The Loia family produces a traditional style of Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino from their 4.2 hectares of vines on the Southeast hillside of Montalcino, overlooking the Val d’Orcia. The family purchased a small olive grove in 1982 as a retirement business when Montalcino was a poor hilltop town with 20 wine producers. Following the brutally cold winter of 1985, they replanted with vines to quickly regain a livelihood.

Farming organically since 2000, Palazzo has avoided more recent trends towards shorter periods of barrique aging. The Brunello di Montalcino is aged for 3 years in large Slavonian oak casks, plus an additional year for the Riservas, with further bottle aging before release. The Rosso di Montalcino is declassified from their Brunello appellation vineyards. Total production is very small at just 20,000 bottles.

These certified organic, south facing vineyards are rich in gallestro-soils and directly surround the winery. This is truly a family operation, and since the father Cosimo’s passing in 2012, Antonietta and her children have continued the winery’s legacy. Son Angelo oversees the vineyards while daughter Elia manages operations with her mother’s help, while also working at Val di Suga. Palazzo is Antionetta’s maiden name. The estate’s top Brunello, Cosimo, is a wine of true elegance, named in honor of his legacy.

Region: Montalcino, Italy