Biondi Santi

Seven Generations and 200 Years of Wine History: The Biondi Santi Family Has Wine in Their Blood

The history of the Biondi-Santi estate goes back to the 19th century when Clemente Santi was the first winemaker to start vinifying the wines of Biondi Santi. His ambition was to produce a long-lasting red wine that could compete with the top wines of France. The first recognition for his efforts came in 1867, when his red selection, a Brunello avant la lettre, won a gold medal in Montepulciano. This established Biondi-Santi as the founder of the Brunello di Montalcino appellation.

The Sangiovese Grosso BBS 11 is a Sangiovese clone selected by Biondi-Santi (BBS stands for Brunello Biondi-Santi) and is the only grape variety in the world named after a family. This grape is now also used by other producers to create timeless Brunellos. Moreover, Biondi-Santi is the only Italian wine featured on the list of "Wines of the Century."

“Spending one’s lifetime working amid nature, in this country blessed by God, is wonderful.” - Franco Biondi Santi

Tenuta Greppo: A Historical Landmark in Montalcino

Brunello di Montalcino was first put on the map by Ferruccio Biondi-Santi around 1870. Although wine had been made since 1302, the real breakthrough came around 1880. His son, Tancredi, developed the “Tenuta del Greppo.” The Brunello from Biondi-Santi is considered the greatest, the Romanée-Conti of Tuscany. It is of the same caliber as Romanée-Conti, Petrus, or Lafite Rothschild.

Clemente Santi introduced another innovation: after years of strict selection, he chose the ‘ideal’ Sangiovese variant, which was later perfected by the late Franco Biondi-Santi. The ‘Sangiovese Grosso BBS 11’ is still the backbone of Brunello wines today. It is the only grape variety in the world named after a family.

The family is not only the inventor of Brunello. In 1966, the Italian government also asked Tancredi Biondi-Santi to draft the official DOC production rules for Brunello. The grapes for the cuvées are divided into three categories, depending on the age of the vines. The youngest vines (up to 10 years) provide the fruit for the Rosso di Montalcino, the vines between 10 and 25 years provide the grapes for the Brunello, and only the grapes from the oldest vines (25 to 80 years) are used for the Riserva, and then only in exceptional vintages.

“Brunello needs to age and that’s the message we want to send.”

Inventor of Brunello di Montalcino

The wine vision of Biondi-Santi can only be realized at the top of the Montalcino hill, in the terraced vineyards at high altitude where poor soil types dominate. This is the unique location that the Biondi-Santi family chose more than 150 years ago. The beautifully aging cuvées—a Biondi-Santi Brunello usually peaks after twenty to thirty years, while even hundred-year-old cuvées are still found to be excellent during tastings.

Organically inspired viticulture has long been a hallmark of Biondi-Santi. They avoid herbicides and promote fermentation exclusively through indigenous yeasts. In the near future, they are moving toward a fully organic approach. Whether they will also apply for certification has not yet been decided. The goal is the well-being of the vines and the terroir, a conscious environmental choice.

Legendary Wines of Biondi Santi

Biondi Santi Rosso di Montalcino: This wine was originally known as the Biondi-Santi “White Label Brunello,” but changed its name in 1983 when the Rosso di Montalcino DOC was established.

The Rosso di Montalcino reflects the distinctive style of the Biondi-Santi vineyards, which are located at high altitudes, with a lively freshness and a pronounced fruitiness, making this wine very enjoyable at a young age.

Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino: The Brunello di Montalcino—previously also called the ‘Annata’—is the flagship of Biondi-Santi. Because this wine is made in good and excellent vintages, this cuvée embodies the spirit of Tenuta Greppo. The characteristic style of the winemaker, forged over 150 years of history, with its balanced combination of fresh elegance, depth, and aristocratic personality.

Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva: The Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, first produced in 1888, was the first Brunello di Montalcino Riserva in history. Only in the greatest vintages, which guarantee a storage potential of at least 50 years, does this cuvée see the light of day. Every time a new vintage of the Riserva is announced, it is an extraordinary event at Tenuta Greppo.