2016 Stella di Campalto 'Vigna Curva Lato Cantina' Brunello di Montalcino

Region: Tuscany, Italy

Grape: Sangiovese

Culinary Suggestions: Bistecca Fiorentina (Florentine Steak), Lamb Chops, Rich Pasta Dishes, Charcuterie

Vineyard Practice: Biodynamic

About

Oftentimes discovering one’s true calling requires a leap of faith. Stella di Campalto found hers in an abandoned farm and winery in Montalcino, land that she restored to vibrant life with her own hands.

The San Giuseppe winery, not far from the ninth-century abbey of Sant’ Antimo, was established in 1910 yet abandoned in the 1940s. Her family purchased the property in the early 1990s. Yet it wasn’t until her aunt encouraged her to explore this bucolic southeastern corner of Montalcino, with its forests and ancient olive groves, that Stella realised how much her staid life in Milan was taking away from her and her children.

Once at San Giuseppe, she was more than captivated—she realised she had come home.

Seeking the help of local winemakers and friends, she planted the estate to only Sangiovese vines and from the start, insisted on organic/biodynamic agriculture. Her convictions and her practice are all born from diligent observation and a guiding respect for the land and vine.

Today Stella di Campalto is one of Brunello di Montalcino’s most sought-after producers, and certainly one of its most respected artisans. She has achieved this through her natural, noninterventionist approach and almost magic ability to guide the soul of her vines into each bottle. - Importer Note