01-10-2018 by Nick Santos (Alivini Company Ltd)
After the release of the legendary Tenuta Greppo Biondi Santi from the list (mainly due to their corporate restructuring post buy-out of French counterparts), the IGM members welcomed Col d’Orcia, a prestigious Brunello producer, as the replacement representative for the area of Montalcino (Tuscany).
Led by Count Francesco Marone Cinzano, Col d’Orcia came to life in the seventies, however the estate dates further back than this (then known as Fattoria di Sant’Angelo in Colle). Today, the winery’s cellars are packed with over 50,000 bottles of vintage Brunello, produced over 144 ha of vineyards (of which over 100 are designated only for the production of Brunello), amongst other wines and which has been fully certified organic since 2010 (their first organic vintage launched as 2013). Today, Col d’Orcia is the largest organic winery in Tuscany.
According to the IGM website (https://www.istitutograndimarchi.it/en/) the list is made up of nineteen prestigious Italian wine families, promoting the country’s best bottles and producers on a global scale and all fit the following criteria:
- All are family-owned brands.
- Each member has been in operation for at least 25 years and in some cases for centuries.
- All own their estate vineyards, which stand out for their history and enduring traditions.
- All are recognized worldwide for their superior quality and production practices.
- Each is considered an innovator with a profound vision.
- All are key players representing Italy’s most highly praised wines.
- All are industry leaders whose peers emulate their work.
- All share the same values and strategies, and support collaborative efforts.
- All are committed to a continued focus on education, innovation and developing markets.
- Each member exemplifies the best of their region.
Map of all 19 Grandi Marchi producers (image courtesy of IGM Italia)
Alivini has proudly imported Col d’Orcia’s fine range of wines exclusively into the UK since the early 1990s, many years before the introduction of the term ‘Super Tuscan’, after recognising the importance of the brand’s Brunello Di Montalcino as well as the overall high regard for quality sustained in all their wine production. In fact, Col d’Orcia’s valour stretches beyond creating a basic, though highly-regarded, Brunello Di Montalcino DOCG – Count Francesco Marone Cinzano has always looked to innovate and improve wherever possible when it comes to the production of this historic wine, and his efforts are widely recognised across the world as some of the best representations of wines true to Montalcino:
- Poggio Al Vento Brunello Di Montalcino DOCG Riserva – first released in 1982, this single vineyard Riserva is the gem of Col d’Orcia. It is produced only in the best vintages and represents one of the highest expressions of pure Sangiovese to be found in Montalcino. Highly awarded upon every release and definitely one for the cellar.
- Banditella Rosso di Montalcino DOC – known as the ‘baby Brunello’ this is a modern interpretation of the classic: a special selection from a great Sangiovese vineyard is vinified and refined with advanced methods and technologies, combining the great structure and longevity of Brunello with the freshness and readiness of the Rosso.
- Olmaia Sant’Antimo Cabernet DOC – dedicated to the innovative spirit and vision of Count Alberto Marone Cinzano when he first planted Cabernet Sauvignon in the early 1980s on the hills of Montalcino. The new denomination ‘Sant’Antimo DOC’ is exclusive to wines vinified from grapes grown in the area of Montalcino and serves as an extension to the region’s prestige, and this expression of the world’s most famous varietal is pure and unique.
- Spezieri Toscana IGT – one of Col d’Orcia’s finest achievements in the 21st century was to create a quality everyday red just as their forefathers would have drank before the globalisation of their infamous Brunello: named after the ancient art of spice blending as it is composed of Sangiovese laced with another traditional Tuscan grape by the name of Ciliegiolo, plus small amounts of most of the other grape varieties grown on the Col d’Orcia estate. It’s even fantastic slightly chilled in the hot summer months!
Find these, and the rest of the range, on our web store www.alivini.com/shop.