Benvenuto Brunello 2021 Preview – Tasting Sensational New Vintage Brunellos – A Tempting Invitation To Discover the Wineries and the Region of Montalcino
The Consortium of Brunello di Montalcino is anticipating the Benvenuto Brunello event up to November this year. The presentation of the new vintages will feature 2017's Brunello and 2016's Riserva selections. The event, generally a February event, this year will begin on November 19th, in the Complesso Monumentale of Sant'Agostino, and will last through November 28th.
Why was the Benvenuto Brunello Premiere anticipated?
The Consortium's decision is based on their need to review the ‘Anteprime di Toscana’ (Previews of Tuscany) project.
The requirement that consortia could only officially present their new vintages no earlier than the official release on the market has been lifted, and this should represent an advantage for foreign importers and distributors.
"For a long time we had expressed the need to make the event of the debut of the vintages a more incisive occasion for the market," said Fabrizio Bindocci, President of the Consorzio del vino Brunello di Montalcino.
"Especially the international market, which for our region is worth about €1 billion in exports. Over these last 11 years, the ‘Previews of Tuscany’ have turned the spotlight on our immense wine heritage in an extremely positive fashion, but in a phase of great change like the present one, it is necessary to have the courage to innovate, in order to reach those promotion objectives that those same companies ask of us," Bindocci continues
How will Benvenuto Brunello 2021 be organized?
The event is exclusively by invitation only. The two opening days, the 19th and 20th, will be dedicated to the national and international press.
In the following days there will be informative sessions addressing sommeliers, bloggers, influencers, food service and hotel industry sectors, and wine lovers.
Benvenuto Brunello Off, the last edition
The November edition of Benvenuto Brunello will therefore be held a few months after the last edition of the event held in March. That event included approximately 650 participants, with about 1500 bottles uncorked.
The 2016 vintage of Brunello di Montalcino, was awarded during this event with the maximum score of 5 stars by Federica Pellegrini, just as the previous year experienced.
Brunello di Montalcino wine growth: +44% in the first 9 months of 2021, globally
The Brunello di Montalcino run continues on world markets. In the first 9 months of 2021 the Brunello wines registered extraordinary growth: +44% over the previous year. This is the best performance to date from 2012.
The 2020 vintage, with 9 million bottles produced, has already shown a 12,2% increase compared to 2019 thanks to its two 5-star super vintages from 2015 and 2016.
Nearly 70% of Brunello wines are sold abroad. Main destinations for Brunello di Montalcino wines include Europe, the USA, Canada and Japan.
Even the red Rosso di Montalcino wine, with more than 3 million bottles produced, has shown an increase in production. From January through September 2020, production increased by at least 10%.
How are producers within the Consorzio del Brunello di Montalcino doing in 2021?
In spite of these difficult years, thanks above-all to exports of Brunello di Montalcino that on average are around 65%, companies from 2006 to 2019 have registered a growth in added value from 39% to 42%. On a national level the growth has been on average less than 19%.
For Montalcino companies, net worth (the assets owned by the company) also grew from 37% to 63%, while financial debt decreased from 45% to 23.4%.
These data emerge from Banco Bpm's analysis of the health of Montalcino companies presented last September.
How many "Green" vineyards exist in Montalcino?
Brunello di Montalcino has proven to have a loyal following, possibly in part thanks to its focus on organic farming. Indeed, organic vines in Montalcino represent nearly 50% of total vines in the region.
This analysis has been certified by the Consorzio del vino Brunello di Montalcino in May 2021, and is further based on the data of the certifying bodies.
Fortuitously, the percentage of wine makers converting their lands to sustainable practices with a focus on growing organic Brunello di Montalcino grapes is also increasing: 106 out of 257 companies are registered as heading in this direction, an admirable 4 out of 10 companies.
Vineyards in Montalcino have always been respectful of the local environment, and represents only 15% of the rural areas. This territory is primarily characterized by remarkable biodiversity, with wooded ares covering up to 50% of total acreage. Also present in positive are olive groves representing 10% or the land, and arable lands, pastures and other farmlands.
How has the pandemic affected wine tourism in Montalcino?
As we know, respect and attention to the environment can also go hand-in-hand with local beauty. The local feast for the eyes has markedly been appreciated by national and international tourists in Montalcino. The visitors appreciate the region so much, the years between 2009-2019 have reflected an increase of 132% of international visitors, according to data released by the region of Tuscany.
This has resulted in a changing economy, and today, we can count 1 Montalcino resident for every 25 citizens who runs a hotel or a farm-stay location, a wine relais, a restaurant, a winery or restaurant, or another local business focused on local tourism.
Today, the Montalcino area is looking to the future, to recover from the abrupt loss of the two past seasons still marked by pandemic restrictions.
International communities increased their Italian destinations between the period of 2009-2019. Leading the pack of non-Italian arrivals has been the United States (+178%), followed by Germany (+213%), and Brazil which, with over 10 thousand presences, increased arrivals over the period by 910%.
The area attracts throngs of visitors thanks to its wine, naturally, but also top-level quality gourmet treats, like saffron, honey, olive oil, cheese, and seasonal truffles from the Crete Senesi. All these extra options only add more value to the region, and bring additional opportunities for cultural and historical insight.
What's keeping you from coming to Montalcino today?
If you wish to visit Montalcino, with wineries and services reopened for visitors and the 2022 season looking to be a busy year, booking early is highly recommended. Get started today with independent planning or get in touch with an expert travel agent on-ground to set up your amazing wine and food experience in Italy.
