Vines and wines

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

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

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.

Donne del vino toscane – Tuscan Women in Wine and mimosa, on March 8th with Luciano Zazzeri

10 Donne del vino toscane – Tuscan Women in Wine and the AIS delegation from Livorno with Paola Rastelli celebrate March 8th with an exclusive dinner in the La Pineta restaurant- rated in the Michelin guide

seen for you by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Women’s important role in the wine world is now evident in all sectors: as excellent producers, knowledgeable sommeliers, responsible consumers, to all of these Luciano Zazzeri has dedicated an haute cuisine menu inspired by Tuscan tradition. These dishes will accompany 40 excellent wines that the producers present will serve the 50 diners during the evening: firstly a fish soup with “Carpaccio di gallinella” a san entree, then “raviolo di mare con crema d’aglio e salvia fritta”, as a main dish “seppia nera con filetti di triglia padellati” and as dessert “tortino di mele con gelato al Vin Santo”.

Behind the scenes of Benvenuto Brunello 2012

Benvenuto Brunello becomes a celebration for wine and the young: many connected via social networks and many wine lovers under 40 in Montalcino.

Seen for you by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

The Brunello village built among the historic buildings in Montalcino to welcome up until this moment 250 members of the press and 2.500 operators with an increase of nearly 20% with respect to previous editions but most of all there has been a generational renovation among those involved: many young producers and most of all many young buyers.

A refreshing breeze, maybe brought on by the idea of making Benvenuto Brunello the first wine event in Italy online, in other words with a virtual connection with operators and wine lovers all over the world. In other words, change of location, extraordinary wines and enthusiastic clients. What a show!

This is Ferragamo's image for Brunello 2011 awarded 4 stars

A delicate surrealist image is the emblem for Brunello 2011 four stars, created by Salvatore Ferragamo ‘ s stylists

seen for you by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Sangiovese clusters and a bottle of Brunello made of petals with a delicate design of vine shoots and leaves. This is the very refined imaged wanted by Massimo Ferragamo Chairman at Ferragamo USA.

It is exhibited on the facade of the thirteenth century building that was the Montalcino town hall, continuing the calendar of tiles representing Brunello vintages which is enriched with every new vintage. The previous tiles were autographed by artists such as Sandro Chia, sport champions like Deborah Compagnoni, cartoonists such as Giannelli for the “Corriere della Sera” and Tadashi Agi Okimoto Shu of the Japanese cartoon strip Kamino Shizuku –The drops of God, stylists like Prada, Missoni , Cavalli, photographers like Oliviero Toscani … In other words great names for a great wine.

A super Riserva for Brunello

5 star harvest, vineyards in their prime, Valérie Lavigne’s personal touch and the new graphic style for Brunello Riserva 2006 from Casato Prime Donne

This is the most important type of Brunello di Montalcino, wine apt for

lasting centuries, and in this selection expresses at its best its potential. Donatella Cinelli Colombini has decided to aim high.
In 2006, a five star harvest, the grapes from the new vineyards with a low yield, we had an even lower production than usual, so as to allow Valérie Lavigne our consultant wine maker to select only the best. This style is very very elegant and very Tuscan.

Brunello, like Benigni, is something Italians should be proud of.

A survey carried out by Renato Mannheimer for ISPO regarding 800 Italians portrays the impression our compatriots regarding Brunello and other high range wines.

Read for you by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

 

It’s the Marchesi dè Frescobaldi who have commissioned the survey, here in Montalcino they produce a splendid Brunello in “Castelgiocondo” a happy estate in name and in fact, thank to the perfect soil for the Sangiovese vines.

So here are the results of the survey: one Italian our of 5, especially if male, and mostly those aged between 25 and 34 years of age, is ready to sacrifice other goods so as to be able to acquire an excellent bottle of wine. They see it in fact as a great investment (70%) and as a very well appreciated present (48%).

A result that nobody expected and that is very evident from Mannheimer’s results , is the perception that the Italians have of wine made in Italy. Something of which we are proud (72%) because it is an excellence of our territory.

