THE WOMEN OF BRUNELLO

In Italy, where the majority of wineries are still family affairs and everyone lends a hand, women have long worked behind the scenes. Traditionally, however, they had little to no decision-making power and received even less credit for their roles. As recent as 20 years ago, it was rare to come across female winemakers or winery bosses. But times are changing.

According to a 2018 survey conducted by Cribis, part of the Crif Business Information group, just over a quarter of Italy’s estimated 73,700 wineries are managed by women.

In Montalcino, Tuscany, their empowered presence is keenly felt. From boutique estates to international powerhouses, these trailblazing women focus on finesse and complexity in their wines, and most embrace organic and environmentally sustainable practices. Not coincidentally, they’re also making some of the best Brunellos out there.

Laura Brunelli

With his last name, it only seems like destiny that the late Gianni Brunelli would become a Brunello producer. Though born in Montalcino, Gianni moved to Siena as a boy after his mother sold the family farm.

It was there that he and his wife, Laura, established one of the area’s most successful restaurants, Osteria Le Logge, near Piazza del Campo. In search of the freshest ingredients, the couple bought back the Brunelli’s small Le Chiuse di Sotto farm just north of Montalcino in 1987, where they began to make Montalcino’s prized olive oil and Brunello for both their restaurant and their