In the hills of Montalcino, where Tuscany’s sunny vineyards yield one of Italy’s most revered wines, the story of Gianni Brunelli is a tale of passion, resilience, and deep connection to the land. Founded in 1987 by the late Gianni Brunelli, the estate now thrives under the stewardship of his wife, Laura Brunelli. With just seven hectares under vine and a philosophy rooted in tradition and integrity, this boutique winery has emerged as one of the region’s most respected Brunello producers. We sat down with Gianni’s wife Laura, and were touched by their story and the greatness of their wines.
Originally from Montalcino, Gianni Brunelli returned to his birthplace in the early 1980s after years in Siena, where he and Laura operated the celebrated Osteria Le Logge. Drawn by a desire to reconnect with his heritage, Gianni acquired the historic Le Chiuse di Sotto vineyard in 1987. The couple later expanded with the purchase of land in Podernovone in 1998, situated at a higher elevation with stony galestro soils ideal for growing expressive Sangiovese.
Gianni’s untimely passing in 2008 could have marked an end, but instead it became a new beginning. Laura, driven by love and dedication, assumed full responsibility of the estate. “My focus is here in Montalcino for my wines,” she says. “I made the care of my place. I love to stay here because I have a good energy. It’s my life now.”
Gianni Brunelli is unique for its dual vineyards: Le Chiuse di Sotto offers cooler, fresher expressions of Sangiovese with vibrant acidity, while Podernovone, perched higher at 500 meters above sea level, provides structure and minerality thanks to its rocky soils. “It’s the same grape,” Laura explains, “but you feel two souls—elegance from one, power from the other.”
This duality is reflected in the wines, which embody balance, precision, and personality. Laura and her small team work organically, employing meticulous manual labor throughout the growing season. The vineyard is where everything begins: cover crops, careful pruning, and selective harvesting all contribute to the integrity of the fruit.
“All our focus is in the vines,” Laura insists. “The cellar is only for transformation—with care, of course.”
Laura’s winemaking style is unmistakably classic. Long macerations, fermentation with indigenous yeasts, and aging in large Slavonian oak casks define her approach. She avoids excessive extraction and new oak, favouring grace over brute strength. “I don’t like green tannins. I prefer elegance. Every year brings a different expression, but our style does not change.”
This fidelity to terroir and tradition caught the attention of critics. In 2021, her 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva received a perfect 100-point score from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. “It was a beautiful present from God,” Laura reflects. “The gratification for our work.”
Yet for Laura, accolades are secondary to authenticity. “For me it’s not about chasing scores,” she says. “It’s about showing respect to the land, the people who work it, and the grape.”
Despite rising acclaim, Gianni Brunelli remains deliberately small. Annual production hovers around 25,000 bottles, a volume that allows Laura to oversee every detail. The estate produces just a few wines: Rosso di Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino, and, in exceptional vintages, Brunello Riserva. There is also a micro-production IGT wine, Amor Costante, a Merlot-based blend planted by Gianni in the 1980s—now rare and almost mythical, with only around 2,000 bottles produced annually.
Export represents around 60% of their sales, but Laura emphasizes the importance of relationships over volume. “It’s very important the relationship with my importer,” she says. “They are the representation of our work.”
This approach not only preserves quality but ensures that the wines end up in the hands of those who understand and appreciate them.
For this interview we enjoyed Gianni Brunelli’s 2019 vintage of their Brunello di Montalcino. A wine that touched us, leading to to a 95-point DWA score, awarded by our own Niels Aarts. Below the tasting notes:
The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino from Gianni Brunelli opens with an elegant aromatic profile of wild cherry, crushed rose petals, dried herbs, and subtle spice. On the palate, it shows remarkable purity and balance, with fine-grained tannins framing a core of ripe red fruit, earthy minerality, and hints of tobacco and balsamic lift. The wine is structured but never heavy, staying true to Laura Brunelli’s philosophy of grace over power.
The finish is long, saline, and sophisticated, showing both the freshness of Le Chiuse di Sotto and the mineral tension of Podernovone.