The French winemaker Valérie Lavigne and Brunello

The French winemaker Valérie Lavigne arrives at Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s estate with the intention of tasting the future Brunello in the winery. Impossible to go into the vineyards. [caption id="attachment_6214" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Fattora del Colle - degustazione Brunello 2007"][/caption] It was also impossible to taste the future Brunello 2008 with the 4 Prime Donne tasters. Too much snow, real mounds all over the place. However we are able to have a blind tasting of 6 new Brunello 2007 chosen among those in the same price range as ours. The result is comforting, all excellent wines, Montalcino puts on show some true gems this...

California dreamin' changes music and becomes Brunello dreamin'

February 8th, the new Brunello in a preview tasting in San Francisco with 40 Montalcino wineries. Together with their colleagues from Prosecco,

Chianti Classico and Vino Nobile.

Seen for you by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

The event location is not very large but very refined with respect to where the tasting took place two days ago in New York. The public is also decidedly more elegant, evidently aesthetics count more here than in the big apple.

At the seminary, the 150 seats are nit sufficient, other than the operators and experts already booked, another 30 people arrive. We decide not to send them away and offer them a stand up tasting, they seem satisfied even though, among them, there are two master sommelier.

Its written Eataly and is read Italy and has won over New York

The Brunello mission began at Eataly the shop for excellent food and wine from Italy in the heart of Manhattan Seen for you by Donatella Cinelli Colombini I was there with the director of the Consorzio Stefano Campatelli and his assistant Stefania to fix the details for the event regarding Brunello. Next September for the whole month, the [caption id="attachment_6172" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Eataly- New York - enoteca - Campatelli - Borri - Salvadori- Stefania"][/caption] producers of Brunello will be involved in tastings, meetings with the public, and guided tastings one after the other. In other words a great opportunity for sales and visibility which are...

Brunello, Brunello, Brunello, New York loves you!

An extraordinary success at the seminary and workshop for Brunello, Chianti Classico, Vino  Nobile and Prosecco at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York on February 7th

seen for you by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

250 people queuing up for 150 places at the guided tasting for 800 operators producers in la large hall where the

producers were giving wine tastings.

For the last 10 years the arrival of new vintages of Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino has always been an important event in the big apple. But this year there was a lucky coincidence never happened before, 3 new wines from 3 fantastic five star vintages: Rosso di Montalcino 2010, Brunello 2007 and Brunello Riserva 2006. What a show!
This is what I said upon meeting the participants at the seminary << this year Montalcino is here with 3 dream vintages, taste them to understand the differences between one year and another, between one area and another because Montalcino is a small production area, but is rich in differences>>.  A small area which is very densely populated with wineries.

Muchas gracias Giulia y Ricardo the wine shop owners from Forte dei Marmi

Enoteca Giulia, is place where one is surrounded by love. Love for life, love of novelties love of good food and great wines …. Love for people and especially for Ricardo Giulia’s very nice Spanish husband.

seen for you by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Forte dei Marmi, now a cult seaside resort for Russian billionaires and before

that for the Agnelli family. It is a place where it is difficult to offer the usual things; here everything must necessarily be different.

Giulia has succeeded in this. And without much effort also, because she is one who reads Cervantes in the original language, she blends design objects other things invented with exquisite taste.

Let me give you an irreverent example, but all the same you will understand better, al you need to do is visit the bathroom.

95/100 from wine Enthusiast for our Brunello Riserva 2006

Monica Larner, the young and very clever wine taster for the Wine Enthusiast appreciates the Brunello riserva 2006 by Donatella Cinelli Colombini [caption id="attachment_6111" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Casato Prime Donne Donatella Cinelli Colombini"][/caption] During the past few days she has tasted 110 Brunello di Montalcino 2007 “selezione” and Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2006. At the end her judgement has been positive and even enthusiastic for the whole Montalcino territory, which has been able to express itself at the highest levels for two consecutive years even though there have been some differences between the sub-zones. <<enormous richness, monumental structure and opulence in...

The OIV adventure is concluded, we all go home!

The adventure began long ago in November 2010, from then many new friendships have been made, many stamps on my passport, many wineries visited, many wines tasted….

After a long time we have returned to the OIV headquarters in Rue d’Aguesseau in Paris in exactly the same room where, 15 month previously we had began our Master course. We are here for two weeks lessons and exams.

But now it is different, now I can say: Diplȏme International de l’OIV in Management du Secteur de la Vigne et du Vin “done”.