“BIONDI SANTI” ARE US ... THE “BIONDI SANTI” WINES ARE PRODUCED ONLY BY THE HISTORIC MONTALCINO FAMILY, TODAY REPRESENTED BY FRANCO AND JACOPO BIONDI SANTI AND THEIR ESTATE “GREPPO - BIONDI SANTI”

“The ownership of the Biondi Santi trademark belongs exclusively to the Greppo - Biondi Santi Estate, the company of the historic Biondi Santi family that produces some of the most internationally renowned and pluri-awarded wines. Only Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino of the Greppo-Biondi Santi Estate and the wines of Montepò of Jacopo Biondi Santi, are allowed to put the Biondi Santi trademark on the label”.
The announcement was made by the “Greppo” Estate where, in the nineteenth century, the Biondi Santi family created Brunello di Montalcino. “From now on, the wines of Greppo - Biondi Santi,” states the Greppo Estate press release, “will be marketed exclusively by the family itself and no longer by the Biondi Santi Spa distribution companies, which actually never had a role in the production of the Biondi Santi family wines. Biondi Santi Spa, a purely commercial company, despite its name, can no longer, for any reason, use the Biondi Santi trademark”.
“A sentence from the Court of Milan (No. 2528 of March 1, 2010) had declared,” reads the press release, “the nullification of the trademark registered by Biondi Santi Spa because it could result in deception of choice by the public and because it would violate the rights of the Biondi Santi family. The Court also found that Biondi Santi Spa had filed the trademark in bad faith in an attempt to circumvent a previous ruling of the Court of Siena”. “Another recent order (December 21, 2010), from the Court of Milan held Biondi Santi Spa responsible for acts of unfair competition to the detriment of Greppo - Biondi Santi and the Biondi Santi family, banning Biondi Santi Spa from continuing to misuse the trademark.” “Despite the fact that the ruling Nr. 2528/2010 has been contested by Biondi Santi Spa and the ordinance of December 21, 2010 is subject to confirmation, these measures,” continues the press release, “were provided as a result of the conflict and, up until now considered effective for all purposes. The Greppo Estate and Dr. Franco Biondi Santi communicated that they will immediately act against any further deceptive conduct to the detriment of consumers all over the world that for over a hundred years have rewarded the quality and excellence of Biondi Santi wines”.



Focus - The history of the Biondi Santi family Greppo Estate
Franco Biondi Santi’s grandfather Ferruccio, the “Garibaldino”, created Brunello di Montalcino around 1870 on the Greppo Estate in Montalcino. He selected a particular Sangiovese grape and produced it in purity; his son Tancredi took the merit of “systematizing” the production (so he also was one of the creators and organizers of the study). Tancredi brought fresh impetus to the production of Brunello and became the de facto ambassador of Montalcino and its wines. He introduced the practice of “ricolmatura” (topping up) of the old Reserve wines (the topping up that the writer Mario Soldati and the master of Italian food and wine critic Luigi Veronelli did together became famous) and wines of the same vintage (the first time was in 1927 for the 1888 and 1891 Reserves) and he created the Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 1955, the only Italian wine included among the 12 best wines of the twentieth century by the U.S. magazine “Wine Spectator”.

Today, Tancredi’s son, Franco Biondi Santi, has the invaluable role of ”guardian” of the tradition. Their winemaking is unique and has been the same for decades. All the wines come from grapes grown in Greppo on 20 hectares of vineyards, and Brunello Riserva comes exclusively from vineyards over 25 years of age. To preserve the characteristics of the Sangiovese grosso clone selected in 1870 by Ferruccio Biondi Santi, the new vineyards have always been grafted with buds taken from older plants.
Franco Biondi Santi keeps priceless historical bottles in the cellar of the Greppo Estate: in particular, 2 bottles of Brunello di Montalcino Reserve 1888; 5 bottles of Brunello di Montalcino Reserve 1891; 3 bottles of Brunello di Montalcino Reserve 1925; 22 bottles of Brunello di Montalcino Reserve 1945. And, the “legendary” bottles of Brunello di Montalcino Reserve 1955, Reserve 1964, Reserve 1970, Reserve 1975, Reserve 1983...

The centuries-old tradition continues today with the children and grandchildren of the historic family of Italian wine.
“This centuries-old tradition will now be followed by my children and my grandchildren,” says Franco Biondi Santi, “who will continue to produce wines using the same methods. Even at Montepò Castle, where my son Jacopo produces the new wines Sassoalloro, Schidione and Morellino, the same Sangiovese clones are used, though they are from different micro-zones and they jealously follow the winemaking traditions of the Greppo Estate. Our family has always represented the present, past and future of Brunello di Montalcino, one of the greatest wines in the world”.