The Ardita vineyard is one of Montalcino‘s finest. Every year, in any climate, it produces perfect grapes with small clusters and berries and uniform ripening.

It was planted in 2002 at 225 meters above sea level in a Plio-Quaternary soil with a prevalence of clay and marine sand. It had a slow start and is still not very vigorous; in fact, it almost never requires green harvesting because it spontaneously produces about a kilo of grapes per plant.

Like all the world’s great vineyards, the Ardita vineyard requires very little attention; in other words, it “does everything itself” thanks to a particular terroir. Even in the cellar, the wine produced from the Ardita vineyard requires no human intervention because it is flawless; therefore, it simply needs to be carefully stored in the finest quality barrels.

For this reason, the tasters who choose Brunello Prime Donne through blind tastings of the estate’s entire production often prefer the powerful, velvety structure of the wine from the Ardita vineyard. In the past, they requested it be aged in barrels (15-20 hl), but now they are also fascinated by the character of 5-7 hectoliter tonneaux, especially when steam-bent.

THE 2021 VINTAGE IN MONTALCINO

The 2021 harvest will be remembered as the longest and most expensive because the grapes were selected bunch by bunch in the vineyards. Due to an Arctic current that swept across Europe at the end of April, a large portion of the buds were scorched by the frost, while those that were still closed opened late, several days later.…

L'articolo BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO PRIME DONNE 2021 ORGANIC AND SINGLE VINEYARD sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini, wine destination, Fattoria del Colle Trequanda, Casato Prime Donne Montalcino

Eric Guido, editor of Vinous, always has a serious, almost sullen expression, but he’s actually an extremely kind and passionate man. He loves wine and food, but also the people behind the bottles, and he himself loves working in the kitchen.

He tastes for Vinous, Antonio Galloni’s portal, which in just a few years has established itself as one of the most authoritative and objective voices in global wine press. This goal also stems from Galloni and Guido’s tireless and meticulous work in the wine regions.

Eric Guido‘s tasting of our Brunellos took place last November and was subsequently published on Vinous with a brief introduction. <<The Donatella Cinelli Colombini estate, run entirely by a female team, has been one of my favourites for many years. These wines always display class and elegance, and age surprisingly well despite their immediate appeal. The 2021s are no exception>>. How thrilling to read these words!

96/100 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO IOSONODONATELLA 2019

This is a very small series of just 300 bottles produced with grapes from the Ardita vineyard. The wine matured in five to seven hectolitre oak barrels, while the vinification and pre-bottling period took place in bare concrete vats and egg-shaped tanks. Eric’s description is so beautiful that I’m copying it almost entirely here: << The Brunello di Montalcino IosonoDonatella 2019 is sleek and sensual, irresistible with its magnificent interplay of black cherries and crushed raspberries, enriched with nuances of mint, Earl Grey, and dried roses.…

L'articolo ERIC GUIDO REWARDS DONATELLA’S BRUNELLOS sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

This is a unique opportunity for true wine lovers. We’re delighted to present a preview of two extraordinary new vintages of Brunello di Montalcino from Casato Prime Donne by Donatella Cinelli Colombini.

These wines are released on January 1st, so those who participate in this offer will be among the first in the world to taste them and share them with friends.

🍇 Offer of the Month – For Members of Donatella’s Club

3 bottles of Brunello 2021

3 bottles of Brunello Riserva 2020

+ brochure with a map and information about the Montalcino area

Price: €319.00 instead of €370.00

For those who double up

€624.00 instead of €740.00

🍇 For all other friends

3 bottles of Brunello 2021

3 bottles of Brunello Riserva 2020

+ brochure with a map of the Montalcino area

Price: €349.00 instead of €370.00

For those who double up

€689.00 instead of €740.00

🎁 For those who take advantage of this offer, a brochure with a map of the Montalcino area will be included.

NEWS FOR FRIENDS IN THE US, WE WILL PAY THE TARIFFS!!!

This offer is for those who want to start the new year with the perfect wines to celebrate every special occasion!

📅 Offer valid until: January 12, 2026

🛒 How to order

Just one click and the wine arrives directly to your home!…

L'articolo EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW: Brunello 2021 and Riserva 2020! sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Casato Prime Donne is usually the first to harvest Brunello grapes, but in 2021, it was among the last to harvest in Montalcino.

This is a very strange year, beginning with the disappointment of the frost that struck all of Europe’s vineyards. In our vineyards, it burned the tips of the first shoots and delayed the opening of those that were still covered when the cold wind arrived. This had two effects: a reduction in grape production and uneven ripening. Indeed, bud break marks the beginning of a vegetative cycle that lasts about six months. The 20-day gap between the first and last shoots resulted in uneven ripening. The result was a very labour-intensive harvest, requiring us to harvest each parcel separately and even go through the same vineyard multiple times, selecting bunch by bunch. This was a painstaking task, entirely done by hand by the pickers.

2021: THE LONG, CAREFUL, AND SPECTACULAR BRUNELLO HARVEST

Most of the harvest was therefore postponed to the end of September.

The bunches resembled those of Pinot Noir: small, open, and with miniature berries.

The heat and drought were also severe, with only two rains totalling 31 mm of rain from June to September, and peaks of over 40°C mid-August. However, paradoxically, the Sangiovese vines ripened in perfect health.…

L'articolo ORGANIC BRUNELLO 2021 BY DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

The highly elegant style that characterizes all Donatella Cinelli Colombini wines is enhanced in the Brunello Riserva. These are wines designed to last. In the 2020 vintage, this characteristic is extremely evident in the silky yet taut tannins and the acidity that lends vitality to the palate and is well balanced by the intensity of the flavour and the alcohol. Those who drink it now will find a great Brunello in their glass, but those who have the patience to wait two or three years will enjoy truly extraordinary powerful and velvety harmonies.

THE BRUNELLO RISERVA 2020 IN THE VINEYARD AND IN CELLAR OF CASATO PRIME DONNE

In 2020, the winter was mild and dry, so the vines budded early, and the frost of March 18-23 caused more damage than expected for that time of spring. The result was a reduction in the number of grapes in the vineyards. A very rainy June allowed the vines to withstand sixty days of scorching heat from mid-July to mid-September. The leaves were used for shade, leaving the rows with an unattractive but highly protective bushy appearance. For the same reason, pre-harvest leaf removal was avoided.

At harvest time, the grapes were perfectly ripe, healthy, with well-lignified seeds, and had the typical crispness of great vintages. Analytical data even better than 2019: smaller berries, higher extractable polyphenols, potential alcohol around 14%, and a good acidity.…

L'articolo DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI PRESENTS HER BRUNELLO RISERVA 2020 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

All the wineries in Montalcino are beautiful, but Casato Prime Donne is unique because the vineyards are more than just vines and the cellars are more than just barrels. In the first Italian winery with an all-female staff, which also achieved gender certification in 2025, wine lovers will find many surprises and experiences that will enthral even the most experienced.

THE EXCEPTIONALITY OF A VISIT TO THE CASATO PRIME DONNE WINERY

Contemporary works of art enrich the marvellous landscape of the Val d’Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004. Alongside, dedications by great women help you reflect and recharge, amplifying the benefits of walking amidst nature preserved by organic farming.

In the winery, painted images and videos tell the story of Montalcino and its people’s sense of belonging. A different way to understand Brunello and discover how only there could a unique and extraordinary wine be born, the fruit of a land and a people with a strong character.

THE FIVE 2026 CASATO PRIME DONNE EXPERIENCES IN MONTALCINO

Each of the 5 experiences offered to wine lovers,  in its own way, tell this story. The Brunello Experience is for those who want to discover Montalcino. Whereas the wine and music tasting and the Brunello vertical tasting are dedicated to the most expert wine lovers and those seeking unique experiences.…

L'articolo EXPERIENCE WITH MYSTERIOUS WINES AT CASATO PRIME DONNE sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

For many years, renowned Canadian critic Michael Godel has spent extensive periods in Montalcino. He has visited most of the Brunello wineries, tasting all their wines. He therefore has a deep knowledge of the places, the people, and the different Brunello production philosophies, including its evolution over time. Receiving a positive assessment from him is a great honour and a great satisfaction.

Donatella Cinelli Colombini was delighted to receive the stellar scores of 96, 95, 95, 94, and 93 awarded by Godel to five of her Brunellos. These wines are produced at  Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino  on the northern slope of the Montalcino hill, where the clay-rich soil is cooler and creates ideal conditions for the gradual ripening of the grapes.

96/100 BRUNELLO IOsonoDonatella 2019

Michael Godel is charmed by this wine and its history, and he takes the time to explain it.

<<A name that means “I am what I am,” but also a sort of word game that says “we know how to do things, and this is our way of being.” Medieval studies of gold and enamels inspire the label of this unique Sangiovese, also produced in the 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016 vintages.>>

Godel describes the taste of this small selection created by Donatella Cinelli Colombini in her image and likeness: “Exaggerated richness and elegance, with balsamic notes and a refined elegance at the highest level of a Sangiovese.”…

L'articolo MICHAEL GODEL’S EXCELLENT RATINGS sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

This offer is designed for your Christmas party planning. Three different magnums to enjoy during moments of conviviality with family or friends (last bottles available). These bottles will also be appreciated as gifts by collectors of fine wines.

🎁 Along with the bottles, you will find: a beautiful resin coaster directly from our Toscana Lovers stores and created by Riccardo Marzi.

What’s special about this offer?

The value of a magnum bottle of wine lies in its excellent ability to preserve and evolve the wine, thanks to less contact with oxygen and its ability to withstand temperature changes better than a standard bottle. In addition to the qualitative benefits, the magnum format offers a strong visual impact on special occasions and makes a surprising and memorable gift.

Cenerentola and Foglia Tonda

Two grapes are used to produce Cenerentola DOC Orcia: Sangiovese and Foglia Tonda, both native. Sangiovese is the main grape variety in Tuscany, and in the Orcia denomination, it must comprise at least 60% of the total. In Cenerentola, it accounts for approximately 65%. The Foglia Tonda grape variety is genetically a descendant of Sangiovese. It has been cultivated in Tuscany since time immemorial and is mentioned in 19th-century sources in the Chianti Classico region. Foglia Tonda vines have also been identified in Siena’s historic urban vineyards. It is a late-ripening vine that loves heat and tends to be overly fertile, so its cultivation is primarily aimed at limiting grape production.…

L'articolo CHRISTMAS IS CLOSE, HERE ARE 2 BRUNELLO AND 1 ORCIA FOR YOU! sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Autumn brings the pleasure of spending time together at the table, we have thought of something ideal for Thanksgiving. We’ve created a special gift set for you that captures the diverse spirit of our region, with wines to sip by the fireplace and something for the little ones, too:

• Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2019, a wine with a silky harmony that conceals a powerful structure.
• Il Drago e le 8 Colombe 2020, dedicated to strong personalities, decisive and full-bodied.
• Colombino Olive Oil, our most delicate extra virgin olive oil, in a 500 ml tin to keep on the table and in two practical 250 ml formats, perfect for any occasion.

A box that represents family in all its nuances: romantic, strong, and everyday.

🎁 Along with the bottles, you’ll find a Fattoria del Colle recipe book featuring the tastiest local recipes.

This is a special opportunity to receive two “family wines” from Casato Prime Donne and Fattoria del Colle di Trequanda.

The 2019 Riserva is a 100% Sangiovese wine, from Casato Prime Donne’s finest vineyard.

Il Drago e le 8 Colombe is a blend of 60% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot, and 20% Sagrantino.

The offer is completed by two sizes of Fattoria del Colle EVO oil, the smallest ones suitable for children.…

L'articolo Family Gift Set: Wine and Olive Oil for Relaxing Moments Together sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

THE WORK OF ART THAT ACCOMPANIES THE QUOTE BY THE PRIMA DONNA 2025, DARYA MAJIDI, IS BY A 17-YEAR-OLD STUDENT FROM THE SIENA ART HIGH SCHOOL, GIULIA LAPENTA

by Donatella Cinelli Colombini, winedestination, Fattoria del Colle Trequanda 

Ciclo infinito-Endless Cycle is an artistic installation approximately 3.5 meters high with a cylindrical, saw-cut travertine base with a split top. From this base emerge six silhouettes depicting human heads made of 14 mm diameter solid round iron, hand-painted with a silver, gold, and copper metallic effect. The irons rise to form faces and then descend to sink into the ground. The work was created by COIMA under the direction of architect Elisa Boldi.

CICLO INFINITO ENDLESS CIRCLE BY GIULIA LAPENTA

Young artist Giulia Lapenta developed the 2025 theme of the Casato Prime Donne Award, which concerns Artificial Intelligence, sending a message of alarm and the hope of a cycle that begins and ends on our planet’s surface.

The art installation is conceived of five elements: the earth, the base, the iron rods connecting the base to the heads, and the heads and tails.  Earth is the starting point, and from the earth emerges the base, which, with its cylindrical shape, symbolizes human evolution and the invention of the wheel. The heads represent AI and the attempt to recreate human intelligence, but the metal wires with which they are made of descend to the ground, indicating that artificial intelligence exists within a perpetual cycle.…

L'articolo ENDLESS CYCLE , 2025 ART INSTALLATION BY GIULIA LAPENTA sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Would you like this offer featuring two vintages of Rosso di Montalcino for €264.00 delivered directly to your home?

This offer focuses on Rosso di Montalcino, a wine appreciated for its fragrance and freshness! 10 bottles of Rosso di Montalcino from two vintages and two different sizes: the 2023 Rosso di Montalcino in a 0.750 Liter bottle and the 2022 Rosso di Montalcino in a 1.5 liter magnum (last bottles available).

🎁 together with the bottles you will find: a corkscrew with the logo of the Donatella Cinelli Colombini winery

What’s special about this offer?

This is a special opportunity to receive two Rosso di Montalcino wines from different vintages, made with Sangiovese from the organic vineyards of Casato Prime Donne belonging to Donatella Cinelli Colombini. The two sizes allow you to choose the occasion for which to open them. An ideal wine for the last days of summer and autumn, for aperitifs, lunches, dinners, and parties. For events with a few close friends, or for a real celebration! Extraordinary: the white-label bottles allow you to personalize a gift for friends or family with a special dedication!

🍇 Offer of the Month – For Donatella Club Members

4 bottles of Rosso di Montalcino 2023, 0.75 litres

4 bottles of Rosso di Montalcino 2023 with customizable white label, 0.75 litres

2 Magnums of Rosso di Montalcino 2022, 1.5 litres

4 gift bags + 4 tissue papers + 4 package seals

1 personalized corkscrew

🎯 Special price: €264.00 (instead of €307.00)

💡 Want to double up?…

L'articolo Offer: two vintages, one passion for Rosso di Montalcino sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

by Donatella Cinelli Colombini, winedestination

The Rosso di Montalcino 2022 was born in a very hot year with no rain for seven months. The winemakers at Casato Prime Donne saw grapes arrive in the cellar with berries as small as peas that were then transformed into wines full of noble substances and especially tannins.

A WINE BORN WITH KINDNESS

To obtain silky wines from such a rich must, it was necessary to vinify with extreme delicacy, then extend the maceration in contact with the skins and then bring forward the placing in the barrel to November.

The result is a small masterpiece of harmony: a powerful but elegant and fresh wine thanks to the perfect acid content of the grapes.

The description written by Danielle Callegari perfectly reflects the character of this Rosso di Montalcino 2022 << Aromas of cherry, red orange peel, warm brick, earth and chopped sage create a nose that is at the same time austere, warm and structured. On the palate, crisp and fresh berries combine with notes of aromatic herbs, soil and citrus, all on deep and enveloping earthy tones>>.

