Altesino

Altesino stands in the north-eastern hills of Montalcino, overlooked by Palazzo Altesi. The Tuscan Tricerchi family built the palazzo in the middle of the 15th century, and their marble crest can still be seen over the old oak entrance door. The Consorzio del vino Brunello di Montalcino counts Altesino as a forerunner of innovations in Montalcino Sangiovese since 1970. Decanter and Wine Spectator both reported the sale of the estate by the Consonno family in January 2003. The Gnudi Angelini family has owned Altesino since 2002, and Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini guides the estate.

• 15th-century Palazzo Altesi, built by the Tuscan Tricerchi family; their marble crest remains over the old oak entrance door
• A forerunner of innovation since 1970, in the Consorzio del vino Brunello di Montalcino's account
• Owned by the Gnudi Angelini family since 2002
• Sale by the Consonno family reported by Decanter and Wine Spectator in January 2003

The Gnudi Angelini family owns Altesino, and Paolo Caciorgna collaborates on the technical and production side. Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini guides the estate. She chose yellow to decorate the large barrels in the modern cellar.

• Owners: the Gnudi Angelini family, since 2002
• Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini: guides the estate
• Technical and production collaboration: Paolo Caciorgna

The estate covers about 100 hectares, half of which (50 hectares) are vineyards, in six plots: Altesino in the north, Macina in the north-east, Cerbaia and Montosoli in the north-west, Pianezzine in the Sant'Angelo in Colle area and Velona in Castelnuovo dell'Abate. The Altesino plot covers 17 ha (220 to 250 m, south exposure, sedimentary clayey-sandy soil), Macina 9 ha, Cerbaia 1.9 ha, and Pianezzine and Velona 6.5 ha each. Montosoli is a vineyard of about 5 hectares, which the estate calls the first cru in the history of Brunello di Montalcino. Sangiovese makes up the majority of plantings; Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are grown for blending with Sangiovese, Trebbiano and Malvasia for Vin Santo, and Vermentino, Chardonnay and Viognier for the white. Part of the historic cellars lie within Palazzo Altesi, where a section built in the 1970s is used today for refining Brunello Montosoli. The modern winery, built underground behind the vineyards on a natural slope, handles fermentation, refining and bottling and was built according to the dictates of sustainable architecture; fermentation has taken place in the new facilities since 2006.

• About 100 hectares in total, 50 hectares of vineyards in six plots
• Plot sizes: Altesino 17 ha, Macina 9 ha, Cerbaia 1.9 ha, Pianezzine 6.5 ha, Velona 6.5 ha, Montosoli about 5 ha
• Sangiovese is the majority variety, alongside Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Trebbiano, Malvasia, Vermentino, Chardonnay and Viognier
• Brunello Montosoli is refined in a 1970s section of the historic cellar inside Palazzo Altesi

The range comprises Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli DOCG, Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Rosso di Montalcino DOC, Rosso Toscana IGT, Palazzo d'Altesi IGT, Alte d'Altesi IGT, Bianco Toscana IGT and Vin Santo DOC. Sangiovese is used for the Brunello, the Rosso di Montalcino and Palazzo Altesi. The Brunello di Montalcino is Sangiovese aged a minimum of 2 years in oak barrels and a minimum of 4 months in bottle, first produced in 1972. Montosoli was first produced in 1975. The Riserva is produced only during the best years, with a limited number of bottles. The Rosso di Montalcino is placed on the market after a minimum of one year from the harvest. Alte d'Altesi and the Rosso Toscana blend Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The Vin Santo is made from Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes after a period of drying and ages in kegs. The estate also makes Grappa di Brunello, Grappa di Brunello Riserva and extra virgin olive oil.

• Brunello di Montalcino DOCG: Sangiovese, minimum 2 years in oak barrels and 4 months in bottle; first produced in 1972
• Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli DOCG: first year of production 1975
• Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG: produced only during the best years
• Alte d'Altesi and Rosso Toscana IGT: Sangiovese blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot

The estate says that, despite some technical changes over the course of time, its stylistic imprint remains oriented towards the elegance and austerity of a classic Brunello for aging. The Altesino Brunellos are refined in large casks, as tradition prescribes. The estate describes Brunello Montosoli as an extremely complex and elegant wine. A January 2003 Wine Spectator report described Montosoli as a classic Brunello that, especially when young, can be slightly austere and firm, and comes into its own with five or six years of bottle age. In the same report Claudio Basla, then the estate's manager, said: "We will never change the style of our wines."

• Stylistic imprint, in the estate's words: oriented towards the elegance and austerity of a classic Brunello for aging
• Brunello refined in large casks, as tradition prescribes
• Wine Spectator (January 2003 report): Montosoli a classic Brunello, slightly austere and firm when young

Altesino introduced the cru concept with Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli in 1975 and created the first Grappa di Fattoria in 1977 with master distiller Gioacchino Nannoni. The estate also states it was the first winery to use barriques, in 1979. The Consorzio del vino Brunello di Montalcino describes these as "the development of the concept of "Cru" with Montosoli, the first experiments with barriques and the creation of the first Grappa from a winery". The Rosso Toscana IGT followed with the 1989 harvest, an idea the estate says has since been adopted by many other winemakers. In January 2003 Wine Spectator called Montosoli "one of Italy's best reds", and Decanter called it "one of Italy's most sought-after wines".

• 1975: cru concept introduced with Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli
• 1977: first Grappa di Fattoria, with master distiller Gioacchino Nannoni
• 1979: barriques, which the estate says it was the first winery to use
• 1989: Rosso Toscana IGT conceived as the estate's everyday wine
• 2006: fermentation begins in the modern underground winery

Primary sources (producer's own site): https://www.altesino.it/en/the-origins/, https://www.altesino.it/en/vineyards/, https://www.altesino.it/en/our-wines/, https://www.altesino.it/en/brunello-di-montalcino-docg-2/, https://www.altesino.it/en/brunello-di-montalcino-montosoli-docg-2/, https://www.altesino.it/en/brunello-di-montalcino-riserva-docg-2/, https://www.altesino.it/en/rosso-di-montalcino-doc-2/, https://www.altesino.it/en/palazzo-daltesi-2/, https://www.altesino.it/en/rosso-di-toscana-igt-2/, https://www.altesino.it/en/vin-santo-2/, https://www.altesino.it/en/our-products/, https://www.altesino.it/en/grappa-di-brunello-2/, https://www.altesino.it/lazienda/, http://www.altesino.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BM.pdf, http://www.altesino.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BMM.pdf. Secondary sources: https://www.consorziobrunellodimontalcino.it/en/1393/altesino, https://www.winespectator.com/articles/tuscanys-altesino-estate-sells-for-25-million-21508, https://www.decanter.com/wine-news/top-brunello-producer-altesino-sold-104954/. Where the producer's site and a secondary source disagree, the producer's site governs. Last verified 2026-10-12.