New lower maximum yields for 2009 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and Rosso di Montalcino DOC

There has been a lot of writings about Brunello di Montalcino in the recent weeks. The Italian "Fiamme Gialle" or "Yellow Flames" (because they have yellow flames on their uniforms), the Guardia di Finanza, which is the treasury department of Italy, organized a press conference on July 18 wherein they announced the findings of the investigation of Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti Classico producers who were not following the rules. My father Fabrizio Bindocci and I are glad that the investigation has been concluded and that we can move forward. We have always believed that Brunello di Montalcino should be made with 100% Sangiovese grapes and even if it is true that some may have broken the rules, we love our appellation and we know that the greater majority of Brunello producers make real Brunello, from Sangiovese in purity. 

So much has been said in the newspapers and the blogs and so has been overshadowed some very important news about Brunello di Montalcino.

Earlier this month, the Regione Toscana (the Tuscany Region government) has announced that for the 2009 vintage the maximum yields for Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and Rosso di Montalcino DOC will be lowered.

The decision was made in June and the news became official in the Bollettino della Regione Toscana on July 8. 

Beginning with 2009 vintage, the maximum yield for Brunello di Montalcino DOCG will be 7 tons per hectare or 47.6 hectoliters per hectare and the maximum yield for Rosso di Montalcino DOC will be 8 tons per hectare or 56 hectoliters per hectare. This is a reduction of 1 ton for Brunello: until this year the maximum yield for Brunello was 8 tons per hectare (see the "disciplinare" here).

My father Fabrizio and I believe this is a positive evolution for Brunello di Montalcino because it will make it so that the overall quality of Brunello will be better and it will also help to stabilise the prices of Brunello for everyone. 

We hope you are all enjoying your summer and we will be going to Castiglioncello soon for our vacations at the seaside!