WHO IS DANIELLE CALLEGARI

The comment is written by Danielle Callegari, editor for Italian wines at Wine Enthusiast. Danielle is a “super taster”, that is, a person with a higher-than-average number of taste buds, which allows her to identify flavors and aromas better than us mere mortals.…

L'articolo 92/100 AWARDED TO ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2022 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini, winedestination, Fattoria del Colle, Casato Prime Donne

James Magazine is an online magazine directed by journalist and wine critic Bruno Petronilli that draws inspiration from Fyodor Dostoevsky’s maxim “beauty will save the world”. A concept that is expressed in <<luxury of pleasure, including champagne and great wines, art, restaurants, travel, exclusive resorts, spirits, cigars. James Magazine, or rather passions, unstoppable and dazzling, that dominate the soul, the heart and the mind>>.

THE 2020 BRUNELLOS DISPLAYED BY JAMES MAGAZINE

On the occasion of Benvenuto Brunello, he tasted the 2020 vintage defined by the special panel organized by the Consortium as <<Enticing, brilliant, succulent>> adjectives to which James Magazine adds the words <<versatile and suited for aging>>.

Seeing my Brunello among the favourites for the 2020 harvest is a pleasure and a satisfaction. The three 2020 Brunellos on display are Vigna Montosoli by Canalicchio di Sopra, Donatella Cinelli Colombini and Podernovi di San Polo by Marilisa Allegrini. They are followed by 12 other labels, most of which are selections or single vineyards. My Brunello is instead the classic typology, the one we consider to be more vertical in style, elegant and capable of expressing terroir, vintage and vine variety.

THE 2020 BRUNELLO , SON OF A FAVOURABLE VINTAGE

From a climatic point of view, 2020 was marked by a frost in mid-March and a rainy spring followed by a torrid July and scarce rainfall until a storm at the end of August.…

L'articolo BRUNELLO 2020 CHOSEN BY JAMES MAGAZINE sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

by Alessia Bianchi, Fattoria del Colle, Casato Prime Donne

Visual analysis of extra virgin olive oil is considered of little relevance, which is why professional tasting glasses are deliberately coloured to mask visual characteristics that could influence the taster’s judgment. The shades of oil can range from yellow to intense green, but are linked to the variety of olive or the degree of ripeness. On the other hand the olfactory analysis is of considerable importance for the final judgement. The aroma perceived by inhaling, after having warmed the glass between the palms of the hands to bring it to the optimal temperature of 28°C, immediately reveals whether the aromas are pleasant or whether there are unpleasant sensations linked to defects.

A quality extra virgin olive oil must have a fresh and vegetal aroma, which can recall hints of artichoke, almond or tomato. The intense aroma is a distinctive characteristic of high quality oils and represents one of the main differences between a common extra virgin olive oil and an excellent product.

HOW TO TASTE OLIVE OIL

The taste analysis will allow you to describe the tactile stimuli such as fluidity, consistency and oiliness, and the gustatory ones (sweet, bitter, spicy)

There are three positive attributes

• Fruity – It can be light, medium or intense, depending on the intensity of the perceived olive aroma.

…

L'articolo EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL: TASTING AND STORAGE sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

For Donatella Cinelli Colombini, the 2023 harvest was <<the most difficult harvest of my life, with my husband Carlo in hospital in Malta and my daughter Violante who directed the harvest alone flying back and forth from Valletta>>.

Added to this were the rainfalls in spring and summer, the attacks of downy mildew and 3 small hailstorms.

In the end, few grapes arrived in the cellar, half the amount of the previous year, but of excellent quality. The Sangiovese grapes showed perfect analytical values. A new selector with optical reader completed the grape selection work by choosing only the best, berry by berry, with the utmost attention.

THE 2023 VINTAGE

After a very dry 2022, a very rainy 2023 arrived. It rained in winter and especially in spring with a June like a universal deluge. Even in summer, very hot days alternated with thunderstorms. The grapes changed colour at the end of August and then the ripening had a slow and regular character. An old-fashioned climate that gives rise to very classic wines.

CASATO PRIME DONNE IN MONTALCINO

Casato Prime Donne is all organically grown. It is located on the northern side of Montalcino on the slopes of the Montosoli hill. The vineyards surround the old farmhouse that gives its name to the property and belonged to Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s ancestors at least since the end of the sixteenth century.…

L'articolo Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2023 BIO-Organic sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Dear wine lovers, we have prepared an unmissable opportunity for you! Brunello Prime Donne 2020, an extraordinary wine resulting from a meticulous selection by four internationally renowned female experts, is available in a special proposal in two formats.

This is the first vintage in which Brunello Prime Donne is produced exclusively with grapes from the “Prime Donne” vineyard at Casato Prime Donne, with a limited production of only 5,000 bottles. A Brunello that embodies elegance, finesse and longevity, created to satisfy the palate of the most demanding female consumers, but capable of conquering everyone.

OFFER OF THE MONTH: TWO FORMATS FOR EVERY OCCASION

– The 0.75L bottle, perfect for an intimate dinner or a tasting among a few connoisseurs.

– The magnum (1.5L), ideal for special occasions and for those who love to see the wine evolve over time in a sublime way.

SPECIAL OFFER FOR MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

– 4 bottles (0.75L) of Brunello Prime Donne 2020 BIO

– 1 Magnum (1.5L) of Brunello Prime Donne 2020 BIO

– 1 personalized wooden lid from the Donatella Cinelli Colombini winery

Exclusive price: €292.00 instead of €338.00

€10 discount on shipping

For those who want to double their wine purchase

€575.00 (instead of €679.00) always with a €10 discount on shipping

OFFER FOR ALL WINE LOVERS

– 4 bottles (0.75L) of Brunello Prime Donne 2020 BIO

– 1 Magnum (1.5L) of Brunello Prime Donne 2020 BIO

– 1 personalized wooden lid from the Donatella Cinelli Colombini winery

Price: €316.00 instead of €338.00

€10 discount on shipping

For those who want to double their wine purchase:

€606.00 (instead of €679.00) always with a €10 discount on shipping

📌 Offer valid through March 21st 2025!…

L'articolo AN EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR TRUE ENTHUSIASTS sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Among the novelties for 2025 is the “driver discount” of €10 for those who have to get behind the wheel after the experience in the cellar and can therefore taste only one wine.

THE FIRST ITALIAN WINERY WITH AN ALL-FEMALE TEAM

Casato Prime Donne is the first winery in Italy to boast a staff made up exclusively of women, from the oenologist to the cellar workers, from the sales staff to the tourist reception staff. This pioneering choice underlines the commitment to female empowerment in the wine sector, giving our wines a unique touch of sensitivity and dedication

A TRAIL AMONG ART, HISTORY AND WINE

The cellar offers an immersive experience that goes beyond simple tasting. The paintings and videos seen inside tell the story and traditions of Montalcino, while the contemporary art installations in the organic vineyards create a perfect union between culture and nature. Visitors can explore a trekking route enriched by works of art and read the dedications of illustrious women surrounded by the breathtaking landscape of the Val d’Orcia.

At Casato Prime Donne there are five unique experiences available that celebrate the culture, wine and beauty of the Tuscan territory. Here is an overview of the proposals for 2025.

BRUNELLO AND FARM EVO OIL

The novelty for 2025 is an experience specifically designed for those who love all the excellencies of the Tuscan land.…

L'articolo CASATO PRIME DONNE: AN UNPARALLELED EXPERIENCE IN MONTALCINO sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

There are vintages that seem born to produce wines capable of defying time and 2019 is one of them.

These are the harvests in which the grapes arrive in the cellar so perfect that they don’t need anything, just attention and patience.

Brunello 2019 is celebrated by critics and consumers as one of the best vintages of the last 20 years and in the Riserva version it finds its most enthusing expression for the silky harmony that hides a powerful structure.

Contrary to what usually happens in the best harvests, 2019 was abundant. A circumstance that also occurred in the legendary 2010 vintage and reveals how global warming has changed the internal balance of plants. In both of these vintages the vines were still in vegetation at the time of the harvest. This is also a rare but very favourable feature.

BRUNELLO 2019 RISERVA IN THE VINEYARDS AND IN THE CELLAR

Mild and arid winter, very rainy spring which delayed budding and then disturbed flowering, resulting in the open

and small nature of the bunches. The summer was hot but not very hot and interrupted by some storms. Disturbances that continued into September when the nights became very cold.

The 2019 Sangiovese had small grapes with particularly thick skins that made it resemble Cabernet. For this reason, the must immediately took on a very rich colour and aroma.…

L'articolo BRUNELLO RISERVA 2019 ORGANIC CASATO PRIME DONNE sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Vinum is the most important wine magazine in German. This magazine often dedicates monographic issues to a region with profiles of characters and tastings. In this case the protagonist of the magazine is Tuscany. Violante Gardini Cinelli Colombini newly elected President of the Movimento Turismo del Vino –  Wine Tourism Movement is among the profiles described at the beginning while our Brunello Riserva 2018 is among the 10 TOP wines of this type.

VINUM AND CHRISTIAN EDER

As always, the scores are not very high, German culture is always sparing in its judgments and does not reach 1000/100 with the same enthusiasm as American critics. For Germans, perfection is a philosophical concept that almost requires something close to a miracle.

For this reason, the TOP 10 of Brunello Riserva 2018 are between 96 and 94 out of 100, that is, closely positioned. Overall, the best Brunello Riservas proposed by Vinum are 25 and three of them come from the area where Casato Prime Donne is located. A circumstance that demonstrates the growth in the qualitative potential of this corner of Montalcino which, twenty years ago, was too cool and now manages to express itself at a high level even in rainy years like 2018.

VINUM’S DESCRIPTIVE SHEET OF VINUM FOR THE BRUNELLO RISERVA 2018

The descriptive sheet of Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s Brunello Riserva is a palette of emotions, aromas and flavours.…

L'articolo BRUNELLO RISERVA 2018 IN THE TOP 10 BY VINUM sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

A circumstance that has never happened before which confirms the extraordinary vocation of the Brunello area for the cultivation of Sangiovese, its only grape variety. The favourable effect of the new climate which multiplied the excellent harvests was also confirmed.

However, 2019 and 2020 have different characteristics that enthusiasts will be able to enjoy comparing.

2020 A YEAR AND A BRUNELLO TO REMEMBER

In 2020, the year of Covid, there was a spring frost (18-23 March) which drastically reduced the grapes in the vineyards.

After a mild and arid winter, June was very rainy while from mid-July to the end of August the heat was never interrupted by storms. The good weather continued in September until the harvest when the disturbances began to arrive. The rain circled  around leaving Casato Prime Donne dry until September 25th when the harvest was almost completed. That day there was a real downpour but, fortunately, almost all the grapes were already in the cellar.

The 2020 Sangiovese grapes were perfectly ripe, healthy, with well-lignified seeds, small berries and the typical crunchiness of great vintages.

CASATO PRIME DONNE IN MONTALCINO

The Casato Prime Donne cellar, where this wine was born, is a flagship of female oenology and is the first in Italy with a staff of only women.…

L'articolo BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2020 ORGANIC sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

For you 2 exclusive wines, produced in very small series and intended for a small number of connoisseurs.

For this offer an excellent Tuscan style Spumante designed to accompany the entire meal. It is a Metodo Classico rosé Brut obtained from organically grown Sangiovese grapes

The offer also includes bottles of the late release Brunello di Montalcino 2018, each numbered and wrapped separately.

A unique opportunity for true wine lovers who want to receive two 100% Sangiovese wines produced in Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s wineries, ideal for Christmas and New Year celebrations but also for making very exclusive gifts.

OFFER FOR MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

2 bottles of Spumante Metodo Classico Rosé millesimato BIO 2020

4 bottles of Brunello 2018 late vintage release BIO

2 cotton sachets customized with the Donatella Cinelli Colombini logo

DURATION OF THE OFFER

The offer ends on November 8, 2024

PRICE

Euro 299.00

10 Euro discount on shipping

For those who want to double the order of wine bottles and cotton bags, the price is even more convenient

Euro 567.00

Always with a 10 Euro discount on shipping

 OFFER FOR ALL OTHER WINE LOVERS

2 bottles of Spumante Metodo Classico Rosé millesimato BIO 2020

4 bottles of Brunello 2018 late vintage release BIO

2 cotton sachets customized with the Donatella Cinelli Colombini logo

PRICE

Euro337.00

10 Euro discount on shipping

For those who want to double the order of wine bottles and cotton bags, the price is even more convenient

Euro 649.00

Always with a 10 Euro discount on shipping

BONUS GIFT

Together with the bottles you will find two cotton bags with the Donatella Cinelli Colombini logo to be used to gift a bottle or two to friends and relatives, or to also do blindfolded tastings with other wine lovers, keeping the identity of the wine hidden until the end, a very fun game!…

L'articolo OFFER: WINES FOR THE FESITIVITIES AND CHRISTMAS GIFTS sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

by #donatellacinellicolombini

For the first time, in many years, the ripening of the grapes was what winemakers dream of: the ripening of the pulp of the grapes (technological) and that of the skins (polyphenolic) occurred simultaneously and completely.

Average 13% alcohol, lignified seeds, small berries and bunches, good content of noble substances, acidity and PH just below perfection… And lots of grapes.

At the beginning of September no one was hoping for such a spectacular result, in fact everyone was pessimistic because the weather forecast was terrible.

CHRONICLE OF THE 2024 HARVEST: FROM PESSIMISM TO JOY

After 60 days of scorching temperatures in July and August, with temperatures of 37°C during the day and 22 at night, the vines are still. Veraison is slow and ripening does not seem to progress. Then the weather changes suddenly and a very rainy month begins: from early September to early October, around 200 mm of rain falls. It’s cold and at night the thermometer drops to 10°C.

Managing a climate of this kind is very difficult: you need a team of very good agronomists, grape growers and oenologists, excellent harvesting technology and a pinch of luck. We have all this and in fact we produce an amazing harvest.

We are lucky to have the vineyards full of small bunches, open with small grapes with thick and hard skins and therefore capable of resisting the rain.…

L'articolo BRUNELLO HARVEST 2024, A MASTERPIECE sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

It is nice to receive the invitation to the most charming Wine event organized for the award ceremony of the wines awarded 5 grappoli ( bunches)  in the BIBENDA 2025 guide. An event with an exclusive direction and full of affection dedicated to Italian producers. Franco Ricci, the great boss of Bibenda FIS – Italian Sommelier Foundation, calls it the Embrace Festival because it allows the best producers from all over Italy to meet again and share a beautiful moment.

NUMBERS OF THE BIBENDA GUIDE

The BIBENDA GUIDE is consulted by a million people. Its 27th edition 2025 contains 2,200 wineries and 15,000 wines. A complete repertoire of Italian production told and explained with care and precision. The award ceremony for the wines who have received the maximum score consisting of 5 grappoli (bunches) will take place on Saturday 16 November 2024 in the lounge of the Hotel Rome Cavalieri with the tasting of all the awarded wines.

BRUNELLO 2019 PRIME DONNE SELECTION

Brunello Prime Donne 2019 was born in a particularly lucky year with a harvest of extraordinary quality and abundant quality

The international press has rewarded it with excellent ratings:

96 Wine Spectator

95 Wine Enthusiast

95 Vinous

94 Wine Advocate Robert Parker

93 James Suckling

The Bibenda  5 bunches join a chorus of acclaim that echoes an international commercial success.…

L'articolo 5 GRAPPOLI BY GUIDA BIBENDA 2025 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

A unique opportunity for true wine lovers who want to receive 3 premium wines to open for important occasions such as festivities to serve with delicious dishes, or to organize a nice tasting with 3 vintages to be compared.

The Brunello di Montalcino Riserva by Donatella Cinelli Colombini is a great, extremely balanced and fine wine, which comes from a small vineyard of the Casato Prime Donne di Montalcino, the first winery in Italy with an all-female staff.

WHAT MAKES THE RISERVA SPECIAL

All Brunellos are able to last many years in the bottle, but Brunello Riserva is one of the greatest red wines in the world created for very long cellaring.

Donatella Cinelli Colombini produces Brunello Riserva in the Casato Prime Donne winery in Montalcino, Tuscany,

only in the best years and choosing by hand, one by one, the best bunches of Sangiovese grapes. A slow and careful way of working that allows only perfect grapes of the same level of ripeness to be sent to the cellar.

