The investigation followed Siena public prosecutor Nino Calabrese's 2008 accusation that several Montalcino wineries had used grapes other than Sangiovese (known as Brunello) in their Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino.
The investigations had started in September 2007 when the reports of a few hectares of unexplained extra production of non-Brunello grapes had reached the office of the magistrate who ordered the confiscation of 6.5m litres of Brunello di Montalcino and 700,000 litres of Rosso di Montalcino from some of the top Montalcino producers including Antinori, Biondi Santi Frescobaldi, Argiano, Casanova di Neri and Castello Banfi.
In the spring of 2008 the investigators had fully cleared both Biondi Santi and Col d'Orcia of any illegal blending. However, when the alleged illegalities had first surfaced in public, the President of the Consortium at the time, Count Francesco Marone Cinzano and the owner of Col d’Orcia, who had visited India with a Montalcino delegation last year, had resigned as a mark of anger and protest.
The controversy had also re-kindled the debate among the producers whether the rules should be relaxed to allow a miniscule blending with other grapes like Cabernet. Biondi Santi founded in 1880 by Clemente Biondi Santi who was considered the ‘Father of Brunello’ was one of the most active defenders of the wine's existing traditional production laws and was strongly against any deviation from the traditions. The current owner Franco Biondi Santi was able to rally the support of the majority of Brunello producers who decided against any changes.
It is reported that 1.3 m litres of Brunello di Montalcino were declassified to IGT during the investigation. Vintages that were confiscated included 2004, '05, 06 and '07. The suspect wines were tested by the Central Inspectorate for Quality Control of Food and Agricultural Products at their Florence center.
Despite the earlier fears that the investigation may damage the reputation of the highly prestigious Italian wines, no signs of a slowdown have been reported in sales of Brunello, according to Wine Spectator and the highly rated 2004 vintage has been well-received.
Banfi is imported by Brindco in India while Antinori exports through Sonarys, Mumbai. Ace Beveragez is the Indian distributor for Col d’Orcia. Casanova di Neri is being distributed by The Wine Park in Mumbai.
For some of the earlier related articles, visit:
http://www.indianwineacademy.com/item_8_258.aspx
http://www.indianwineacademy.com/item_1_256.aspx
http://www.indianwineacademy.com/item_3_252.aspx
http://www.indianwineacademy.com/item_7_244.aspx
http://www.indianwineacademy.com/item_1_242.aspx
http://www.indianwineacademy.com/item_3_207.aspx
|