Le Chiuse Archivi — Enoteca di Piazza

Le Chiuse has ancient origins as a source of wine, wheat and olive oil. The estate came into the possession of the Biondi Santi family at the end of the 18th century as a dowry of Maria Tamanti when she married Clemente Santi. Their daughter Caterina married Jacopo Biondi and their son Ferruccio, the great grandfather of Simonetta Valiani, respected his mother’s wishes and added her surname Santi to the family name. Ferruccio Biondi Santi, after having fought alongside Garibaldi, continued the work of his grandfather Clemente by selecting and enhancing vines until he obtained a particular clone of Sangiovese Grosso that became the source of the original Brunello di Montalcino. Ferruccio’s son Tancredi bequeathed Le Chiuse and two other properties to his daughter Fiorella, urging her never to sell the estate because it was there that the grapes for the famous Brunello Riserva originated. From then on Fiorella leased the farms to her brother Franco, owner of the renowned Il Greppo estate, who cultivated the vineyards and vinified the grapes until 1990. When Fiorella died in 1986, her daughter Simonetta Valiani, who inherited her grandfather Tancredi’s love for the land and passion for wine, began to produce her own Brunello from Le Chiuse. With great dedication, she worked with her husband Nicolò Magnelli and son Lorenzo in restoring the estate buildings and chapel, constructing an underground cellar and planting new vineyards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Le Chiuse winery located and in what part of Montalcino does it produce?

Le Chiuse is located north of Montalcino, on the northeastern side of the Montosoli hill, at about 300 meters of altitude with sun exposure all day long. Its seven hectares of vineyard are planted entirely with Sangiovese Grosso, with contained yields of about 55 quintals per hectare.

Who founded the Le Chiuse winery? What connection does it have with the Biondi Santi family?

Le Chiuse was part of the Biondi Santi family's holdings: it came as a dowry from Maria Tamanti in the late 18th century when she married Clemente Santi, the direct line from which Brunello originated. The property today belongs to Simonetta Valiani, great-granddaughter of Ferruccio Biondi Santi, who in the 1990s took back full ownership of the estate and began producing her own 'Brunello Le Chiuse' together with her husband Nicolò Magnelli and son Lorenzo.

Has the Le Chiuse winery received major awards?

Yes: Le Chiuse's Brunello di Montalcino 2016, with a score of 99 points, ranked fifth in Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2021, a top-tier honor for a relatively small winery tied to one of Montalcino's most important historic families.

Can you visit the Le Chiuse winery? Do they offer tastings?

Yes, visits are possible Monday to Friday from 10 to 17, by advance reservation, to see up close the historic vineyards tied to the Biondi Santi family and taste the Brunello produced by Simonetta Valiani.