Before the harvest, the vineyards are divided into small parcels based on the tasting of the grapes. The area with the greatest qualitative potential is destined for the production of Brunello Riserva. The selection is made by tasting the grapes, just as was done a century ago, the laboratory analysis confirms the decision.…

L'articolo OFFER: RISERVA SUPER VERTICAL FOR THANKSGIVING sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

NEWS ON THE EXCELLENT VINTAGE 2022

Few very good and healthy grapes due to the 2021 frost which extended its effects into the following year, and also

due to the seven months of drought which put the vines and the winemakers to the test, as they were forced to continuously hoe the earth. 2022 will be remembered as the year of drought and tannins and it was also a very hot year where budding occurred early, also leading to an early harvest compared to the normal calendar. The small caliber of the grapes and their thick skins have allowed the creation of very structured and long-lived wines. The very favorable relationship between the skin and the juice of the grape has produced an exceptional concentration of noble substances and above all of tannins in the wine. For this reason, the vinification was very delicate and the maceration in contact with the skins was prolonged.

THE 2022 VINTAGE OF ROSSO DI MONTALCINO FROM CASATO PRIME DONNE

The result is a powerful and sunny Rosso di Montalcino, like the heat of summer 2022, but also with a surprisingly fresh sip thanks to the perfect acid content of the grape.

WHAT IS CHIANTI SUPERIORE

The Superiore type indicates Chianti with superior quality characteristics and aging ability. It is produced from vineyards with greater vocation and lower production.…

L'articolo OFFER: TWO ORGANIC 2022 FAMILY WINE PREVIEWS sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

In the land of Brunello, Chianti Superiore and Doc Orcia for an experience that lovers of Sangiovese and great Tuscan wines cannot miss.

Four days full of different and interesting experiences in the vineyards, in the cellar and in the tasting room. At the end, participants will receive a certificate demonstrating their growth in knowledge of the great Sangiovese-based Tuscan wines.

THE TOURIST HARVEST AS A FUN AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE

It doesn’t matter if you are an expert, the program will be fun and capable of interesting both great wine lovers and beginners.

Participants will stay at Fattoria del Colle, a small hamlet with 400 years of history. There are apartments and rooms, 3 swimming pools, a restaurant and of course the winery. Surrounding is a wonderful landscape of vineyards and olive groves. In addition to this farm Donatella Cinelli Colombini owns Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino with the vineyards and cellar that produce Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino. Donatella’s wines are produced in small exclusive series, exported to 44 countries and ten of them have been awarded scores above 90/100 in the international press.

TASTING THE GRAPES, THE MUST AND THEN THE WINE

The 2024 tourist harvest program includes tasting the grapes to learn the level of ripeness and the days left until harvesting.…

L'articolo TOURIST HARVEST 2024 WITH TASTINGS, EXPERIENCES AND DINNERS sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

We have always known that wine is not enough to generate wine tourism flows. We need a suggestive landscape, typical gastronomy and the presence of people with whom we can establish a relationship. More recently, with the exponential increase in tourist wineries (25,000), the most critical element is the proposal of experiences that are too similar to each other. In 96% of wineries, visitors visit the vat room and barrel room with an explanation of the production process followed by a tasting. It is only the size and importance of the latter that varies. This is why Roberta Garibaldi tells us that 66% of visitors think that the experiences in the cellar are all similar and there is a real risk that they will get bored.

But offering different experiences capable of teaching while having fun is possible, Donatella Cinelli Colombini shows us how.

TAILORED EXPERIENCES FOR EVERY TYPE OF WINE TOURIST

Identity, authenticity and diversity are the three key words. Donatella Cinelli Colombini invites you to her wineries at Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino and Fattoria del Colle in the Orcia DOC region to participate in unique and memorable experiences designed for different visitor targets. In Montalcino it is possible to have an itinerant wine and music tasting with 4 stops paired with different wines and different music – from Monteverdi to Frank Zappa.…

L'articolo WINE TOURISM DOES NOT REGARD ONLY WINE sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

NEWS ON THE 2019 VINTAGE

This harvest has two surprising characteristics: on the day of harvest the vines were still in vegetation, an unusual circumstance that also occurred in 2010. As in that magical year, the grapes fro Brunello 2019  were excellent and abundant. An increasingly frequent characteristic with the new climate in which the vines find balance with a higher number of bunches than in the past, but we maintain a production per hectare of 60 quintals.

The 2019 Organic Brunello di Montalcino from Casato Prime Donne celebrates the effects of the new climate which has especially rewarded the cooler areas of Brunello. The northern area of ​​the Montalcino hill, where Casato Prime Donne is located, has always been considered the humid and less sunny side. A circumstance that was once a misfortune and is now however a fortune because, together with the richness of clay that makes the soil cold, it allows a gradual maturation of the grapes even in the current hot summers.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BRUNELLO AND BRUNELLO PRIME DONNE

Brunello and Brunello Prime Donne are born in the first Italian winery with an entirely female workforce. Brunello Prime Donne, however, is the first long-aging red created for female consumers. Every year 4 super experts taste all of Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s Brunello and choose the barrels or tonneaux in which to mature it as well as the final blend.…

L'articolo OFFER: COMPARE THE TWO VERSIONS OF BRUNELLO 2019 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

The Sanchimento 2023 from Fattoria del Colle is a real treat for lovers of Donatella Cinelli Colombini wines. It is partly produced in amphora as was done in antiquity. This is a very small series of only 1200 bottles. The Rosso di Montalcino by Casato Prime Donne, on the other hand, is a wine already known and appreciated by international wine critics. This offer proposes something new to discover, and a confirmation!!

Two wines to drink now, without having to wait. Two fresh wines with an extraordinary aromatic richness.

THE NEW SANCHIMENTO 2023 BIO IN ORANGE VERSION

Sanchimento comes from organic Traminer grapes and, in the cellar, is produced according to organic protocols. The particular production process of this wine is the result of the creativity of Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s three oenologists, who in three years of experimentation have developed a method capable of enhancing the characteristics of the vine, increasing the complexity of the wine and giving it distinctive characteristics.

Upon their arrival in the cellar, the grapes are cooled in small baskets then a quarter of them are fermented in terracotta amphorae from Impruneta with the orange system, i.e. with the skins and without the addition of yeasts. The wine remains closed in the jar almost until bottling when it is combined with Sanchimento produced with the traditional method.…

L'articolo OFFER: NEW SANCHIMENTO WITH ROSSO DI MONTALCINO sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI PRESENTS YOU  WITH A SMALL SERIES OF BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2018 FROM CASATO PRIME DONNE OF GREAT QUALITY AND WITH AGING POTENTIAL

In 2018 a small quantity of grapes and then of wine was jealously kept separate from the rest in 4 5-7hl French oak tonneaus and finally also in a 15hl barrel, until it was bottled on its own.

The refinement in the bottle made the superior quality to the rest of the 2018 “vintage” Brunello even more evident.

This is why Donatella Cinelli Colombini and her daughter Violante have decided to emphasize the exceptional nature of this Super Brunello, born as an “experiment” and that has become a small jewel of only 3000 bottles for enthusiasts looking for exclusivity to drink

HOW DO YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE FROM THE BRUNELLO 2018 VINTAGE?

To distinguish it on the label, a golden stripe has been inserted on the base. These bottles will be numbered, wrapped one by one and marketed mainly in wooden crates. The price increase is minimal and only serves to highlight the difference.

THE 2018 HARVEST

2018 was different from the very hot years of recent years. The summer was cool, interrupted by storms and the best grapes were harvested last, as used to happen thirty years ago.…

L'articolo ONLY FOR THE CLUB: ORGANIC BRUNELLO 2018 “LATE VINTAGE RELEASE” sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI PRESENTS A SMALL SERIES OF BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2018 FROM THE CASATO PRIME DONNE WINERY WITH GREAT QUALITY AND AGING POTENTIAL

In each harvest the best grapes are identified in the vineyard, hand-picked with great care and vinified separately. The wine remains separated from the rest even during barrel maturation and is used to produce Brunello Riserva and Brunello Prime Donne. In 2018 a small quantity of grapes and then of wine were jealously kept separate from the rest, until they were bottled alone.
Almost an experiment to see if the similarity with the rest of Brunello would then disappear.
Instead, it increased.
The refinement in the bottle made the superior quality with respect to the rest of the 2018 “vintage” Brunello more evident and it was difficult to sell the 3000 Super bottles as if they were the same as the others.

This is why Donatella Cinelli Colombini and her daughter Violante have decided to emphasize the exceptional nature of this Brunello, born as an “experiment” and then becoming a little jewel for wine enthusiasts looking for exclusive bottles.
Determined to distinguish it from the rest, they inserted a golden stripe on the base of the label. The bottles will be numbered, wrapped one by one and marketed mainly in wooden crates. The price increase is minimal and only serves to highlight the difference.

2018 was different from the very hot vintages of recent years. The summer was cool, interrupted by storms and the best grapes were harvested last, as used to happen thirty years ago.…

L'articolo A SMALL SERIES OF 3000 NUMBERED BOTTLES OF BRUNELLO sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Compare 1 Magnum of 1.5 lt and 1 bottle of 0.75 of Brunello Riserva 2015 and then 1 Magnum of 1.5 lt and a bottle of 0.75 of Brunello Riserva 2016

An offer that makes wine tasting not only a pleasure but also a discovery. Therefore here we have two very great 5-star vintages to compare but also the possibility of appreciating the differences found in the same wine aged in different sized bottles.

INTERNATIONAL WINE CRITICS COMPARE THE TWO SUPERSTARS

Brunello Riserva 2016

95+ Wine Advocate by Robert Parker

94 Vinous – Antonio Galloni

93 Wine Spectator

92 James Suckling

90 Wine Enthusiast

Brunello Riserva 2015

95 Wine Spectator

94 Wine Advocate – Robert Parker

94 Vinous – Antonio Galloni

93 James Suckling

92 Wine Enthusiast

Quattro viti– Guide to Italian Wines VITAE, published by the Italian Sommelier Association

THE RISERVA IS ALREADY BORN SPECIAL

Brunello is generally a wine capable of lasting many years in the bottle, but Brunello Riserva is one of the greatest red wines in the world and was created for very long aging.

Donatella Cinelli Colombini produces Brunello Riserva in the Casato Prime Donne winery in Montalcino, Tuscany, only in the best years, the grapes are harvested by hand, choosing the best bunches of Sangiovese grapes one by one. Furthermore it is a slow and careful way of working that allows only perfect grapes at the same level of ripeness to be sent to the cellar.…

L'articolo OFFER: BRUNELLO RISERVA 2015 AND 2016, COMPARE THESE 2 VINTAGES sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

LCBO, a monopoly of the state of Ontario, is one of the most important buyers in the world, with very large stores in Toronto and other cities. In March 2024 it puts the spotlight on the women of wine, spirits and beer. Celebrating their talent and stories

THE CASATO PRIME DONNE WINERY IS A SYMBOL OF FOR WINE IN THE WINE WORLD

In the LCBO newspaper there is a photo of Donatella and Violante and the story of the first Italian winery, with an entirely female staff. The episode that marks the birth of Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino dates back to 1998, when her parents entrusted Donatella with two portions of the family properties, in which to give birth to her new project and, they gifted her  a small quantity of Brunello in barrels, to allow her to start her own commercial network.

For her, this wine was very important and so to take care of it Donatella needed an oenologist, so she called the oenology school in Siena, asking for the name of a good student to hire. They tell her no, there is a lot of demand and wine technicians must be booked years in advance. But when she asks for a female cellar manager the answer is different, they have a whole list because good cellars don’t want female managers.…

L'articolo THE CANADIAN MONOPOLY LCBO CELEBRATES WOMEN WITH BRUNELLO sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Incredible! Donatella Cinelli Colombini‘s Rosso di Montalcino 2021 continues to obtain awards from the most qualified tasters and steals the show from Brunello.

The commercial success is confirmed by super experts who emphasize the drinkable and at the same time elegant character of a young wine but capable of showing the world-class virtues of Sangiovese from Montalcino.

For Donatella Cinelli Colombini it is a great satisfaction because Rosso di Montalcino is a wine made by her winemakers alone, without external consultants. Donatella’s wineries – Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino and Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda – are the first in Italy with an all-female staff and pride themselves on always seeking faithful interpretations of the terroir and vintage. A “light oenology” as Professor Luigi Moio defined it, which leaves nature a leading role and the cellar staff the task of preserving the gifts of the vineyard without changing anything.

Here a super harvest like 2021 reveals its merits in the Rosso di Montalcino which heralds a great Brunello from the same vintage.

So, let’s go and see the reviews

4 TRALCI (VINE SHOOTS) FROM THE VITAE GUIDE FOR THE 2021 ROSSO DI MONTALCINO

The VITAE guide expresses the opinion of the AIS Sommeliers, the largest association in Italy with 40,000 members including professionals and amateurs.…

L'articolo ROSSO DI MONTALCINO ACCOLADES FROM CRITICS AND CONSUMERS sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

An offer that unites two wines with feminine names but which in reality are wines that everyone likes. However, for Women’s Day, and Women’s History Month these wines with complex, full-bodied and deep aromas, enveloping and intense like a hug, could be just the right purchase!

OUR TWO FLAGSHIP WINES ACCORDING TO THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS

BRUNELLO PRIME DONNE 2019 from Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino

95 + Vinous – Eric Guido

93 James Suckling

92 Wine Align

CENERENTOLA ORCIA DOC 2019 from Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda

92 James Suckling

WHY THE SELECTION IS CALLED PRIME DONNE

This Brunello was born in the first Italian winery with an entirely female workforce and is the first long-aging red created for female consumers. Every year 4 super experts taste all of Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s Brunello and choose the barrels or tonneaux in which it matures as well as the final blend. They are the Masters of Wine, Rosemary George and Madeleine Stenwreth, the wine expert Astrid Schwarz and the Sommelier Daniela Scrobogna. Therefore, based on their decisions, the winemakers at Donatella Cinelli Colombini create Brunello Prime Donne which is generally the most structured and is produced only in the best harvests.

WHY THE NAME CENERENTOLA FOR THIS ORCIA WINE

The Orcia denomination was established on February 14^th 2000 in the high hills that lie between the territories of Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.…

L'articolo OFFER: BRUNELLO PRIME DONNE 2019 AND CENERENTOLA ORCIA DOC 2019- 2 LEADER WINES IN PREVIEW sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

The Superiore denomination indicates a Chianti with superior quality characteristics and aging ability. It is produced only in vineyards that have a greater vocation and lower production. This Chianti Superiore is certified BIO-organic  and is a “farmhouse” wine as we call it in Tuscany, that is, it is a “family wine” born in the property’s vineyards, and then vinified, matured and bottled by the same winery.

Indicazione Geografica Tipica, on the other hand, is one of the five denominations present in Italy, namely DOP, DOC, DOCG and IGP, used to indicate the best table wines present on the community market, which respond to certain characteristics such as production area and the use of traditional techniques.

THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS HAS ALREADY NOTICED OF OUR IL DRAGO E LE 8 COLOMBE

92 James Suckling

92 VINOUS – Eric Guido

92 Wine Enthusiast

CHIANTI SUPERIORE AT THE TABLE

Chianti is a gastronomic wine, that is, it was created to accompany food. It is very versatile and goes well with typical Italian dishes based on pasta, meat, cheese or cured meats but also fusion cuisines or those of other cultures such as non-spicy Chinese dishes or Indian ones

IL DRAGO E LE 8 COLOMBE AT THE TABLE

This wine is very versatile and even multi-ethnic, it goes well with classic Tuscan foods such as Florentine or mature pecorino and cured meats but also intensely flavoured dishes from oriental cultures

2021 AN UNUSUAL PUZZLE HARVEST

They called the 2021 harvest this way because the vineyards were divided into small areas based on the ripeness of the grapes.…

L'articolo OFFER: CHIANTI SUPERIORE 2021, IL DRAGO E LE 8 COLOMBE, 2 FAMILY WINES sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

The Brunello of this vintage is characterized by a particular richness of aromas thanks to the cold nights of the entire maturation period and by the evident vocation for long aging.

