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Here we go Vinitaly! Great exhilaration on the first day if the fair

First day of the fair in Verona with loads of people, many from Asia, many journalists and many operators with a renewed interest in Tuscany.

Vinitaly 2012 - Donatella Cinelli Colombini - Premio Internazionale Vinitaly

Pavilions brimming over with guests on Sunday the first day of the Vinitaly 2012 fair, that this year has changed calendar and begins in fact on a Sunday. Enough people to fill s stadium, which has diluted the commercial contact but which has created an exhilarating atmosphere and prepared the producers for great results. During the inauguration ceremony, in front of the entire Italian wine world the Minister Mario Catania spoke freely, listing all of his convictions: more resources for promotion abroad, a definite no to liberalising planting rights, distinguishing clearly the actions for a responsible consumption of wine form the campaigns against alcoholism. Practically a clear introduction without impossible promises and full of punctual references.

Montalcino. Enough take a bite and run tourism

Gold at Vinitaly for Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Brunello producer, flagship for wine tourism and women in wineries, Donatella Cinelli Colombini receives the Premio Internazionale Vinitaly

Donatella with Ettore Riello and Giovanni Mantovani during the award giving

In the splendid frame of the Palazzo della Ragione in Verona, on Saturday March 24th Donatella Cinelli Colombini received the Premio Internazionale Vinitaly 2012 directly from the President of Veronafiere Ettore Riello and from the General Director Giovanni Mantovani.

The woman who for first and with most Energy divulged wine tourism in Italy, creating the day called “Cantine aperte”, Wine day, expressed her joy upon receiving this important prize.
<< Having chosen me, a small Brunello wine producer, after personalities such as Corinne Mentzelopoulos from Chateaux Margaux, Robert Mondavi or Pablo Alvarez from Vega-Sicilia signifies believing in the contribution that every producer can give to the future of wine making when they decide to get involved with courageous and innovative projects like wine tourism or women in wine making >> said proudly Donatella Cinelli Colombini owner of the first wineries Italy with an all female staff, at Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino and in Fattoria del Colle in southern Chianti.

His royal highness the prince of Montalcino 2010

Here is the Rosso di Montalcino 2010 by Donatella Cinelli Colombini. Five stars (the top) but it actually deserved seven, like the new extra-luxury hotels.

Rosso Di Montalcino 2010 - DonatellaCinelliColombini

The harvest went perfectly, like the one all grape growers dream of. An easy harvest too: the soil was well hydrated, sunshine at the right time and a final vegetative phase characterized by an accelerated maturation. The bush of leaves had aged too soon and so we had vines with grapes not completely changed in colour, from green to blue, and with autumnal leaves. It is something which is very positive in truth but also very rare. The acceleration in the biological processes took place in fact both in the leaves and in the grape skins.

Donatella Cinelli Colombini receives the Premio Internazionale Vinitaly 2012

She, the paladin of wine tourism in Italy, is the winner of the Premio Internazionale Vinitaly for her commitment and contribution towards the promotion of wine.

Donatella Cinelli Colombini, Montalcino, Casato Prime Donne

This prize was created in 1996, and is awarded every year to an Italian or foreign personality or institution who have particularly distinguished themselves in the wine world. The awarding will take place during the Gala dinner at Vinitaly in the beautiful Palazzo della Ragione directly from the President Ettore Riello and the General Director of Veronafiere Giovanni Mantovani.

An award which signifies recognition for women in wine, this 2012 prize, which in its motivation emphasizes the contribution given by Donatella Cinelli Colombini in favour of women and wine tourism, sectors where she has held important roles.

2011 a surprising vintage! Sanchimento and Rosa di Tetto

Surprising and controversial harvest in 2011, with high peaks in quality and profound delusions: from Fattoria del Colle arrive Sanchimento and Rosa di Tetto

Sanchimento IGT 2011 - Rosa di tetto IGT 2011

This is a record vintage: the hottest August, the fewest grapes, the earliest harvest…..Other than this a new geography of the quality of areas usually more performing in great difficulty, and younger allotments at their productive peak. On the whole the vineyards at Fattoria del Colle have suffered because of their calcareous soil which has dried out in August, when the thermometer was around 40°C by day and night.

Cenerentola grows up: the little sister becomes a princess

Donatella Cinelli Colombini presents the 2008 vintage of the main wine from Fattoria del Colle, Doc Orcia Cenerentola, a new princess in red.

Cenerentola Doc Orcia - Donatella Cinelli Colombini

A great wine to be consumed straight away or to be kept for years. Cenerentola Orcia DOC has now become the Princess that Donatella Cinelli Colombini has dreamed of since 2001, when she decided to produce a new wine bringing back into use an old Tuscan grape variety called Foglia Tonda. That had been abandoned for nearly a century.

A dream that has taken for than 10 years of work, to understand the grape variety which tends to be over productive, and transfer her into the ideal companion for the Sangiovese, He is elegant and austere, she is very likeable. Ten years of work in the cellar to work out the most apt barrel and wood and to understand the duration of the ageing. And finally here she is, Cenerentola, sumptuous, elegant, modern and Tuscan.

The new label for our Brunello Riserva Docg 2006 arm in arm with its older sisters

As an exclusive offer for the Club members find the three bottles in a wooden case, this is the offer that Donatella Cinelli Colombini has chosen as the March offer before the presentation at Vinitaly 2012.

three vintages of Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG

The Riserva variety is the one that is most congenial to Brunello, an important red wine especially because of it aptness for long ageing.
The selection destined to become Brunello Riserva reaches excellence and is the most apt to be kept for important moments in life such as weddings, births, degrees ….those happy days which are rendered more solemn with a toast.
We are living you the opportunity to compare three vintages of Brunello di Montalcino Riserva  DOCG 2004, 2005 e 2006.
Three great vintages, very different one from the other and for this reason making the comparison more interesting and curious.

March is the month of resumes: 2011 year of great successes and little income

6 wines with a rating superior to in “Wine Spectator” in 2011, is something exceptional, practically incredible for a small winery like ours.

by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Excellent ratings

Something of which we are extremely proud and that pays back for the enormous work of replanting the vineyards done since 1998. A result which is especially due to the all female cellar staff . Valérie Lavigne’s conviction in emphasizing the local specificities is also beginning to reap in positive results.

In other words an extraordinary result which has had an immediate effect on the foreign markets. In 2011 the cellar concluded the year with an increase in sales turnover of 5,4% entirely due to the foreign markets who have marked a +44% able to fill the losses of the Italian market. The Brunello has literally taken off with a +19% to be connected with the excellent quality of the wines, the 5 star harvest and the excellent ratings on the most authoritative foreign press: Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate.

Violante Gardini Cinelli Colombini Jr and the English wine lovers

Two trips to the UK to give tastings of my mother Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s wines and to get to know other producers from all over the world

EoR Suppliers Group

by Violante Gardini

I have just come back from the UK where I presented our wines at the wine store “The wine Reserve” in Cobham, just out of London and in the wine cellar called “bluebird” in Chelsea. Two events organized by our importer Ellis of Richmond in two spectacular stores that hold wines from al lover the world. Both wine tastings were fully booked, the second tasting had an entrance fee. To think that there are wine lovers willing to pay to listen to my explanations (obviously tasting the wines) makes me feel very proud.