4000 bottles from 119 cellars will be uncorked for the 30th anniversary of Benvenuto Brunello, the progenitor event of Italian wine previews which this year will take place in 6 stages from 19 to 29 November. For its thirtieth anniversary, the event debuts with an independent format in the unprecedented autumn location compared to the traditional February dates. In the headquarters of the Sant'Agostino Cloister of the medieval village, the Consorzio del vino Brunello di Montalcino will christen the Brunello 2017, the Brunello Riserva 2016 and the Rosso di Montalcino 2020. Among the references, also the other two wines of the appellation: Moscadello and Sant'Antimo.
It starts on 19 and 20 November with the first weekend dedicated exclusively to the national and international press, which has already been sold out for months. About 90 journalists have been selected, both Italian and foreign, from Great Britain, the United States, Canada, China, Russia and Poland, while Germany, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands represent the European territory. Not just tastings for the opening of the 'Benvenire Brunello' programme.
In fact, in addition to the presentation of the official glass of the Consortium (November 19, 12.00), the evaluation of this year's harvest and the Premio Leccio d'Oro, also in its 30th edition, are the themes at the center of the conference in program on Saturday 20 November (Teatro degli Astrusi, 11.00). In the afternoon, the talk show on '30 years of Benvenuto Brunello' and the presentation of the 2021 harvest tile.
Sunday 21 November is the opening date of the appointments for wine lovers and sector operators, to which another 5 days are reserved (from 25 to 29 November, from 9.00 to 13.00 and from 14.00 to 18.00; online ticket office on the Consortium website).
At the 30th Benvenuto Brunello, space will also be given to the evaluations of the new vintages by almost 90 sommeliers and patrons of starred restaurants, in addition to ten Masters of Wine, the experts of the most authoritative and oldest organization dedicated to the knowledge and trade of wine with based in London (November 22).
Among the sessions of the presentation event of the new vintages of the Brunello di Montalcino wine consortium, also the social version with 50 influencers and enobloggers (November 23) and the one reserved for producers of the Rosso prince of Tuscan wines (November 24).
The previews of the new vintages are just the starting point for discovering the territory of Brunello, the Italian wine famous throughout the world. Starting from the Temple of Brunello (www.orodimontalcino.it), which collects the artistic heritage of Montalcino in the ancient convent complex of Sant'Agostino, in an immersive and ultra-modern itinerary: a museum collection with precious paintings from the Sienese school and masterpieces by sacred art, such as the statue of San Sebastiano by Andrea Della Robbia, who has just returned from a tour of the Louvre. The city of Montalcino itself is a sort of open-air museum, with the evocative fourteenth-century medieval fortress – from which you can admire a panorama that has remained almost intact over the centuries – the majestic town hall and the medieval alleys in which to get lost, among postcard views and craft shops. Just outside Montalcino, a visit to the Sant'Antimo Abbey is a must, founded according to legend by the emperor Charlemagne and considered one of the masterpieces of medieval architecture.
In the Brunello area, gastronomic sources abound: from the renowned honey, which boasts an ancient practice, to the fragrant truffle of the Crete Senesi, passing through the saffron, which has been cultivated here for centuries. The cuisine of the Enoteca Bistrot del Tempio del Brunello is based precisely on local ingredients, which on the days of Welcome Brunello offers special menus for lunch and aperitifs, which can also be booked online. Then a visit to the Caffè Fiaschetteria Italiana 1888, in pure Art Nouveau style, inserted among the historic places of Italy, is inevitable. But between wine bars, bistros and restaurants there are endless opportunities to discover the local cuisine, between the great Tuscan tradition and the experiments of the new chefs.
