Montalcino

Montalcino is one of Italy's most respected wine regions. This medieval town, perched on a high hill south of Siena, is renowned for its rich, structured Sangiovese Grosso red wines. Thanks to the wide range of altitudes, warm Mediterranean days, and cool nights, wines are created with intensity, depth, and a remarkable freshness. Besides the iconic Brunello , Montalcino also produces Rosso di Montalcino, IGT wines, and a small number of white wines, each with its own distinct character and expression.

What is Montalcino wine?

Montalcino wine comes from the DOC and DOCG area around Montalcino in Tuscany. The region produces several styles:
• Brunello di Montalcino DOCG – powerful red wine made from 100% Sangiovese Grosso with long maturation.
• Rosso di Montalcino DOC – the more accessible, fruitier variant of 100% Sangiovese.
• Montalcino IGT – modern blends and wines with international grapes.
• White Montalcino wines – rarer, often from local and international varieties.

The dominant grape is Sangiovese Grosso, also known locally as "Brunello." The style ranges from elegant and fresh in the higher elevations to full-bodied and powerful on the warmer southern slopes.

Origin and vineyards

Montalcino covers a large hilly area with elevation changes ranging from 120 to over 600 meters. This diversity largely determines the character of the wines.

Key Features:

• Altitude – Higher vineyards (north and northeast) produce more elegant, fresher wines; lower, warmer zones (south and southwest) yield more power and ripe fruit.
• Soil – a mixture of galestro, limestone, sand, clay, and fossil marine deposits that provide complexity.
• Climate – Warm Mediterranean influence, but cooled by the proximity of Monte Amiata and a constant wind.
• Solar exposure – southern slopes are more vigorous; northern slopes more refined and cooler.

This combination makes Montalcino one of the most versatile terroirs of Tuscany .

Styles and vinification

Brunello di Montalcino (DOCG)

Brunello is the flagship of Montalcino, always 100% Sangiovese Grosso.

Vinification and style
• Strict selection of grapes
• Longer skin maceration for color and tannins
• Maturation in large Slavonian oak or French oak (barriques/tonneaux)
• Aromas of cherry, plum, balsamic, herbs, earth and sometimes leather
• Structure, length and great storage potential

Maturation requirements
• Minimum 5 years of maturation, of which 2 years in wood and 4 months in bottle
• Riserva: minimum 6 years of maturation

Red of Montalcino (DOC)

The younger, fruitier and more accessible brother of Brunello.
• Also 100% Sangiovese
• Shorter maturation, often in stainless steel or large wood
• Red cherry, fresher acids, smoother tannins
• Perfect as an early drinking style with serious quality

Montalcino IGT

IGT wines offer producers creative freedom.
• Often blends of Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon , Merlot , Syrah or other international varieties
• Modern, rich and sometimes more powerful than Rosso
• Use of barriques for a fuller, more mature style

White wines from Montalcino

Although a small part of the production, white IGT wines are also made:
• Usually Chardonnay , Vermentino or Sauvignon Blanc
• Style varies from fresh and aromatic to subtly wood-matured
• Often from cooler, higher-lying plots

This category is less known, but is growing due to increasing focus on quality.

Storage and serving

Brunello

• Basic: 10–20 years
• Riserva: 20–30 years or more
• Serve at 17–18 degrees
• Decanting: 1–3 hours for young wines

Red of Montalcino

• 3–6 years
• Serve at 16–18 degrees

Montalcino IGT

• 4–10 years depending on grapes and style
• Serve at 16–18 degrees

White Montalcino wines

• 2–5 years
• Serve at 8–10 degrees

Buy Montalcino at Perfectewijn.nl

At Perfecte Wijn, you'll find a wide selection of Montalcino wines: from robust, long-lived Brunellos and elegant Rosso styles to modern IGT blends and surprising white varieties. Each bottle is selected for authenticity, terroir, and quality, allowing you to discover both classic and modern expressions of Montalcino.