2018 follows a year of extreme heat and therefore everyone welcomed the insistent spring rains with joy. In fact, the storms continued, making the winemakers work a lot and worrying the cellar staff because the bunches, and especially the berries, were too big. Furthermore, a disturbance of Nordic origin at the end of August had stiffened the grape skins. In September the positive turning point: sunny days made the grapes return to their optimal size, progressively softening the skins. To favour the action of the sun, the vines were stripped. The Sangiovese grapes for the 2018 Brunello Riserva were harvested on October 1st.

HARVEST AT CASATO PRIME DONNE AND THE ROLE OF THE GRAPES PICKED FOR THE RISERVA

It is worth explaining how the harvest is planned at Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino. The vineyards surround the winery. They are on 4 different types of soil and with different exposure.

During maturation the grapes are analysed to follow the evolution of sugars, acids and polyphenols, i.e. the noble materials contained in the skin. Shortly before the harvest, the oenologists taste the grapes and divide the vineyards into small areas with the same level of ripeness.…

L'articolo BRUNELLO RISERVA 2018 BY DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Donatella’s Club members will be among the first in the world to taste the new releases from the  Casato Prime Donne winery. Directly to your home 3 bottles of Brunello 2019 and 3 bottles of Riserva 2018 for €339.00

This offer is for those who want to start the new year with the right wines to celebrate any special occasion!

The 2019 harvest is to be considered one of the best harvests in Montalcino, with perfect grapes for the production of a great Brunello apt for aging. The 2018 Brunellos are characterized by a particular richness of aromas thanks to the cold nights during the entire maturation period and can be cellared for a long time.

FIRST RATINGS FOR THESE TOP WINES

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2019 

94 James Suckling

94 Michael Godel – Wine Align

92 Vinous – Eric Guido

92 Monica Larner- Wine Advocate

Brunello Riserva DOCG 2018

94 Vinous – Eric Guido

93 Michael Godel -Wine Align

92 Monica Larner – Wine Advocate

BRUNELLO 2019 AND THE NEW CLIMATE

The 2019 Organic Brunello di Montalcino from Casato Prime Donne celebrates the effects of the new climate which has especially rewarded the cooler areas of Brunello land. The northern slope of ​​the Montalcino hill, where Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s estate is located, has always been considered the most humid and least sunny side. A circumstance that was once a misfortune and is now a fortune because, together with the richness of clay that makes the soil cold, it allows a gradual maturation of the grapes even in the current hot summers.…

L'articolo OFFER: BRUNELLO 2019 AND BRUNELLO RISERVA 2018 PREVIEW sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

<<The proposals of the tourist wineries must be designed based on the specificities of each production reality and the needs of the visitors>> says Donatella Cinelli Colombini, inventor of the Cantine Aperte- Open Cellars day <<it is wrong to copy from your neighbour who is successful, it is wrong to only offer the guided tour with the explanation of the production process by only changing the number of wines being tasted, it is wrong to offer the same thing every year even if it was liked in the past. Enough of photocopy wine tourism>>.

5 WINERY TOURS AT CASATO PRIME DONNE AND 5 AT FATTORIA DEL COLLE, TAILORED EXPERIENC

ES FOR TOURISTS AND FAMILIES, WINELOVERS AND ENTHUSIASTS WISHING FOR EXCLUSIVITY

Faithful to the principles she teaches in the manuals and post-graduate courses, Donatella presents 5 different winery tours this year for each of her wineries, the Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino and the Fattoria del Colle in the Orcia DOC region. The former focused on Brunello and the latter on the discovery of a Tuscan farm that has remained almost intact for over 400 years.

The challenge is to offer experiences different from any other in Italy, to tell the story of the first Italian wineries with an all-female staff and finally renew ourselves compared to the past by aiming at an audience where “repeaters” grow (those who have already come and return) , women and tourists with little knowledge of wine.…

L'articolo ENOUGH OF PHOTOCOPY WINE TOURISM sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini #winedestination

The most difficult harvest of our lives.
My husband Carlo in hospital in Malta after he fell down the stairs, in our home in Gozo, which took him first  to the operating room and then to intensive care. Now he is recovering slowly: he talks, eats and moves his legs and arms but at the beginning it was really hard.
Violante, between one trip and another to Malta, managed the company and the harvest. For the first time alone managing the most important moment of the year and with a big innovation compared to the past: the optical reader for selecting the grapes.
The harvest was excellent in quality and very scarce in quantity. Half the amount of last year.

In addition to the downy mildew, we had 3 small hailstorms and then the assault of the ungulates. The roe deer jumped the fence of the Casato Prime Donne vineyards in Montalcino and the tourists left the gates at the Fattoria del Colle open, inviting the wild boars in for a snack.
2023 will be remembered as the year of downy mildew. An <<announced disaster >> say the German agronomists who had had the same experience before us and who asked to modify the organic regulations so as to have the tools to combat the fearful fungus.…

L'articolo 2023 HARVEST IN BRUNELLO AND ORCIA sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

A unique opportunity for true wine lovers who want to receive 3 premium wines to open for important occasions and to serve with delicious dishes, or to organize a nice tasting with 3 vintages compared.

The Brunello di Montalcino Riserva by Donatella Cinelli Colombini is a great wine (100% Sangiovese) extremely balanced and fine, which comes from a small vineyard at Casato Prime Donne di Montalcino, the first winery in Italy with an all-female staff.

Together with the bottles you will find a small gift: a personalized apron from the Donatella Cinelli Colombini winery.

OFFER FOR DONATELLA’S CLUB MEMBERS

2 bottles of Brunello Riserva 2013

2 bottles of Brunello Riserva 2015

2 bottles of Brunello Riserva 2016

And

1 apron with the Casato Prime Donne logo

DURATION OF THE OFFER

The offer ends on 06 October 2023

PRICE

395.00 Euros (instead of 462.00 Euros)

15 Euro discount on shipping

For those who want to double by buying 4 bottles of each Riserva the price is even more convenient

Euro 764.00 (instead of Euro 918.00.)

Always with a 15 Euro discount on shipping

OFFER FOR ALL OTHER WINE LOVERS

2 bottles of Brunello Riserva 2013

2 bottles of Brunello Riserva 2015

2 bottles of Brunello Riserva 2016

And

1 apron with the Casato Prime Donne logo

PRICE

425.00 Euros (instead of 462 Euros)

15 Euro discount on shipping

For those who want to double by buying 4 bottles of each Riserva the price is even more convenient

Euro 823.00 (instead of Euro 918.00)

Always with a 15 Euro discount on shipping

HOW TO ORDER AND BUY THIS OFFER WITH ONE CLICK

Order now on our online shop and the wine will be delivered directly to your home!…

L'articolo OFFER: VERTICAL OF 3 TOP BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO RISERVA sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

The Casato Prime Donne winery in Montalcino has renovated its Tuscan-style store, made by Tuscan artisans and designed by  Tuscan Lorella Salvi

Faithful to her principles, Donatella Cinelli Colombini wanted the Casato Prime Donne to speak the area in which it is located. She hates “non-places”, i.e. environments that could be anywhere in the world and do not tell their own story. So, when she realized that her cellar store needed a restoration, she called Lorella Salvi from the OMIF company in Siena and asked her to <<reorganize this space for me using the style of the place, the local materials and the craftsmen of this area>>.

THE CASATO PRIME DONNE STORE

Lorella smiled but understood. She has been collaborating with Donatella for many years and designed the 3 stores for her: Tuscany Lovers in Siena, Bagno Vignoni and Cortona. For the Casato Prime Donne she therefore designed an environment of very Tuscan austere elegance: wooden shelves with pilasters and frames that recall the old pharmacies of the region, Carrara marble top as in the taverns and three ancient terracotta jars (obviously Tuscan) to support the counter and the glass surface on which to prepare the tastings. Some choices have been controversial such as those regarding the marble, which <<gets stained but when stained it becomes more seasoned and more real>>.

The overall effect is that of furniture “that has always been there” perfectly integrated with a stone farmhouse built over four hundred years ago.…

L'articolo NEW LOOK FOR THE CASATO PRIME DONNE WINE SHOP sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Donatella Cinelli Colombini, art historian winemaker, wanted her most exclusive wine to be like an author’s painting and has prepared a certificate in which to note every change of hand of the bottle after leaving the cellar. A document that tells the story of wine after the stage of production and also places the right emphasis on who owns it because, it is well known, how the presence of “excellent names” increases its value.

The first bottle with a “pedigree“, therefore with the “family tree” of the owners, is a Brunello di Montalcino 2016 IOsonoDonatella.

It is a very small numbered series of only 180 copies. It begins its marketing in February 2023 inside a luxury box which also contains the 2013 and 2015 vintages of the same wine. Together they form a vertical destined for great wine lovers and collectors. The presence of the certificate on the IOsonoDonatella 2016 is the last touch that increases its prestige.

IOsonoDonatella IS BORN AT CASATO PRIME DONNE IN MONTALCINO

IOsonoDonatella is a super selection of Brunello produced in small series only in the best vintages. It is obtained from Sangiovese grapes from the Casato Prime Donne vineyards in Montalcino at an altitude of 225 meters on Pliocene soils with a prevalence of clays and marine sands.…

L'articolo Brunello IOsonoDonatella 2016 first wine with a pedigree sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

INAUGURATION OF THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINIAND DIVINEA WINE SUITE

Donatella Cinelli Colombini inaugurates the collaboration with Divinea – WineSuite with 8 wine experiences designed for the new tourist – explorer in search of unique, engaging, authentic moments, that are respectful of nature and local traditions. Strengthened by her profound knowledge of the wine tourism phenomenon, proven by the 5 manuals she has written, Donatella has decided to proceed in two directions: ultra-traditionalism in the experiences of tourists and a lot of innovation in contacts.

CRM AND WINE TOURISM

Hence the wine hospitality in the  wineries Casato Prime Donne  in Montalcino and Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda will use a CRM system to manage contacts.

For Italian wine tourism it is something new and capable of transforming cellar visitors into customers who continue to buy bottles, even after returning home, through the wine club and proprietary e-commerce.

CRM – Customer Relationship Management – is in fact a system capable of developing contacts which, in Donatella’s case, start from an archive of about 10,000 names.

WINERY TOURS 2023 AT CASATO PRIME DONNE MONTALCINO

The four  2023 wine tourism proposals at Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino differ from those normally organized by Italian wineries and are aimed at visitors with a different degree of interest in wine.…

L'articolo 2023, THE YEAR OF THE NEW WINE TOURISM sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

An intense autumn for Tuscan wines with Benvenuto Brunello which extends from 11 to 21 November and has its key day on the 17th when the preview  of the new 2018 vintage will take place simultaneously in five cities around the world, namely London, Toronto, New York , Los Angeles and Montalcino. Don’t be surprised if I say that Montalcino is a city. It has had this title since the mid-fifteenth century (1462) and was confirmed just a few months ago with a decree by the President of the Republic.

BENVENUTO BRUNELLO 2022 BECOMES INTERNATIONAL WITH BRUNELLO DAY

The Benvenuto Brunello calendar marks the tasting of the new 2018 vintage by dividing the days for operators, press, wine lovers and even for the producers of Montalcino who will be able to taste the wines by their colleagues and in so drawing food for thought. The gala dinner was prepared by chef Valeria Piccini from the two Michelin-star “Da Caino”  restaurant in Montemerano who studied the menu based on local products and especially white truffles.

As usual, the setting of the event is the monumental complex of Sant’Agostino, a Gothic convent where the Brunello Consortium, Ocra -Scuola permanete dell’Abitare and the Tempio del Brunello which “immerses” visitors in culture and in the wines of Montalcino and is among the winners of the Tiqets 2022 Remarkable Venue Awards.…

L'articolo BENVENUTO BRUNELLO AND AGRIETOUR WITH GREAT EMOTIONS sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

A great Brunello born in an “old-style” harvest.

The BIO rules do not allow the use of systemic chemicals and in 2018, a very rainy year, the winemakers of Casato Prime Donne had to work hard and very promptly to defend the vines from powdery mildew and downy mildew, but they succeeded.

THE 2018 VINTAGE IN THE BRUNELLO VINEYARDS

An “old-fashioned” vintage with a cold and rainy summer, very slow ripening and harvest on the normal dates of late September.

Very rainy winter and spring (16 rainy days in January, 16 in February, 20 in March, 11 in April and 18 in May). Summer alternated with peaks of heat and thunderstorms. In September, the sunny days and cold nights allowed a slow and gradual ripening of the grapes with a progressive decrease in the size of the berries and an excellent synthesis of aromas.

HARVEST AND VINIFICATION OF THE BRUNELLO PRIME DONNE 2018

Faithful to its “old-fashioned” character, the 2018 vintage also had a harvest similar to those of our grandparents, with the best grapes harvested last, and we divided the vineyards into many small portions that were vinified separately in many small 50 hl vats in bare concrete. Even the vinification was “old fashioned” with higher temperatures than usual especially at the end.…

L'articolo Brunello Prime Donne 2018 BIO sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

After a very dry 2017, the first half of 2018 was very rainy and replenished the soil’s water reserves. A positive element for nature but also a challenge for those who cultivate the vineyards. 16 rainy days in January, 16 in February, 20 in March, 11 in April and 18 in May. In June the Sangiovese vines for Brunello had few bunches and a lot of grass also because we grow organically and therefore without herbicides.

THE 2018 VINTAGE IN MONTALCINO

An English summer, with an umbrella always at hand and, at the end of August an Arctic disturbance that whitened the Alps and stiffened the skin of the grapes in our vineyards. September had sunny days and almost winter nights. An anomalous climatic situation that has greatly helped the vineyards. The grapes became smaller and as they matured they softened and an amazing synthesis of aromas took place.

The aromatic richness is the characterizing element of the 2018 vintage.

HARVEST 2018

Defying the weather forecasts, which fortunately were wrong, the harvest was delayed until the end of September.

As I said, a real challenge as rain was forecast every day and instead only arrived when the harvest was almost over.

All the grapes were harvested by hand, leaving the best for last as our grandparents did.…

L'articolo Brunello di Montalcino 2018 BIO sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Montalcino’s series of extraordinary harvests does not seem to want to stop: 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. Never before has the land of Brunello lined up such a dazzling sequence.

Each vintage with different characteristics to create the desire and curiosity to taste them all. Rosso di Montalcino offers this opportunity rather quickly and here is the 2021, vigorous and velvety after six months spent in cask.

The young appellation of Montalcino is experiencing a period of particular success. A growing market demand that has literally emptied the cellars, monographic tastings by Sommeliers and journalists, an event that highlights “RED Montalcino” and a number of articles never seen before. In short, it is a trendy wine that young wine lovers like for its drinkability and pleasant and understandable style.

VINTAGE 2021 IN MONTALCINO

The frost in early April drastically reduced the number and size of the bunches. Summer climate with extreme trends and peaks of heat over 40 ° C in mid-August. Some large thunderstorms mitigated the effects of the high temperatures even though the summer was dry overall with only 31mm of rain between June and the harvest. This reduced the size of the berries which reached full, healthy and homogeneous ripeness. The very strong temperature range, between night and day, in September favoured the synthesis of aromas, giving the future wine a particular aromatic richness.…

L'articolo Rosso di Montalcino 2021 from Casato Prime Donne sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Never before has there been such a favorable sequence. A great gift for winemakers but also a great challenge because the three vintages had very different characteristics and therefore had to be interpreted in a different way.

2020 started badly with a small frost during the bud (18-23 March) which reduced the quantity of grapes. The winter was mild and arid. The rain came in June in a very abundant way, throughout the month. The heat began in mid-July and lasted until September with almost no rain but with a strong difference in temperature between night and day. At the time of harvest, the grapes were very small, perfectly ripe and with totally lignified seeds. They gave rise to colourful and fragrant musts with the typical crunchiness of the great Sangiovese vintages.

