Barone Ricasoli can boast of being the oldest winery in Italy - as well as one of the most influential. Anyone browsing through the winery's ancestral history will quickly become acquainted with Baron Bettino Ricasoli. He was a formative figure in Italian history, playing a decisive role in the unification of the country. He later served twice as prime minister and brought about important reforms in the young state. Apart from his political career, Ricasoli was a pioneer in the field of viticulture. At the family estate Castello di Brolio, he experimented with different grape varieties and blends in order to develop the ideal wine for the region. In 1872, Bettino Ricasoli stipulated that Chianti should consist of at least 70 per cent Sangiovese. With this decision, he created the fruity, slightly spicy style of Chianti as we know it today. In doing so, he made the Sangiovese grape variety the queen of Tuscan viticulture and one of the most respected varieties in the world. For this reason, Francesco Ricasoli - the 32nd Baron of Brolio and head of the estate since 1993 - dedicated a very special wine to his ancestor, namely a single-varietal Sangiovese. The Brolio Bettino shows the variety at its best: lively, fruity and with spicy aromas of pepper, juniper and dried herbs.
Awards
James Suckling: 93/100, Robert Parker: 92/100
















