Panorama of the Week: The Makings of a Great Brunello di Montalcino
Filed Under: Have you ever read about or quaffed a famous wine and wondered how it was made? The terrain where the grapes were grown, the hands of the winemaker, or the transformation the wine has undergone from harvest to dinner table?
These were just a few of the questions piquing our curiosity about the great wines of Tuscany during our recent visit there. So we paid a visit to several wineries to get a feel for the land, the people, and the craft behind the great wine traditions of this region. Open the panorama below for a clue on how Brunello di Montalcino, one of Italy’s most prestigious wines, is made. You’ll find two important components: a charismatic winemaker, and large Slavonian oak barrels.
Panorama: Learning about Brunello di Montalcino at Capanna Winery
For best panorama viewing results, press fullscreen (four arrows) and navigate around with your mouse.
Slavonian oak? Don’t you mean French or American oak? Isn’t that how all great wines are aged — in small barrels, retired every few years to ensure quality.
Well no, apparently.
Before our recent visits to wineries in the Montalcino, Montepulciano and Maremma areas of Tuscany, this is what we assumed.
When we first heard “Slavonian,” we figured there was a language hiccup and everyone we’d spoken to meant Slovenian oak. What we hadn’t realized: Slavonia is a region in Croatia that produces a subtle oak more suitable to the temperament of the Sangiovese grapes that go into the great Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulcino wines.
In the panorama, you’ll notice that the barrels are huge. They are sometimes used for as long as seventy years (compared to the three to five years peak lifespan you’ll hear about French and American oak barrels). Perhaps most importantly, the flavor imparted by the Slavonian oak barrels is much subtler than their smaller French and American counterparts.
As for the personality behind this wine, check out Benito Cencioni, the winemaker at Capanna. When we pulled up late Friday afternoon in the pouring rain, he greeted us and escorted Audrey inside with the help of an oversized umbrella (Dan? He was on his own!). Anyhow, Benito has been making wine since 1957 and Brunello di Montalcino since 1970; his children continue with the wine making tradition today.
Capanna’s 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is worth a stop. And, although the area is not particularly known for its white wines, the Moscadello di Montalcino, a dessert wine, is surprisingly tasty.
So, next time you open a bottle of Brunello (or any wine, for that matter), imagine its back-story. We know we will.
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- Life Lessons from A Tuscan Wedding
- Panorama of the Week: The Makings of a Great Brunello di Montalcino
- From Hilltowns to Harvest: Tuscany in Autumn
- Accommodation Italy: Participating vs. Spectating
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October 11th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
Love these panoramas! – That adjustable “fisheye” lens effect really allows for a greater field of view and results in a very realistic depiction. This one’s neat because — even though it’s indoors — it still feels exansive!
October 11th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
I want some wine now!!!
October 12th, 2010 at 2:59 am
@Daniel: When we first started experimenting with the fisheye lens and panoramic photos, we thought big courtyards and squares were appropriate. But, this style and technology really suits inside scenes like this where you can enjoy the little details and feel like you’re there.
@Andi: It is pretty darn good wine
October 13th, 2010 at 3:47 am
Cool update and video. Reminds me of a trip to Mission Hill in Kelowna, BC. I hope you did “lots of sampling”
October 13th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
@Rob: No worries, a bit of sampling at this winery, some more at another and then some more at a massive wine shop on the outskirts of Montalcino. And, a bit more sampling in the Montepulciano region. Good times!
November 29th, 2010 at 9:32 am
[...] make sure that the winery was open and that they could take us for a tasting. Our first visit to a family-run winery outside of Montalcino was fantastic, both in terms of the wine and the personality of the owner. For us, being able to [...]