Gianni Brunelli was from an old Montalcino family. He dedicated his life to upholding the local traditions of great food, wine and hospitality. He became famous for all of the above at his legendary restaurant Osteria Le Logge in Siena "where customers are treated like friends and friends like gods". In 1988 he re-established his family's grape growing tradition at Le Chiuse de Sotto, a 2 ha vineyard below the hill town of Montalcino. An additional 4.5 ha vineyard named "Podernovone" has since been purchased south of Montalcino. 

Sadly Gianni Brunelli passed away passed away in 2008, but his wife Laura carries on. She is a great character in her own right, big-hearted, and full of generosity and warmth. It is not surprising that Gianni Brunelli's wines are as supple, outgoing and hedonistic as Brunello can be. Aged in big vats of Slovenian oak, they are elegant wines that have none of the severity that Brunello was once known for. Stylistically they have more in common with classic Burgundy or Barolo, which is to say that they are wines of plush texture and a core of ripe fruit.