting to hold a remarkable 1888 vintage, and a tasting through bottles from ‘97 and ‘90 as Tancredi Biondi Santi prepares to join us on our upcoming 40th anniversary tour to share his family’s story.

“It’s important to me as a member of this family that we continue to maintain traditional viticulture methods for the Biondi-Santi brand,” says Tancredi Biondi Santi. “As I learn to take the reins and lead us into the future, I’m confident in knowing these traditions have carried us through the years to the forefront of Brunello production. With this continued excellence, we will continue bringing Biondi-Santi wines to the world for generations to come.

Montalcino boasts such rich terroir that it’s not just deeply rooted institutions making the most of the marl limestone, sandstone and clay terroir that contribute so much to superior Sangiovese grapes. Wilson Daniels is also cultivating a partnership with Val di Suga, which emerged as a new gem in the region owing to its unique advantage of owning vineyards in all three of Montalcino’s growing regions — each contributing individual characteristics. As the market for Brunello expands and more oenophiles discover its inimitable appeal, the history and traditions that made the town famous for its deep ruby wine will prove more important than ever.

“Wilson Daniels decision to expand in Montalcino is very focused and strong,” says Andrea Lonardi, Operational Director of Val di Suga. “It starts a fresh new vision for Val di Suga, and a new approach focusing in strongly terroir driven selections in the appellation.”

Says Wilson Daniels president Rocco Lombardo, “We deeply value our relationship with Biondi-Santi, and have welcomed the opportunity to bring their fellow Brunello di Montalcino winemakers Val di Suga to the prompt attention of American wine enthusiasts. Having the opportunity to import one of Italy’s iconic styles is an important step towards achieving this shared goal.”