Rosso di Montalcino 2020 comes from the same ORGANIC vineyards as Brunello. The winemakers at Casato Prime Donne, just before the harvest, divide the vineyards into small plots, by tasting the grapes. Those to be used for the Rosso di Montalcino must have a good component of polyphenols and potential alcohol but lower than those that will produce the wine destined for long aging. Rosso di Montalcino must in fact give satisfaction to those who drink it in the first years of life.…

L'articolo ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2020, 5 STARS sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

It is wonderful to see your wines in the Wine Spectator Insider. A weekly preview of Wine Spectator that reaches wine lovers and collectors from all over the world. It is like seeing your jewel in the Cartier window on Place Vendome in Paris, that is, in the city of fashion and in the most visible spot for the most glamorous millionaires.
There are two 2017 Brunellos made by Donatella Cinelli Colombini in the Wine Spectator Insider and both with 93/100. Excellent result that our USA Importer immediately relaunched on social networks.

BRUCE SANDERSON’S DESCRIPTION OF THE 2017 VINTAGE OF BRUNELLO

Bruce Sanderson’s description of the 2017 harvest is masterful in terms of synthesis and effectiveness  << The winter was mild and rainy until March, when temperatures increased, leading to an early bud break. In mid-April, a frost occurred which caused some damage. However, the biggest impact was the drought from May to August, with high temperatures in July and August…. The rain in mid-September refreshed the vines and revived the grapes>>.
The description of the harvest highlights the different dynamics in the southern part of Montalcino  where the harvest began in early September and in the northern area, where the Casato Prime Donne is located,  grapes were picked 3 weeks later with lower temperatures.

Overall a harvest scarce in quantity which favoured the old vineyards and those who carefully selected the grapes by eliminating the ruined grapes.…

L'articolo 93 and 93/100 to the two 2017 Brunellos 2017 by WS sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Obviously there are the masks, the access limits to the stands …. But Vinitaly restarts stronger than before and pleasantly different with a greater use of electronics in the intersection between wineries and foreign buyers. 4,400 companies, 19 nations, 700 top buyers, 17 pavilions, 30 conferences, 76 tastings.
We like it!

VINITALY 2022 FOR MY WINERIES – HALL 6 STAND D4

I have an invitation to the wonderful inaugural show dinner dedicated to La Grande Bellezza with dishes by Davide Oldani!
For my wineries Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino and Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda (Hall 6 – Stand D4) the commitment is concentrated in tastings because the years of Covid years have seen a surprising increase in the foreign commercial network and therefore there is a small army of importers who wants to taste the new vintages.

Our novelty is the Metodo Classico Brut Rosé spumante made with only Sangiovese  which is surprising everyone with its fine and distinctive character.
The novelty of Vinitaly 2022 is MicroMega, a pavilion reserved for small emerging wineries selected by Ian D’Agata.
The wonderful tasting by Raul Salama who presents Italian wines made by French oenologists is beautiful, showcasing also our Brunello Riserva 2016 signed by Valérie Lavigne.

VINITALY 2022 OF THE DONNE DEL VINO – WOMEN OF WINE

The Donne del Vino – Women of Wine in a dazzling phase with 8 initiatives and the “benfinita” dinner at the Gran Guardia with the typical dishes of the three main regional delegations: Veneto, Puglia, Sicily respectively led by Alessandra Boscaini, Marianna Cardone and Roberta Urso.…

L'articolo VINITALY 2022 UNDER THE BANNER OF WOMEN sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

It is always a great pleasure to receive positive reviews regarding one’s wines and when there are many it is truly a feast. Wineries generally notice that a good rating has been published thanks to the arrival of orders. In this case, Violante Cinelli Colombini, sales manager, received a substantial booking from Canada and shortly after another from the USA, “a good score must have come out”, she said with a smile. Shortly after she read the good news on the Wine Advocate-Robert Parker website: 95+ for Brunello Riserva 2016. 94/100 for Brunello 2017 “Prime Donne”. 93/100 for Brunello 2017 and a nice 90/100 at Rosso di Montalcino 2019. This latter is perhaps the most spectacular result because it concerns a wine that is not part of the Montalcino oenological Olympus but rather part of the younger and less expensive ranks.

All these wines come from Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s cellar in Montalcino, Casato Prime Donne which has been certified BIO since 2018.

Let’s see one by one the reviews and descriptions written by the talented Monica Larner, editor for Italian wines of Wine Advocate – Robert Parker and an excellent journalist with an exploratory nature.

95+ BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO RISERVA 2016

Silky and refined, it also shows the power and intensity that characterize the climate of this classic vintage.…

L'articolo ROBERT PARKER WINE ADVOCATE 95+, 94 & 93 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

WINE TOURISTS ARE NOT ALL THE SAME AND DO NOT ALL HAVE THE SAME DESIRES

Donatella Cinelli Colombini, who invented the Cantine Aperte event and teaches wine hospitality in  master courses, also knows that wine tourists are a small army made up of people with different profiles and expectations: there are those who are just intrigued, true enthusiasts and Brunello lovers , there are the insatiable eager for extraordinary exclusivity, but there is also those who want to spend their free time learning in a playful way. Wine tourists have changed compared to 2019, when no one knew about Covid, and above all they now want different things. Today, those who arrive in the wine territories are hunting  foe emotions and  want to immerse themselves in a pesticide-free countryside, cultivated by those who are passionate, traditionalists but also willing to share.

<< To this diversified multitude the vast majority of Italian wineries offer only one type of experience: visit between vats and barrels with an explanation of the production processes and tasting >> says Donatella << This is wrong>>.

FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE: 4 EXPERIENCES FOR TOURISTS IN BRUNELLO

Here Cinelli Colombini moves from theory to practice and instead of just writing manuals on wine tourism, has decided to lead by example by designing 8 experiences for visitors in her wineries Casato Prime Donne in Brunello and Fattoria del Colle, in Chianti and in the Doc Orcia.…

L'articolo Donatella Cinelli Colombini, puts into practice new wine tourism sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Realizing this dream as a wine lover and creating a community of new friends around it becomes possible with “Affina in cantina” – a project created and implemented by Vigneron.wine.
It is possible to buy the bottles now and leave them to refine in the Casato Prime Donne cellar in Montalcino, where there are ideal conditions of temperature, humidity and darkness.

REFINE YOUR WINE IN THE CELLAR – BECOME A PROTAGONIST IN THE LAND OF BRUNELLO

An experience for true enthusiasts that allows, even those who do not have an ideal place to cellar wine at home, to buy and store important bottles to drink, perhaps in a few years time, on an important day.

Those who buy will receive a certificate and their bottles will have a unique identification code so that they cannot be replaced and are always kept in a special space in the cellar. After 3-6 years, when the wine has reached the TOP quality, the wine lover will be able to collect them without other additional costs for their conservation even if the value of the wine will certainly have increased.

HAVE BOTTLES AGING AT CASATO PRIME DONNE, GO TO SEE THEM AND BE ABLE TO COLLECT THEM A FEW AT A TIME

Delivery will take place at Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino or by requesting the shipment to your home (to be paid separately) even one bottle at a time.…

L'articolo CELLAR YOUR WINE AT CASATO PRIME DONNE sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

There is a famous phrase by Winston Churchill (statesman and Nobel Prize for Literature 1874-1965) that corresponds to the feeling of the Brunello winemakers in 2017 << not always to change is equivalent to improving, but to improve you have to change>>.

MONTALCINO REIGN OF THE GREAT SANGIOVESE IN 2017

In truth, Montalcino is among the wine districts most benefited by climate change and, even in 2017, it was spared from frosts and other climatic disturbances that affected other areas.
However, summer 2017 was scorching also in Brunello land.  While the oak woods turned orange in the middle of summer, the grape growers at Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino looked after the Sangiovese vineyards with the hoe helping them to overcome stress.   In the end, the organic cultivation, which made the soil softer and more alive, as well as the reduction of the bunches and the management of the canopy to shade, have borne their fruit.
Few grapes but very good.

BRUNELLO 2017 HARVEST WITH EXTREME SELECTION OF GRAPES

The harvest was a painstaking work. The grapes were harvested by hand dividing the bunches of the two sides of the espaliers. Something slow, artisanal and very demanding both from an organizational and an economic point of view.
But <<to improve you have to change>> and maybe change means going back to the grandparents’ systems and recuperating from your memory the old vineyard practices. …

L'articolo BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2017 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

BRUNELLO 2015, SUPERTUSCAN IL DRAGO E LE 8 COLOMBE 2018 AND OUR ORCIA DOC LEONE ROSSO 2019 AT HOME

For relaxing moments at home, for those who love to experiment with dishes from all over the world and even mix and serve them during same dinner. For those who have fun and get excited by combining foods and wines from different cultures.
To these wine lovers we offer a 6-bottle carton with three family wines from Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s vineyards and matured in her cellars at Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino and Fattoria del Colle in southern Chianti in Tuscany. The carton will arrive directly at your home.

We propose again the Brunello di Montalcino 2015 by Casato Prime Donne, a 5-star vintage, more ready to open now, for an evening with friends or for a romantic dinner for two. An extraordinary vintage that was celebrated even before going on the market, and where the climatic trend shows the characteristics of the best Brunello vintages. The international press awarded this wine with excellent ratings:
• “TRE BICCHIERI” Vini d’Italia 2021 – Gambero Rosso
• 95 James Suckling
• 94 Wine Spectator
• 94 Wine Advocate – Robert Parker
• 93 Decanter
• 92 Wine Enthusiast
• 90+ Vinous – Antonio Galloni

Il Drago e le 8 Colombe 2018 instead comes from the Fattoria del Colle where three varieties are used with creativity and produce a true IGT Toscana “signature wine”.…

L'articolo OFFER: MIX OF FLAGSHIP WINES sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

There is a magic, a mystery, a beauty … in nature, which must be understood and enhanced. In 2016 in the vineyards at Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino one of these wonders took place in the Sangiovese grapes for Brunello.

THE MAGIC OF THE BRUNELLO 2016 BORN FROM A LONG VEGETATION CYCLE

Every year, to produce grapes, the vine performs a vegetative cycle similar to the pregnancy that gives birth to babies.
For women it lasts nine months, for the vine six.
Two months from budding to flowering, two months from flowering to veraison, which means to the change of colour of the clusters and the last two months until harvest.
With climate change when it is very hot the budding takes place, often, 15 days sooner and therefore also the harvest generally takes place in advance compared to the traditional calendar.
Instead, in 2016, the vegetative cycle, so the pregnancy of the grapes began early and ended late because in the last phase the climate slowed down the ripening.

This has created an authentic masterpiece in the vineyards at Casato Prime Donne. The perfect grapes that produced a very elegant and satisfying Brunello, silky like very thick velvet, deep and able to defy time.

CASATO PRIME DONNE IN MONTALCINO

Casato Prime Donne is a property of 40 hectares of which almost half are vineyards of Sangiovese variety.…

L'articolo BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO RISERVA 2016 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Those who arrive in Montalcino have different curiosities: there are those who know little or nothing about wine and know Brunello almost only by hearsay. Then there are the wine lovers always looking for new experiences and new knowledge about Brunello. Finally, there are those who want only exclusive, exceptional experiences made especially for them.
Casato Prime Donne, in the northern part of the Brunello territory, offers 4 tailor-made experiences for these wine tourists making each of them live something exciting and different from any other winery.

CASATO PRIME DONNE A SPECIAL WINERY FOR SPECIAL CUSTOMERS

is a very special place: it is the first Italian winery with an all-female staff; it exports to 41 foreign countries and produces wines with very high ratings from the international press. But visitors find something more than a farmhouse from the late sixteenth century full of barrels and vats, there is the story of the history of Montalcino in images, there are installations by contemporary Tuscan artists, which allow you to experience wine in an unusual way. This wealth of different elements enriches the tourist route and has allowed the creation of 4 experiential visit proposals capable of exciting and surprising newcomers and very experienced Brunello enthusiasts too.

For detailed programs and to book just click on the site or call +39 3455495154

FOR TOURISTS: BRUNELLO EXPERIENCE AND NOT ONLY

Visit to the vineyard and cellar, anecdotes, itinerant tastings and photos in the artistic installations.…

L'articolo Casato Prime Donne revamps its experiences with Brunello sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

<<In my experience as a wine producer, which is now very long, I remember only two other harvests like this: 2010 and 2016>> said Donatella Cinelli Colombini, commenting the 2019 vintage. A confirmation that Montalcino has had an increasing frequency of excellent vintages thanks to climate change that seems to benefit inland Tuscany.

THE ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2019 AND THE MORE AND MORE FREQUANT 5 STAR HARVESTS

There are also other changes; contrary to the past, the great harvests of the new millennium, generally, are also abundant in grapes and the vineyards are still in vegetation during the harvest days.

Another feature of 2019 and of the other great recent harvests in Montalcino is the small size of the berries and bunches. <<It seems Cabernet>> the oenologist Valérie Lavigne told Donatella, visiting the vineyards to decide the harvest calendar. A comment that does not do justice to Sangiovese, king of Tuscan oenology, but that had a touch of truth in it because, in 2019, Sangiovese di Montalcino behaved exactly like the most famous French variety by immediately giving a lot of colour to the must.

THE SAME SANGIOVESE AND THE TWO DIFFERENT WINES FROM MONTALCINO

Rosso di Montalcino comes from the same Sangiovese vineyards where Brunello is born. The grapes are chosen to become one of the two wines based on the component of alcohol, acids and polyphenols that must be more abundant for the type of wine destined for long aging.…

L'articolo Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2019 by Donatella  sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Donatella Cinelli Colombini tells of how she climbed her mountain leaving the comfort of a family of established Brunello producers to create an estate of her own <<in 1998 my parents gave me two properties to renovate in Tuscany, but at the beginning there were no cellars and the vineyards were to be replanted. My small team asked me “if someone calls what must we say” and I replied “you say that we are Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s estates >> a starting point that took her far.

At that time she had many doubts because she remembered her grandfather Giovanni Colombini’s advice <<never give your name to a company because when it is sold it is like giving your identity away>>.

DONATELLA GRANDE DAME OF BRUNELLO BUT ALSO PASSIONATE AND VISIONARY

But Donatella wanted to make it and doubts turned into opportunities because already in 2010 she was able to harvest a great Brunello and six years later she was invited to present the Riserva version, at the most exclusive tasting in the world, the New York Wine Experience.

A dream come true and that had to be celebrated by transforming the recommendation of her grandfather into a proud statement “IOsonoDonatella” the “pasionaria”, the visionary one who focuses on women, the revolutionary one who opens the Italian cellars to tourists the Grand Dame of Brunello as Vinum has recently called her <<so this is the wine that talks about me>>.…

L'articolo IOsonoDonatella Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

For years, vinifying a “single vineyard” has been a happy memory. The search for quality in grapes has become so maniacal that the harvest has become a patchwork that brings together small quantities of clusters of the same variety but with similar or completely opposite characteristics to balance each other.

<<Take the grapes from this corner, put them together with those from the vines from the central area of the vineyard next door and then move three parcels further on to take the rest to be vinified in the same vat>>. Barbara Magnani, the senior oenologist of my cellars, has the map of the harvest plan in her mobile phone so as not to miss the complicated collage.

HARVEST 2021- THE PATCHWORK HARVEST

They are all Sangiovese grapes from our vineyards. The new thing, compared to the past, is that they come from different areas and even from different sides of the espalier. The harvest has become similar to a treasure hunt where you use your mouth to select the grapes and the scales to weigh them in order to fill the vat in a single day exactly with the most homogeneous grapes.

In the end we realized that winemaking vats over 100 hl no longer serve us and we will have to sell them to fill the fermentation hall with many small containers with a capacities of 20, 30, 50 hl but not larger.…

L'articolo 2021 grape harvest collage sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Not only Brunello gets great ratings from the international wine press, but also the younger reds produced by Donatella Cinelli Colombini.

