The family Brunello that conquers Montalcino. Here’s the winery awarded for its outstanding red wine

The Red Wine of the Year for the Vini d’Italia 2026 guide by Gambero Rosso comes from Montalcino: it is the Brunello di Montalcino Giodo 2020. The wine is produced by a Tuscan family that has grown up among the vineyards. At the forefront is Carlo Ferrini, an internationally renowned oenologist, considered a true guru — especially when it comes to Sangiovese, a grape variety he has loved and elevated throughout his entire career. Today, his latest venture, Giodo — a dream realised together with his daughter Bianca — has succeeded, year after year, in producing a series of Brunello wines that are true aces. Bianca, born into the world of wine but not defined by it, has inherited a significant legacy and has made her mark with strength and determination in the Montalcino wine adventure, bringing her distinctive personality into the family estate.

Giodo, the project from Montalcino to Mount Etna

Born in 1990 and a new mother, Bianca is now at the helm of Giodo (a brand that also includes a Sicilian venture with a micro-winery on Mount Etna). In the past, she was a competitive water polo athlete and completed studies in economics and agriculture, gaining experience in both the United States and Italy in wine marketing and export — experiences that have allowed her to combine managerial skills with an international vision.

“Giodo is an adventure I carry forward with pride. The project was born in Montalcino in the early 2000s,” she explains, “then expanded to Sicily with Alberelli di Giodo on Etna, and was firmly consolidated with the construction of the new winery in 2020, which welcomed among its first grapes those from the very vintage now being awarded.”

The new-generation Brunello

“In Montalcino, tradition can be felt in every corner, but I believe a Brunello can remain faithful to its roots and at the same time express itself in a contemporary, fresh, and approachable way — even in a context of climate change. Montalcino,” Bianca adds, “is generous; it has an enchanting light and a terroir that demands humility. The beauty of this land — with its forests, Mediterranean scrub, and gentle hills — is an integral part of our wines. Our most important task is to listen to it, every year, with renewed attention.

The Gambero Rosso award for the Giodo 2020 confirms that we are on the right path: elegance, balance, and absolute respect for the territory.”

A new wine on the way: Prètto (meaning true, frank, sincere)

Alongside Bianca is Riccardo Ferrari, cellar master and life partner, an integral part of the small team that carries Giodo forward with meticulous attention to every detail. The range, which until now included the Brunello di Montalcino Giodo and the IGT Toscana La Quinta, will soon expand with the release of the 2021 vintage of a new Brunello: Prètto.

“The name reflects the spirit of the wine: it means true, frank, sincere — a language that mirrors a modern, lively, and agile style. It’s a direct and immediate interpretation of Sangiovese, designed to engage with new generations while maintaining depth and authenticity.”

“Seeing Bianca breathe new life into Giodo every day,” concludes Carlo Ferrini, “is an immense satisfaction. Together we created Prètto, for which we make a vineyard selection as rigorous as for Brunello Giodo, though it represents a more spontaneous expression. Giodo will remain our flagship label — the result of a patient and meticulous selection of the finest expressions that age in our tonneaux.”

The strong bond between father and daughter

Having such a well-known father in the wine world can be demanding, but Bianca sees it as a gift:

“There are debates, sometimes even disagreements,” she says, “but having beside me a professional with such vast expertise, experience, and passion is extraordinary. No one ever imposed this path on me — it was entirely my choice, and today I am happy to carry it forward.

I grew up breathing my father’s passion for the world of wine and for Sangiovese: a precious inheritance and, at the same time, a great responsibility. I try to give the Giodo project a voice of my own — one that’s closer to my generation. I believe my contribution to the company has mainly been in terms of organisation and sensitivity, two aspects that make all the difference in a young reality like ours.”