Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
Carlo Ferrini is one of Italy’s best-known winemakers, boasting a professional career spanning more than 30 years throughout the peninsula, from Trentino in the north to Sicily in the south, and “wine offspring” that are among Italy’s most prestigious labels. In 2002, with the purchase of his first plot of land, Ferrini launched a new adventure, and a fresh challenge, but one that was really the fulfilment of a long-held passion.
The history of Giodo in Montalcino begins in 2002, when Carlo Ferrini, after years of research, finally identified his first hectare to purchase in the prestigious Brunello denomination; today, his winery, lying midway between Sant’Angelo in Colle and Sant’Antimo, relies on six hectares of vineyard. With respect to aspect, elevation, and soil types, the location is perfect for viticulture. A majestic row of cypresses beckons visitors to this near-hidden, magical spot, while the vines dedicated to Brunello di Montalcino and to IGT Toscana enjoy a breath-taking panoramic view out over the sinuous hills of Montalcino as far as the massif of Monte Amiata. The final artistic touch is the picturesque grove of olive trees that yield the Giodo Toscano IGP olive oil.
Famous for its bold, layered and long-lived red, Brunello di Montalcino, the town of Montalcino is about 70 miles south of Florence, and has a warmer and drier climate than that of its neighbor, Chianti. The Sangiovese grape is king here, as it is in Chianti, but Montalcino has its own clone called Brunello.
The Brunello vineyards of Montalcino blanket the rolling hills surrounding the village and fan out at various elevations, creating the potential for Brunello wines expressing different styles. From the valleys, where deeper deposits of clay are found, come wines typically bolder, more concentrated and rich in opulent black fruit. The hillside vineyards produce wines more concentrated in red fruits and floral aromas; these sites reach up to over 1,600 feet and have shallow soils of rocks and shale.
Brunello di Montalcino by law must be aged a minimum of four years, including two years in barrel before realease and once released, typically needs more time in bottle for its drinking potential to be fully reached. The good news is that Montalcino makes a “baby brother” version. The wines called Rosso di Montalcino are often made from younger vines, aged for about a year before release, offer extraordinary values and are ready to drink young.
Among Italy's elite red grape varieties, Sangiovese has the perfect intersection of bright red fruit and savory earthiness and is responsible for the best red wines of Tuscany. While it is best known as the chief component of Chianti, it is also the main grape in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and reaches the height of its power and intensity in the complex, long-lived Brunello di Montalcino. Somm Secret—Sangiovese doubles under the alias, Nielluccio, on the French island of Corsica where it produces distinctly floral and refreshing reds and rosés.