The manual care, the organic certification, the maniacal selection as keys to success

Her vineyards at Casato Prime Donne and at Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda are now adult and, also thanks also to organic cultivation, they are sending to the cellar grapes of extraordinary quality: healthy, well balanced in maturation and with berries of very small caliber.
The production of grapes is scarce, in the 30 hectares of the two wineries. The largely manual cultivation and the entirely manual harvest allows to divide the grapes according to quality and maturation. In the cellar, human intervention are very limited and mainly concerns the autumn and spring racking, the wine matures the large barrels and 5-7 Hl smaller barrels at a temperature of 18 ° C.

10 wines over 90/100 with peaks of 97/100 for Donatella Cinelli Colombini

All cared for and manually done in the manner of our grandparents.

The result is amazing: 10 wines with scores of 90/100 from the international specialized press and peaks of 97/100.

A success that excites because it concerns the whole range, from Brunello to be cellared to young reds. This is a sign of great respect for customers and of a small winery with an increasingly great brand.…

L'articolo 90/100 for Rosso di Montalcino and 92/100 for Leone Rosso sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

The Rosso di Montalcino BIO (organic) that we are proposing to you is from the vineyards at Casato Prime Donne belonging to Donatella Cinelli Colombini in the excellent 2018 harvest, rated 4 stars.
This is an important wine destined only to restaurants and demanding wine lovers. It is a refined organic family wine.
6 bottles of DOC Rosso di Montalcino will arrive directly at your home together with a professional corkscrew and a vacuum stopper that will perfectly preserve the wine still in the bottle after opening, till the next day.

ROSSO DI MONTALCINO SPECIAL PRICE FOR MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

6 bottle case of Rosso di Montalcino BIO (organic) 2018 + professional corkscrew + vacuum closure:
Euro 127 (instead of Euro 154)
For those who wish to double the order buying 12 bottles the price is even more convenient
Euro 229 (instead of Euro 288)
Free shipping in Italy, 15 euro discount on shipping abroad

PRICE FOR THOSE NOT YET MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

6 bottle case of Rosso di Montalcino BIO (organic) 2018 + professional corkscrew +vacuum closure:
Euro 136 (instead of Euro 154)
For those who wish to double the order buying 12 bottles there is an ulterior advantage
Euro 256 (instead of Euro 288)
Free shipping in Italy, 15 euro discount on shipping abroad

Sangiovese grapes grown in Montalcino have something special and almost magical: they produce satisfying, harmonious and velvety wines while young, who, in the most structured types, become Brunello and are able to age for many years.…

L'articolo ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2018 CLUB OFFER sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

In the Tuscany of fine red wines, in an historic winery, unique and pleasant experiences such as guided tours with itinerant tastings, gourmet dinners with 3 courses perfectly matched with specific wines, the winemaker game, cheese making ….. Many engrossing moments to which can be added: hiking, photography safari, tastings in front of breathtaking views or walks with resting stops to enjoy the silence and perfumes of the countryside.

FATTORIA DEL COLLE IN AN UNCHANGED CORNER OF THE OLD TUSCANY

Fattoria del Colle  (click to book) was born in 1592 as a rural hamlet that, during the centuries has been miraculously preserved and offers now holidays in apartments, rooms and villas. These are furnished with authentic furniture, a modern comfort in the welcoming simplicity of the countryside. Surround there are equipped parks, 23 swimming pools, a restaurant, banquet hall, cookery school and natural wellness area.

THE BRUNELLO, CHIANTI AND DOC ORCIA WINRIES AND THEIR INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS

The most important thing is of course wine. The owner, Donatella Cinelli Colombini, created the first two Italian wineries with an all-female staff at Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda and Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino. A flagship for women’s oenology that in just 22 years has managed to produce a range of wines of absolute excellence, 9 of which with scores above 90/100 in the international specialized press and to export to 39 countries around the world.…

L'articolo WINE EXPERIENCE IN TUSCANY DURING THE EARLY SUMMER WEEKENDS sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Three TOP vintages, nearly legendary ones, for those who love Brunello and want to have some bottles for special occasions:

1997: like many great vintages it didn’t start well; there was a spring frost that reduced the number and dimension of the clusters;

2007: a year without winter and with a cool summer that produced a deep Brunello, apt for long cellaring;

2012: a hot year with a perfect September for the ripening of the grapes.

Wines that have been highly rated by the international wine critics and able to surprise and thrill. These will arrive at your home in a wooden crate apt to be cellared, together with 6 Riedel Performance glasses so as to taste them in a perfect way.

OFFER FOR MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

3 bottles wooden crate containing:

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 1997,  Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2007 and Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 + 6 Riedel Performance crystal glasses

SPECIAL PRICE FOR MEMBERS: 339 Euro (instead of 399 Euro) offer valid until April 2nd, 2021

For those who wish to double the offer, so two times a 3 bottles crate with 12 glasses, the price is even more convenient: 660 Euro

The price includes shipping in Italy, and a 15€ discount for those abroad.…

L'articolo 3 Brunello from 5 star vintages for celebrations and collections sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini

My mother Francesca was born in Modena where her grandfather, Pio Colombini, eminent dermatologist, was rector at the University. A prestigious role, in the second oldest university in Italy (that Pio Colombini filled with self-celebratory plaques), in a small but cultured and rich city, where all the family lived very happily. To confirm these feelings my mother has hanging in her bedroom, a photograph of the building where she was born, but she remembers with pride that <<in our Montalcino home we got electricity way before in our house in Modena>>. From the period in Emilia still today lingers in our family an unbelievable love of homemade tortellini.

FRANCESCA COLOMBINI IN MONTALCINO IN THE BOOK “IL VINO FA LE GAMBE BELLE” (WINE MAKES FOR BEAUTIFUL LEGS)

An only child my mother was brought up practically as if she were a man: she would go hunting and could drive tractors and trucks. Before and during the Second World War my grandfather Giovanni Colombini would allow her to take part in everything that happened. Most of her memories are found in the book Il vino fa le gambe belle (2005). A tale that also regards the metamorphosis of Montalcino, from being a small, florid, rural and warrior hamlet, to being a poor settlement because of the farmers abandoning the countryside and finally to becoming the city of Brunello.…

L'articolo My mother Franceca is 90 today sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Donatella and Violante Cinelli Colombini will taste the Brunello Prime Donne 2016 online. It will be an exclusive event reserved to those who choose this offer.  The date will be sent out as soon as the wine will have arrived to your home and it will take place during the weekend.

The Brunello Prime Donne 2016 went on sale on January 1st 2021 and so this is practically a preview. Some of the major wine critics have tasted it, so we have their enthusiastic ratings for you.

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO PRIME DONNE 2016 RATINGS

• Robert Parker/Wine Advocate: 96
• Vinous Antonio Galloni: 95
• James Suckling: 96

FOR MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

6 bottles of Brunello di Montalcino 2016 Prime Donne in an exclusive wooden crate + a vacuum stopper
Price of 274 Euro (instead of 324 Euro) until February 12^th, 2021

Those who wish to double the order with 2 crates for a total of 12 bottles of Brunello 2016 Prime Donne
Price of 528 Euro (instead of 648 Euro) until February 12^th, 2021

FOR THOSE NOT YET MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

6 bottles of Brunello di Montalcino 2016 Prime Donne in an exclusive wooden crate + a vacuum stopper
Price of 304 Euro (instead of 324 Euro) until February 12^th, 2021

Those who wish to double the order with 2 crates for a total of 12 bottles of Brunello 2016 Prime Donne
Price of 578 Euro (instead of 648 Euro) until February 12^th, 2021

HOW TO ORDER

Order now on our online shop!…

L'articolo CLUB OFFER: Brunello Prime Donne 2016 in wooden crate sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Once you have received the wine at home you will also be able to taste  the two Brunello online with Donatella Cinelli Colombini. The date will be sent out as soon as the wine will have been delivered. It will be a very exclusive appointment during a weekend.

As you know Brunello becomes legally Brunello and can be consumed only after midnight at the end of its 5^th year. So what we are proposing now are not yet  Brunello and Brunello Riserva, they will become so on January 1st  2021 and you shall be among the first to taste them and share them with your friends. The will be delivered to your home with the vacuum stopper that keeps the wine till the next day.

Brunello brings god luck and it will make you begin 2021 like a true wine lover!

Happy New Year !!!!!

Obviously some wine critics have just recently tasted the wines and have given excellent reviews.

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2016 RATINGS

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate                   95

Vinous Antonio Galloni                                93

James Suckling                                            94

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO RISERVA 2015 RATINGS

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate                  94

Vinous Antonio Galloni                              94

James Suckling                                        93

OFFER FOR MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

3 bottles of Brunello di Montalcino 2016 and 3 bottles of Brunello Riserva 2015 + a vacuum stopper

Price 329 Euro (instead of 367 Euro) until January 5th, 2021

For those who wish to double their offer to 6 bottles of Brunello 2016 and 6 bottles of Brunello Riserva 2015

Preice of 618 Euro (instead of 724 Euro) until January 5th, 2021

FREE SHIPPING IN ITALY AND A 20,00 Euro DISCOUNT ABROAD

OFFER FOR THOSE NOT YET MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

3 bottles of Brunello di Montalcino 2016 and 3 bottles of Brunello Riserva 2015 + a vacuum stopper

Price 341 Euro (instead of 367 Euro) until January 5th, 2021

For those who wish to double their offer to 6 bottles of Brunello 2016 and 6 bottles of Brunello Riserva 2015

Price 646 Euro (instead of 724 Euro) until January 5th, 2021

FREE SHIPPING IN ITALY AND A 20,00 Euro DISCOUNT ABROAD

For Italy the price includes shipping, for those ordering from abroad there is a 20,00 euro discount on transportation costs.…

L'articolo Just for you Brunello 2016 and Brunello Riserva 2015 previews sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

A 5 star vintage.  Like the gestation period of a human being there is a process that brings the grapes to the day they are picked and it lasts a precise time, and varies only because of the climate, but generally made up of three 2-month phases for a total of 180 days.
In 2016 the budding of the vines took place 15 days sooner than normal and this should have brought forward the harvesting period by 15 days. Instead the biological cycles slowed down and the harvest took place at the usual time.
The ripening was perfect, like every grape grower dreams of. Sunny days, cold nights, only one storm on September 18th. Small clusters with small berries and a parallel evolution between skin and pulp that brought to the harvesting day with a perfect technical and poliphenolic ripening.

BRUNELLO 2016 AND DONATELLA RETURNS TO THE ORIGINS

For Donatella Cinelli Colombini and the Casato Prime Donne winery 2016 was a return to tradition, vinifying Brunello in concrete tanks with mechanized punching down of the cap of grape skins. Obviously these are up to the minute French tanks, as is the punch down mechanical system, but the procedure is the same as 500 years ago.…

L'articolo Brunello di Montalcino 2016 from Casato Prime Donne sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

In the spring of 2016 the vines budded 15 days sooner than usual, but the grape harvest took place at the beginning of October, more in line with the traditional calendar.  For the first time in the last twenty years Donatella Cinelli Colombini saw her grapes ripen in the old way. The accumulation of sugar in the grapes proceeded more slowly than the ripening of the polyphenols and everything happened very gradually thanks to the sunny days (only one storm on September 18^th) and to the cold nights. When harvest time arrived the ripening was perfect both in the skin and in the grape pulp.
Sangiovese grapes able to produce long lasting, deep and complex wines. Very elegant wines with silky tannins and a great harmony. Wines that are similar to those that Donatella learned to love as a young woman with her grandfather Giovanni Colombini and that, now in fact, are vinified like long ago; in small unlined concrete vats, using autochthonous yeasts and punching down the caps with the plunger.

BRUNELLO PRIME DONNE SYMBOL OF FEMALE TALENT IN WINE

The Brunello Prime Donne is the symbol of the first winery in Italy to be all female staffed, Casato Prime Donne on the North-West slope of Montalcino. Three female winemakers work here – Barbara, Sabrina and Giada – plus an external consultant, Valérie Lavigne.…

L'articolo Brunello Prime Donne 2016 in preview sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

An elegant wooden box full of important bottles to celebrate the festivities: two Brunello Riserva 2012 and two Brunello Riserva 2013 and two bottles of Vin Santo 2008

FESTIVE SEASON WINE CRATE

FOR MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

SPECIAL PRICE of 329€ (instead of 380€)  including wooden crate and free shipping in Italy or with a 20,00 Euro discount abroad

FOR THOSE NOT YET MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

PRICE of 357€ (instead of 380€) including wooden crate and free shipping in Italy or 20,00 Euro discount for shipping abroad

HOW TO ORDER AND PAY

To order the wine send an email to vino@cinellicolombini.it
Payment via bank draft or Visa and MasterCard.

DURATION OF THE OFFER

This offer finishes on November 17th, 2020

SEND US PHOTOS AND VIDEOS PLEASE

We will be particularly pleased to receive your photos and your videos with our wines to publish them on our Instagram and Facebook pages via email to the following address: holiday@cinellicolombini.it or tag us in your posts wit @donatellacinellicolombini
In this way you too will be part of everyday life at Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino and at Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda, in the most beautiful part of Tuscany.

WOODEN CRATE FOR 6 BOTTLES WITH 2 RECIPES

In the wooden crate with the Bottles of Brunello Riserva and Vin Santo you will find a special card with two recipes: Scottiglia, a typical meat dish from Montalcino and Ricciarelli, delicious Christmas cookies.…

L'articolo CLUB OFFER: Brunello Riserva 2012 and 2013 with Vin Santo del Chianti sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini

In the confusion of the first days of lockdown, while all Italians were shut in their homes, my grape growers continued to go into the vineyards armed with written authorization for travelling by car, and with the first masks on their face. To complicate things, around March 20^th, while the vines were just budding, a frost arrived that burned the young leaves. Not a tragedy we all know that we have to hope for a low yield year because Covid-19 will devastate the markets. Such devastations arrived, even worse than we imagined. For this reason I decide to abandon 4 vineyards in 2020 for a total of 8 hectares. On these areas, which obviously I consider of less quality, we will only do the bare minimum.

SPRING FROST AND SPONTANEOUS REDUCTION IN GRAPE PRODUCTION

So I precede the decisions of the Minister Bellanova regarding the green harvesting.
The 2019-2020 winter was very mild and dry. During lockdown at Fattoria del Colle that was deserted, my husband Carlo and I console ourselves sunbathing at lunch time. Flowering of the vines happened between the end of May (in Montalcino) and the beginning of June (at Fattoria del Colle).

DRY AND MILD WINTER, RAINY JUNE, TORRID JULY

In June after several “drought” months the rainfall finally arrives, allowing us some relief, because regardless of Covid-19 we had succeeded in planting a new vineyard at Casato Prime Donne.…

L'articolo CHRONICLE 2020 IN BRUNELLO VINEYARDS AND WINERIES sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

From  Friday evening until Sunday to see how fine red wines from Tuscany are born, touching the vines, the grape clusters, and seeing the various phases of the vinification but mostly tasting must, wines, and Reserves … so as to understand the evolution of Bacchus’s nectar with the help of great experts. Three journalists will tell the history of Tuscan wine and the specificities in the production of Tuscan wines and of Sangiovese. A chance not to be missed for wine lovers, where they can stay in peace in the vast spaces of the countryside and in the healthy ambiance of the BIO (organic) vineyards.

FULL EXPERIENCE GRAPE HARVEST WITH BRUNELLO CHIANTI AND ORCIA

18-20, 25-27 September, 2-4, 9-11 October with a program that includes visits, wine tastings, direct experiences and an in -sight lesson with a super expert.

The frame for these weekends full of experiences and emotions is Fattoria del Colle, 2 and a half hours from Rome and Bologna, one hour from Florence and Perugia.

18 km from the A1 exit Valdichiana-Bettolle.