What makes Gianni Brunelli truly remarkable is the consistency and cohesion of its team. Many of the workers have been with the estate for decades and live on the property. “For us, the pruning is already the beginning of the next vintage,” Laura says. “We are a family.”
That family spirit and Laura’s hands-on leadership ensure that the wines carry a soul that cannot be replicated. “You need to live here. Every morning, you see the vineyard. If you don’t live it, you can’t understand what’s in the bottle.”
Her team, which includes Gianni’s relatives and trusted cellar master Alessio from Grosseto, is united by purpose and mutual respect. Even the decision to house vineyard workers on the estate speaks to Laura’s ethical approach to business. “It’s important to have the same people every year, who understand our vines like a family member.”
The next release from Gianni Brunelli will be the 2021 Brunello di Montalcino, a vintage Laura describes as “full of potential,” and one that she believes warranted a Riserva bottling as well. As climate challenges and global pressures mount, Laura continues to adapt, always with her feet planted firmly in the soil of Montalcino.
Every decision, every vintage, every vine—they all trace back to a central idea: respect. Respect for nature, for family, for tradition, and for the future.
“I stay here,” she says simply. “This is my life.”
In an era where the wine world is increasingly dominated by large investments and corporate scale, Gianni Brunelli stands as a reminder of what makes Montalcino magical: the deep bond between people and place. Laura Brunelli has carried her husband’s vision forward not with expansion, but with refinement. Her wines speak softly, but they carry weight—not in power, but in purity, authenticity, and emotion.
At Gianni Brunelli, every vine is tended with intention, every bottle is a testament to time and terroir, and every vintage tells a story worth listening to—and worth tasting.
This article is written by our own Niels Aarts. We would like to thank Laura Brunelli for her openness and participation during the interview and their Dutch importer De Bruijn in Wijnen for their support. The wines of Gianni Brunelli are distributed by, and available through, De Bruijn in Wijnen in the Netherlands.
El Hombre Bala – Garnacha with Altitude and Attitude. Spanish precision from the Sierra de Gredos. Some wine dinners offer exactly what you expect – comfort, familiarity, a well-matched glass with every course. Others go a step further: they surprise, challenge, and leave a lasting impression. Reporting for Dutch Wine Apprentice, Onno Deumer attended a […]
Weingut Rudolf Fürst has become one of Germany’s leading producers of Spätburgunder, shaped by the unique red sandstone soils of Bürgstadt. Their precise vineyard work and Burgundian-inspired winemaking create some of Franken’s most refined and terroir-driven Pinot Noirs.
Ontdek de Dutch Wine Apprentice Wine Club: een nieuwe reeks Fine Wine & Fine Dining evenementen in Nederland, met twee formats—BYOB en Wine Gems—voor wijnliefhebbers die willen proeven, delen en verbinden. Schrijf je in voor updates en de eerste edities, en blijf op de hoogte van thema-avonden rond topregio’s als Bourgogne, Bordeaux, Toscane en Piemonte.
A masterclass in Amsterdam with Domaine Marcel Deiss revealed why Alsace field blends remain vital for true terroir expression, challenging the dominance of single-varietal winemaking. By showcasing biodynamic complantation and vineyard-driven identity, the tasting demonstrated how field blends deliver complexity, balance, and a direct translation of place in the glass.
Discover Château Clinet in Pomerol — where modern vision meets timeless terroir under the leadership of Ronan Laborde. This forward-thinking Bordeaux estate blends innovation, tradition, and the region’s finest Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon to shape the future of fine wine.
Experience Château Palmer (Margaux) through a private De Bruijn in Wijnen tasting led by Sébastien Menut, tracing the estate’s biodynamic evolution under Thomas Duroux and how sand vs clay terroir shapes Alter Ego and the Grand Vin. Highlights include a rare 1940 wartime bottle and standout 2009 & 2015 vintages.
Join our insiders’ list and get exclusive early access to new articles, expert tips, and fresh reviews delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now and be the first to discover!
Subscribe for curated content, podcast alerts and honest wine reviews.