The Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, the Rosso di Montalcino DOC, the Moscadello di Montalcino DOC, and the Sant'Antimo DOC are only and exclusively made in the territory of the Muncipality of Montalcino.
The "Brunello di Montalcino" is obtained from Sangiovese grapes, a vine traditionally referred to as "Brunello" in Montalcino.
The disciplinary committee that governs wine production establishes that the maximum production of grapes per hectare must be less than 8 tons/ha (approximately 52 hl/ha of wine). The committee rules on the dates of sale onto the market of the wine produced, which takes place on January 1st of the fifth year after the harvesting. During this long period, the wine must remain for at least two years in wooden barrels and undergo a minimum of four months of refinement in bottle. The period of preservation in bottle is prolonged to as many as six months for reserve wines, which are sold onto the market a year later.
The "Rosso di Montalcino" (Red Wine of Montalcino) DOC proudly exhibits the versatility of the territory of Montalcino which, with the same Sangiovese grapevine, produces a red wine that can also be savored at a younger age. In fact, the Rosso di Montalcino can be sold onto the market from the 1st of September following the grape harvest. Since the harvesting of 1984, it has attained DOC status and is made with only Sangiovese grapes. The Rosso di Montalcino has a peculiar fresh and fruity taste, a nice variant for the cellar master and for the consumer.
A decisive step toward completion of the productive pyramid of Montalcino wines was made when the last guarantee of origin was introduced, starting from the harvest of 1996: the "Sant'Antimo". This category includes both white and red wines and a reference to where the grape variety comes from.
The "Moscadello di Montalcino" is a white DOC wine that goes well with desserts. The production of this wine has an ancient tradition in Montalcino, so much that the Italian poet Ugo Foscolo mentioned it in one of his letters. It is now experiencing a new beginning thanks to the labor of a few passionate vineyard tenders. All of the varieties of Moscadello (Tranquillo - Still, Frizzante - Sparkling, and Vendemmia Tardiva - Late Harvest) are all made from Moscato grapes.