Fattoria del Colle is a small rural hamlet from the end of the 16th century. There is a villa, a chapel and the old farmers’ houses that have now become lodgings for guests, furnished with antiques and with modern comfort.…

L'articolo Full experience Grape Harvest in Tuscany sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

As in everything else it is the quality of the ingredients that makes the difference, if courage and creativity are added too. The fruit salad that everybody calls macedoine is an easy dessert that can conclude with style a meal if well ripe mixed fruit is used, with lots of lemon and some sugar.

FRUIT SALAD WITH GRAPPA DI BRUNELLO

If you wish to obtain something really super, then an addition of pine nuts, raisins, nuts and dried apricots, a generous shot of grappa and some whipped cream or artisan ice cream. It is worthy reflecting on these two last ingredients. To use a fine estate grappa from the Brunello lees from Casato Prime Donne  and distilled by Marolo in Piedmont makes all the difference.
If the cream is made with excellent raw products and whipped at the last moment at home, or if the ice cream is Italian gelato….not cream that we used during covid lockdown  (at least Silvia found some of that though!) … then you will have a n extraordinary final dessert for your meal.

FRUIT MACEDONIE WITH GRAPPA IN GOZO IN MALTA

Let me tell you a brief personal anecdote. I do not know how to cook, but when I am in our home in Gozo-Malta together with my husband Carlo Gardini, we love inviting guests for dinner and we do our best to prepare Tuscan style dinners with our measly culinary notions.…

L'articolo Fruit salad with Grappa di Brunello sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Wine and tourism out in the open. A formula born by necessity because of social distancing due to Covid-19. Come to live a new wine experience. Discover the vegetative cycle of the vine, the soil, the grape varieties and most of all the panorama. For instance the landscape here becomes a protagonist of outdoor toasts and wine tastings.

CASATO PRIME DONNE WINE TOUR IN THE BRUNELLO VINEYARD

Casato Prime Donne a Montalcino is open also on Saturday afternoons from now on. It proposes a tour with an itinerant tasting of Rosso, Brunello di Montalcino and Brunello Riserva. It is possible to see some of the organic Sangiovese vineyards and also where the wine ages in barrel and vinifies (at least from outside).

There will be explanations regarding the vintages of Brunello in front of the Calendar with the stars. It will be possible to interact with some of the modern art installations. There is the selfie frame, or Punti di Vista and the Modernacolo created for Carla Fendi. The tour lasts about an hour and is very engaging.
Just one request: it is necessary to book beforehand.

FATTORIA DEL COLLE MANY PROPOSALS FOR STAYS AND DAILY ACTIVITIES

It is important to register before leaving home also for stays at Fattoria del Colle . Here the activities proposed to guests are many and diverse because the farm is like a small hamlet for the 16th century surrounded by vineyards and olive groves with a splendid panorama of the Crete Senesi and the Valdorcia.…

L'articolo The Casato Prime Donne and Fattoria del Colle wineries reopen sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Come and spend a weekend in the most beautiful countryside on a real four hundred year old farm. Among the vineyards, olive groves and breathtaking views Fattoria del Colle proposes stays in rooms with private bathrooms and in apartments with outdoor private areas equipped for eating out-of-doors. Carefully sanitized inside and out so as to guarantee the safety of the guests. However to avoid possible contamination, daily cleaning is still not supplied, just the delivery of clean linen.

REGENERATE OUT IN THE OPEN, TOURS WITH TASTINGS AND THEMED DINNERS

3 equipped parks where to sunbathe, admire the panorama and enjoy the quiet of the countryside, 1 swimming pool, 3 signposted hiking trails, where one discovers nature, a special trail dedicated to the vine.

The excursion to Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino (Saturday 11 am) with a tasting of Rosso, Brunello and Riserva. Then the  guided tour of the vegetable garden and the vineyards at Fattoria del Colle (Sunday 10,30 am). This includes a tasting of Doc Orcia Cenerentola, of another two wines and of the 2019 extra virgin olive oil enrich the stay with new experiences.
At Fattoria del Colle the restaurant serves dinners based on 6 samplings of traditional recipes prepared by Alessandro the chef. He gives you an overview of Tuscan flavours: Pinci, Pappardelle, sugo di nana or aglione, Scottiglia, Peposo, Latte in piedi and Ricotta montata …

The two halls in the restaurant and the large outside area allow the tables to be well distanced so that guests will eat in privacy and safety.…

L'articolo Summer weekend among the Tuscan vineyards sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Itinerant tastings that resemble adventures out to discover vineyards and wines, aromas and tastes, panoramas and historical locations. Also the proposal for a day at Fattoria del Colle to regenerate in a safe place, in contact with nature an able to tell a story centuries old. An itinerary dedicated to vineyards and to the wines they produce. Another activity that proposes an itinerant tasting with a mixture of history, aromas and flavours. A lunch experience to taste different Tuscan cheeses or cold cuts, and on Saturdays the possibility of an excursion to the Brunello di Montalcino winery Casato Prime Donne.

Tours and lunches are organized upon request and must be booked the previous day calling +39 0577 662108 or via email at info@cinellicolombini.it

ITINERANT TASTING IN THE VINEYARDS

3 vineyards, 3 grape varieties and 3 wine tastings (h. 12,00 midday from the farm courtyard)

Itinerant tasting of the wines in the organic vineyards with the same variety of grapes are grown: Traminer for the IGT bianco Sanchimento, Foglia Tonda for the Doc Orcia Cenerentola and Sangiovese for the Brunello that is made in Montalcino at Casato Prime Donne visible at a distance. This experience thanks to an expert guide will be a fun discovery of the characteristic of the three varieties and of the vines they produce (15 Euro per person).…

L'articolo Fattoria del Colle new top wine destination sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

An exclusive proposal for Brunello lovers, those passionate about fine red wines apt for cellaring and of superb collector’s vintages: 2004, 2007, 2012 all in the RISERVA version and in a wooden crate. All vintages that have been rated five stars with excellent write-ups from the international specialized press.

OFFER: 6 BOTTLES OF BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO RISERVA 2004, 2007, 2012 IN A WOODEN CRATE AND 6 RIEDEL GLASSES FROM THE PERFORMANCE COLLECTION

This offer finishes on June 16th, 2020

FOR MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

Special price of 559,00 Euro (instead of 658,00€)

We offer free shipping in Italy and 15€ discount on shipping abroad.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT YET MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

Special price of 592,00 Euro (instead of 658,00€)

To this price the cost of shipping must be added, for Italy the cost is 18€, while the cost of shipping abroad varies from nation to nation and will be quoted upon receiving the order.

Payment via bank draft or via credit card Visa o MasterCard.

The offer finishes on 16th of June 2020.

TO BOOK SEND AN EMAIL TO

vino@cinellicolombini.it

——————————————–

THE RIEDEL GLASS FOR BRUNELLO

To taste Brunello, crystal glassware is necessary, a balloon shaped cup narrower at the top.…

L'articolo A vertical of Brunello Riserva together with its glasses sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda, a municipality where there have been no cases of Covid-19, and Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino, where those infected have been just a handful, thanks to a Sangiovese in a patron saint version, these are the locations where Donatella Cinelli Colombini, from July 1st, expects tourists and wine lovers.
She wants to offer them fun and regenerating holidays, or just a few hours rest, immersed in the beautiful and uncontaminated landscape, tasting wines of extraordinary quality.

COUNTRY INN STAYS AT FATTORIA DEL COLLE

Holidays in apartments and rooms with private and equipped outdoor area to eat out-of-doors. Weekly stays, but also 2 nights stays with two dinners and wine tastings. To sanitize against Covid-19, medical-surgical products and a hydrogen peroxide system are used.

For safety reasons daily cleaning cannot be done in the apartments and rooms, so they must we considered self care/self-catering with just a daily supply of clean linen.

PARKS, SWIMMING POOL AND HIKING

Fattoria del Colle has a total surface of 336 hectares and consequently offers wide spaces to regenerate out in the open air. There are 3 equipped parks where to sunbathe, admire the panorama and enjoy the quiet of the countryside, 1 swimming pool, 3 signposted hiking trails, where one discovers nature, a special trail dedicated to the vine.…

L'articolo Fattoria del Colle reopens Country Inn and Restaurant sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

All Brunello is able to last in bottle for many years; the Riserva version is born for very long cellaring. Donatella Cinelli Colombini produces Brunello Riserva only in the best vintages, choosing by hand a small quantity of absolutely perfect Sangiovese grapes. For this reason Brunello Riserva has only been made 10 times in 13 years.
Always small quantities, for each vintage about 6.000 regular bottles and 100 magnums get produced.
The Magnum size 1,5 lt is the size where the wine is preserved best. If you are a wine lover and you want to surprise your friends with two exceptional Brunello, do not miss out on the possibility of buying these magnums of Brunello Riserva 2012 and 2013.
They will arrive in wooden boxes, directly on your doorstep together with a vacuum wine saver. This will help you store the bottle and be able to enjoy the wine, within the next few days.

OFFER- BRUNELLO RISERVA 2012 AND 2013 MAGNUM IN WOODEN BOX

Receive directly at home in  A WOODEN BOX AND WITH A VACUUM WINE SAVER

FOR MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

Special price  248 Euro (instead of 310) up until May 19th 2020

We offer free shipping in Italy and a 10€ discount on shipping abroad.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT YET CLUB MEMBERS

Special price 265 Euro (instead of 310) up until May 19th 2020

To this price the shipping cost must be added, for Italy 18,00€ while abroad the cost varies from nation to nation and will be quoted upon acceptance of the order.…

L'articolo 2 magnums of Brunello Riserva, 2012 and 2013 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Incredible offer for all Brunello lovers. A 5 star Brunello, at a special price for you to organize a real super dinner or a virtual dinner that will have all your friends die of out of envy . Because this Brunello is extraordinary and you will be among the first to drink it. In the wooden case there is also a vacuum closure to help you preserve the wine left over for a few days. The bottles that you do not want to open now can be stored in your wine cellar for great occasions in the future. In the meantime they increase in quality and in value.

WINE SPECTATOR AND WINE ADVOCATE 94/100

Have you seen the Wine Spectator April edition of Insider? Our Brunello di Montalcino 2015 has been rated 94/100 with this description << Complex and harmonious, this red evokes cherry, plum, earth, tar and wild herb flavours. Bright and solidly built, with a long finish echoing fruit, mineral and underbrush >> then the suggestion << Best from 2023 through 2042>> Bruce Sanderson.

The same wine gt the same rating of 94/100 from Wine Advocate –Robert Parker <<The Donatella Cinelli Colombini 2015 Brunello di Montalcino caps long years of careful study and experimentation. When I think back to what this wine tasted like, say, 10 years ago, I notice that the ongoing stylistic tweaks faithfully reflect the general evolution of the appellation.…

L'articolo OFFER: Brunello 2015 Robert Parker-Wine Spectator 94/100 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Di Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Two posts , the second will follow in a few days, where the welcoming staff in the wineries and country inn belonging to Donatella Cinelli Colombini in the uncontaminated heart of Tuscany, tell us of their isolation. Antonella, Silvia, Carolina and Sara from Montalcino, Trequanda, Sinalunga and Rapolano tell us the following

ANTONELLA MARCONI AND WINE TOURISM AT CASATO PRIME DONNE IN MONTALCINO

The First who speaks is Antonella, half Italian half English she lives in Montalcino and has two sons, the oldest of which is an excellent archer and who often competes in the archery tournaments among neighbourhoods in Montalcino: the Sagra del Tordo and the Apertura delle Cacce.

Her photo is taken in front of her home directly in front of the Fortress in Montalcino <<What has been most difficult for me about the lockdown >> she explains<< has been the continuous change and addition of rules and regulations. I am pragmatic and these daily changes have been quite trying emotionally. After this isolation I just want to go back to work, back to the winery in Casato Prime Donne, and give tours again. Contact with people, for those who like me work with the public, is really being missed a lot.…

L'articolo Cornavirus and tourism in Tuscany sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino and Fattoria del Colle in southern Chianti, the first in Italy to have an all female staff in Italy, see the arrival of two new entries: Sabrina Buzzolan and Giada Sani.

THE TWO YOUNG WINEMAKERS AT CASATO PRIME DONNE AND FATTORIA DEL COLLE

Two young winemakers who will share the responsibility of producing Brunello, Chianti Superiore and Doc Orcia under the supervision of  Barbara Magnani who for the past twenty years has been Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s right arm. In medium -long term the idea is to renew the staff. Though at the moment Donatella and Barbara intend to keep the younger staff under Barbara’s wings to strengthen their abilities and to stimulate the desire to innovate without forgetting tradition and nature. <<An alchemy that requires courage, love of the territory and passion for cellar work>> explains Donatella Cinelli Colombini while presenting the two new arrivals. Both are small and minute, they are different though in aspect and in personality.  Giada is Tuscan from Asciano, 10 km away from Fattoria del Colle; she has dark long hair and love tidiness.  Sabrina Buzzolan comes from Malo Vicenza; she has blonde curly hair and the skin tone of the women by Tiziano.

SABRINA BUZZOLAN GLOBETROTTER AND WINEMAKER

In their professional journey there are differences too. Sabrina studied at San Michele all’Adige and then in the University in Udine where she got a degree in viticulture and oenology.…

L'articolo Donatella’s two new young winemakers sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

2017 in the vineyards is explained in the words of the Divina Commedia by Dante << guarda il calor del sol che si fa vino>> (Canto 25 of Purgatory). Poetic words that describe a very hot summer where the vines suffered for the draught for month and the grape growers tilled the land to impede that the soil hardened.

A vintage, 2017, that expresses itself at its best in young wines, such as the Rosso di Montalcino, and has among its strong points the Mediterranean vigour and pleasantness. It is in other words a raring, hot, powerful and velvety Sangiovese.

MONTALCINO, TERROIR WHERE SANGIOVESE EXPRESSES ITSELF BEST

Montalcino is, in the world, the territory where Sangiovese expresses itself at its best. An extraordinary territory that makes something extremely difficult happen, in fact it makes it even seem easy: to produce with the same grapes and from the same vines, young wines that are extremely pleasant and elegant, like Rosso di Montalcino, and super premium wines apt for long ageing such as Brunello.

VINTAGE 2017 IN MONTALCINO AND IN EUROPE

In Europe, the 2017 vintage will be remembered as the scarcest and most troublesome of the last 50 years because of a frost at the end of April, and because of a dry and torrid summer, and finally because of the hailstorm in September.…

L'articolo Rosso di Montalcino 2017 by Donatella sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

In the Casato Prime Donne winery lit with chandeliers, listening to music from the late 15th century with a glass of Brunello in hand and some food from renaissance times. Donatella Cinelli Colombini wishes to dedicate Cantine Aperte 2019, in her winery in Montalcino to the Tuscan genius Leonardo da Vinci this year, 500 years since his death.

Leonardo had a vineyard in Milan not far from Santa Maria delle Grazie where he painted the Cenacle. In 1515 he wrote the rules for the correct way to produce wine and gave wine practically a spiritual role  “Il vino, il divino licore dell’uva” . To Leonardo have been attributed the idea of the decanter and of the air lock to stop wine and air meeting in the barrels.

CANTINE APERTE PROGRAMME

<<This itinerary is through the cellar, candlelit, and with tastings of great wines, music, and simple food that recall Renaissance times and will be fun even though it is based on solid cultural basis >> says Violante Gardini,  Cinellicolombini Jr who guides the Movimento del turismo del vino della Toscana and organizes the day dedicated to wine tourism in the whole region.

Guided tastings at 11 am, 1pm, 3pm and 5 pm must be booked previously at the following number 0577 849421 (18€ per person for the 4 guided tastings at fixed times and then some informal tours with quick tastings from 11 am to 6 pm).…

L'articolo Cantine aperte remembering Leonardo da Vinci sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Wine Enthusiast with 95/100 and Robert Parker with 94/100 reward Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s  Brunello riserva 2013,  and with 91/100 her  Brunello vintage 2014

Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s Brunello 2013 Riserva flies high thanks to the 94 and 95 out of 100 from the two most important wine magazines in the world. Hence, a favourable beginning for the sales of the riserva that starts right now thanks to the preview events in Tuscany.

