Uncovering the Fascinating History of Wine

The Greeks settled in southern Italy and exported their art of viticulture to Italy. Impressed by the mild climate, perfect for growing and making wine, they began to call Italy Oenotria. The Romans improved the technique used by the Greeks and the demand for wine increased rapidly. Wine was drunk with every meal, and since the alcohol content was higher, it had to be mixed with water. The Romans discovered that storing wine in closed containers made it better with age and were the first to store it in wooden barrels. In Italy, more than 400 grape varieties are grown and used to make wines. The most popular wines are Barolo, Barbaresco, Amarone, Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino and all super Tuscan.


Giacomo CONTERNO - RISERVA

Barolo Riserva Monfortino

Giovanni Conterno founded the winery in the early 1900s near Monforte d’Alba in Piemonte, and until 1920 the wine was sold in demijohns or barrels. Giacomo Conterno, Giovanni Conterno’s son, decided to change the method of making Barolo by ageing the wine after bottling. Barolo Riserva Monfortino is made from Nebbiolo grapes that macerate on the skins for five weeks before ageing in wooden barrels for seven years. About 580 cases are produced per vintage.


Antinori

Tenuta Tignanello 'Solaia'

The Tenuta Tignanello winery is located in the heart of Chianti Classico. The sunniest part of the Tignanello slope is home to the Solaia vineyard, with soils formed from Pliocene marine marlstone rich in limestone and slate. Solaia boasts the best Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese grapes from its namesake vineyard. The winery’s two signature wines, Solaia and Tignanello, are produced from these vineyards and have been called “one of the most influential super Tuscans in the history of Italian winemaking” by the international press.


Biondi-Santi

Brunello di Montalcino

The most famous Brunello di Montalcino for Brunello lovers is Biondi-Santi. It all started in 1867 with the production of Moscadello wine by Clemente Santi. The Biondi-Santi Riserva 1891 is considered his best vintage ever. Franco Biondi Santi defended the traditional way of making Brunello, refusing to use new barrels or oak because Sangiovese is naturally rich in tannins and doesn’t need the heavy tanning of new oak. The winery produces three wines: Brunello Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino. After the cessation of production in 2010, Biondi-Santi has reintroduced in 2021 the system of refilling, in which the wine bottle is filled with the same vintage to the desired level and the cork is replaced.


“THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND TRADITION MAKE THE SUPER-TUSCAN WINES THE EXPRESSION OF THE ITALIAN WINE ART”

Sazan Allija - DeVyne Co-Founder / Director