Most noteworthy is the rating of the Brunello 2014 judged by both Wine Advocate/Robert Parker and Wine Enthusiast with 91/100. A high rating for a wine of extraordinary pleasantness but not apt for a very long ageing, factor that usually has great weight in the International wine critic’s opinion. 2014 was a very rainy so the Brunellos from that year are at the moment more satisfying compared to other vintages where the structure (tannic and acidic) and has an effect of more powerful fullness in the mouth. The  2014 vintage has  the elegance of a classical ballet dancer, fort eh reason that it offers pure pleasure, it is a carefree wine as described by Monica Larner, in other words a Brunello to be consumed and not stored.

BRUNELLO RISERVA ALL IN AGREEMENT:VERY VERY GOOD

Let us go back to the Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2013 indicating also the 97/100 from Bruno Petronilli in his  jamesmagazine , and where he confesses to have been quite surprised by the quality of this wine, as he did not expect it to be so high << A very charming Brunello, right from the aroma, that seduced with a solemn elegance…..…

L'articolo For Parker and Wine Enthusiast excellent Riserva 2013 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

This had already happened in the past when the 2009 bettered all expectations and so became one of the cult vintages for Brunello.

The 2013 vintage had a rainy winter and a cool summer, a typical climate for long lasting and important Brunello. Shortly after the harvest the wine did not seem so special but after the time spent in barrel it finally revealed its extraordinary elegance.

The Brunello stars

To understand what happened let me tell you how the stars get awarded to Brunello vintages. Long ago the evaluation of vintages was done by expert wine journalists but in 1992 the Consorzio del Brunello decided to do it itself, with rigorous and above all objective criteria. From that moment onwards, every year, its asks the Montalcino wineries, for a sample of the new vintage just born. It has all samples analysed and then reunites a panel of technicians made up of the best wine makers. Their opinion is expressed in stars: 1 star for a bad year, 5 stars for the excellent ones.

During the presentation of the new Brunello, half way through February, the President of the Consorzio reveals the number of stars that have been attributed to the new vintage. This rating is portrayed on a ceramic tile positioned, each year, on the facade of the Old Town Hall in Montalcino and also on our fermentation room facade at Casato Prime Donne.…

L'articolo A great Brunello 2013 riserva Casato Prime Donne sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini, Montalcino, Casato Prime Donne

The most sincere are le Portuguese, those that cheat the most are the Chileans for red wines and Canadians for whites

True or false alcohol content on the label

What is surprising is that this trick regards only wines on sale at more than 40$. But, in order; this information had worldwide coverage thanks to Wine Searcher but originally came from the  Journal of Wine Economics which published a study regarding 91.000 analysis carried out by LCBO Liquor Control Board of Ontario.  In other words it was the state monopoly for the sales of alcohol in  Ontario to do the study.

Sweet wines and Rieslings were not included.

The  LCBO analyzes  all the wines that it distributes and in the course of 18 years has collected a data bank without competitors in the world. This information  allowed  Julian Alston, Kate Fuller, James Lapsley, George Soleas and Kabir Tumber, to get  these very surprising results.

Different alcohol by volume permitted around the world

It must be said that this is not a question of frauds, because the alcohol content declare on the label has a tolerance, in Italy, of 0,50% and in the USA up to 1,5% for wines under 14 % vol.…

L'articolo The more expensive the wine, less certainty there is about the alcohol content sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

The Brunello 2013 vintage started off with a low profile judged a 4 star vintage, but after the ageing in barrel has proven to be extraordinary in its complexity and finesse.  In the IOsonoDonatella this characters show in its extraordinary elegance. This is in fact an exclusive “fine wine” apt for important occasion and as a gift, this wine is produced only during the best harvests and comes entirely from the Ardita vineyard. This is a plot of Sangiovese of about two hectares where the soil gives the grapes and wines an extraordinary finesse.

The IOsonoDonatella selection was created for the first time with the Brunello 2010 when Donatella Cinelli Colombini understood that her dream of making an exceptional Brunello had come true. A project that began in 1998 when she received from her mother Francesca, Casato Prime Donne on the Montalcino hill and began to renovate the winery. An impassioned grape grower’s dream that year after year has brought Donatella to obtain awards from all over the world

The IOsonoDonatella bottles tell Cinelli Colombini’s story. On the bottle front the shape of a ring made out of glitter, with her crest in real gold.

This symbolizes a medieval ring with a seal, these we subjects that Donatella studied when young and when she dedicate all her time to history of art and especially goldsmiths’ work from the 15th century.…

L'articolo IOsonoDonatella 2013 Brunello di Montalcino D.O.C.G. sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

This proposal during harvest and racking is for wine lovers who want to see how the wines are born but also for lovers of the countryside and of its harmonium landscapes, of its traditional cuisine, of a simple but elegant style of life

Donatella Cinelli Colombini proposes two experiences: the first should coincide with the white grape harvest and to the moment of first tastes of the red grapes. The second on the other hand should be when the Sangiovese grapes for Brunello and the clusters for Doc Orcia and Chianti Superiore reach the cellar. To see how these famous wines which get International consent are born, is an exciting experience that allows one to come into contact with nature and allows you to share the producer’s passion.

September 1st-2nd, two days one night pull of experiences that enrich with knowledge and emotions.

Arrive on Saturday afternoon, tour the vineyards and learn about the technique of tasting grapes that allows grape growers to evaluate the ripening and to foresee the date of the harvest. Hoping in favourable weather and the cellar decisions, you should be able to take part in the phases of picking and preserving the Traminer grapes for the Passito. Then a tour of the winery with a tasting of 3 Brunello and then a 4 course dinner matched with four wines from Fattoria del Colle.…

L'articolo Grape harvest and racking between Brunello, Orcia and Chianti sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini, Brunello, Casato Prime Donne

Many start working in wine by changing a passion into a profession but everybody ought to know that before the shiny world of parties, elegant clothes, travels and starred meals, there really is a lot of hard work.

The Drinks Business has tried to list the 10 best wine professions, here I summarize just a few notes, but the article is great fun and I suggest you read it. As you will note among the 10 top professions “wine producer”does not appear, those who grow grapes and transform them into wine to sell it. Maybe this is the hardest job, but in my opinion, the best.

BUYER Spends most of his time in front of the computer, checking stocks and sales, marketing plans and emails. But he does travel and gets to know wine regions and gets to taste a lot too. The best thing about this job is the possibility to get to know many wine areas and many producers.

WINE MAKER – WINERY DIRECTOR Hard job but also fascinating and is always different because every harvest is a new story. To be successful you need to travel and work in other nations.

EVENT ORGANIZER Apt only for those who can handle  stress well.…

L'articolo The 10 best jobs in wine sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini, Montalcino, Casato Prime Donne

These have been sold by the Le Clos wine store in the  Dubai airport, a store that sells wine excellence from all over the world to a public of travelers but most of all of millionaires. I remember that my daughter stopped in this famous wine store on a trip to Asia and was surprised by the number of bottles with stellar prices but also by the presence of the manager, there in persona, at 3 am. Evidently it is during the changes for travelers going to China or India when the collectors stop at Le Clos for some shopping of rare bottles. << We are thrilled to be able to celebrate our 10 year anniversary with another world-record sale>> said the Le Clos manager  Iain Delaney to Forbes underlining the fact that this wine store intends becoming world leader in luxury wine sales.

 And in fact it is here that that a collector has bought 2 bottles of Whisky from The Macallan dated 1926 at the modest price of 600.000€ each. A price never paid before that makes these whiskeys the most expensive in the world.  In fact these are not just any bottles. The liquid contained was distilled in 1926 and aged for 60 years in barrels used previously for sherry before being bottles in 1986.…

L'articolo The most expensive whiskey in the world sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini, Fattoria del Colle – Trequanda, Casato Prime Donne, Montalcino

The worst day is Monday, and the most frenetic periods are those before and after trips abroad. Very long days with one interruption after another.

The arrival of internet has worsened the situation multiplying contacts and making holidays practically eclipse. I receive around 80 emails a day and I send off about 30. I have a very small portable computer that goes everywhere with me a, so I reply to the post even when I am away and have one wine tasting after the other and one appointment after the other. In fact when I am on the other side of the world some people seek my attention like a child pining for its mother and they write to me constantly, and in the end I reply quite curtly. After I am sorry and it takes me days to get the rapport back to normal, but I hate it when people deprive me of time when I want to think , sleep, and do things….. making me feel trapped.

This is how my holidays on my beloved isle of Gozo get reduced to three hours a day, because there is a problem, that to be solved from there takes lots of time. It is practically impossible because in the countryside there is no tradition in making appointments.…

L'articolo The life of a wine producer: Donatella and her time sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini, Casato Prime Donne

Monica I love you!

It is easy for a wine producer to love a wine critic who appreciates their wine. But it is even easier to love a wine critic who appreciates the wine and sees mirrored in it the producer’s personality. For this reason I really adore Monica Larner the Italian reviewer for Robert Parker Jr- Wine Advocate .When she wrote <<….because of her steadfast dedication to all things Tuscan and wine-related, she is one of the figures I admire most in today’s world of vino italiano>>  I nearly fainted.

Monica was born into a family connected to wine and cinema. Her father Steven Larner, of whom she writes with great love, has been director of photography for very successful films and TV productions, while her brother is wine maker in the family estate in the Ballard Canyon, in Santa Barbara, California and has passed the last few months living the nightmare of the California wildfires.

Monica has had on-hand experience regarding grape growing, including the pruning process. She has in other words a past as a pure journalist with collaborations with La Repubblica, International Herald Tribune and Corriere della Sera, but at the same time a real “grape grower”. In 2003 she began working for Wine Enthusiast and judging Italian wines and getting famous for her great nose able to discover emerging wines from regions such as Etna.…

L'articolo Excellent ratings for Brunello from Robert Parker – Wine Advocate sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini, Montalcino, Brunello, Casato Prime Donne

<<An experiment that maybe will last more than life on earth>>commented  W. Blake Gray while talking to Wine searcher about the study going on in the major US agriculture university, the awesome UC Davis from where the majority of great American winemakers come out from.

To carry our an experiment that lasts 100 years is in fact something very difficult to understand in our society based on rapidity and now. It actually quite reminds one of the empiricism of the 18 hundreds, but that might be why it is well suited to a type of closure, that in the XVIII century, was perfected: the closure for glass wine bottles .The experiment starts from a mystery: why the oxygen that penetrates through the cork, one milligram per year, does not oxidize the wine?

We might think that it is the sulphur dioxide that gets inserted in the bottle (generally 20-25 milligrams per litre) that protects the wine, but it is in fact the oxygen that uses it up during 5-6 years, and so 10 years and more later there is nothing left to defend the nectar, as explained by professor Andy Waterhouse author of this intrepid research project regarding cork closures and wine oxidation.…

L'articolo Corks and wine oxidation sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Psychology of Design: Colour and wine labels

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini, Brunello di Montalcino , Casato Prime Donne

Lets go back to the subject of messages given by colours so as to continue on the subject of wine packaging, started a while back

Below you will find an explanation regarding colours so that we may try to understand which are most apt for each type of wine

PURPLE: This expresses sadness. It must be used sparingly

BLUE: is a cold colour that expresses elegance and seduction but also solidity and because of this is chosen by many banks. It refers to an aristocratic and elite culture which is well associated with traditionally made wines produced in historic locations such as castles, villas or medieval hamlets. Better still if the wine as a male target.

LIGHT BLUE: this colour contains messages of purity and spirituality maybe more apt for water. In wines this might indicate extreme choices such as heroic wines made in the mountains, natural wines, or those produced on land confiscated from organized crime.

GREEN: represents nature and can send out different messages depending on its intensity. In its lighter hue it expresses stillness, if intense a sense of energy and regeneration, if cold it signifies sobriety-. It also contains a vein of humour this is often used with infantile graphics, to distinguish the extreme simplicity and economics of choices- More apt for white wines rather than red for their fresh notes.…

L'articolo The meaning of colours on wine labels sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini

The project is called Prime Donne and it too happened by chance. Here is what happened. In 1998 other than receiving the two farms I also got a small quantity of wine from my parents, future Brunello still in barrel, and I needed someone to take care of it. I called the agricultural school in Siena asking for a promising cellar master but they said there were none, but when I said if there were girl students available, they said that there were , that they were excellent students but nobody wanted them.…

L'articolo Donatella Cinelli Colombini presents herself part 2 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Monasterace is a town where a pharmacist married with two children, a normal woman, has become a modern hero. She is a mayor who has remained in place despite attacks and personal threats thereby becoming a symbol and a shining example for all women. This is our Prima Donna 2012, the star of our ceremony in Montalcino, which is taking place on Saturday, September 15th at 5pm in the Astrusi Theatre, together with Giorgio Dell’Orefice, Luciano Ferraro, Montalcino News and Gianfranco Bracci, other award winners from the stunning countryside where we produce our wonderful Brunello and the Doc Orcia wines.

It is amongst this beautiful countryside that you find the Casato Prime Donne which is owned by Donatella Cinelli Colombini. It is a winery the first in Italy with an all-female staff, which organizes the prize and promotes the merits of the selected female model individual amongst society much as it promotes its barrels of Brunello. The shining female example that the judges of the prize Casato Prime Donne were looking for was easily recognised in the

individual Maria Carmela Lanzetta, the italian mayor who has suffered the burning down of her family pharmacy business, survived three gunshots at her car and numerous other threats, and despite all of this she has stuck to her principles and maintained her post as mayor which has gained the respect and solidarity of the national institutions and also of her countrymen.…

L'articolo All the winners of Casato Prime Donne Award 2012 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

An unique experience to discover how the great tuscan red wines such as Brunello, Chianti Superiore and Doc Orcia are  produced. You will meet new friends, you will sleep in the houses of the ancient farmers and you will live a funny day between vineyards and cellars during the grape harvest with technical wine tasting and tasty dishes from Crete Senesi and Val d’Orcia. Sunday, before leaving, vertical guided wine tasting of Brunello di Montalcino produced at Casato
Prime Donne and lunch at our restaurant with pinci. Furthermore visit to neighbouring towns such as Pienza and Montepulciano.

Programme:

Saturday 22nd September
Check-in at Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda in the south of Chianti district
4.00 pm grape harvest experience in the vineyards
5.00 pm in the cellar to see the vinification process
6.30 pm Happy wine in the histyorical cellar at Fattoria del Colle with Cenerentola Orcia Doc and
Pecorino cheese from Crete Senesi
8.00 pm Dinner at the restaurant Osteria di Donatella with view on Trequanda village. Menù with dishes of ancient senese meat like Pappardelle al sugo di cinta senese and grilled chianina meat

matched with Brunello di Montalcino Prime Donne 2007
Night stay at Fattoria del Colle

Sunday 23rd September

10.30 am guided tour at Fattoria del Colle in the ancient rooms of the sixteenth-century villa, the chapel and the historical cellar. …

L'articolo Grape harvest weekend in Tuscany sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

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. This permitted the production of wine rich in poliphenols and polymerized tannins. In other words wines with an effect of fullness, power and softness which are the distinctive traits of the great red wines. The 2010 Sangiovese grapes from Montalcino gave wonderfully young red wines and great reds destined to last one hundred years, magic that only Brunello land can do!

Type: dry red. Production area: Toscana, Montalcino, Casato Prime Donne

Vintage characteristics: In March there was a great snowfall that well hydrated the soil, and the spring was showery too, In May there were 22 rainy days. The wet soil enabled the vines to resist the heat wave in July. The changing of colour of the grapes took place in slowly in August, then the vegetative cycle quickened so the grapes were ready half way through September

Grape Type: 100% Sangiovese (Brunello)

GRAPE HARVEST: From September 20th to October 5th.…

L'articolo His royal highness the prince of Montalcino 2010 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.