Donatella Cinelli Colombini
Donatella Cinelli Colombini
Montalcino, Toscana, Italy
Donatella Cinelli Colombini left her family’s estate in 1998 to start her own, made up of Casato in Montalcino, and Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda. Along with the vineyards and with the farmhouses to be renovated, Donatella received a quantity of Brunello di Montalcino, and so she needed a cellar master to see to its barrel-ageing. She called the Enology School in Siena, asking for a good student to hire. They answered that they had none; cellar masters had to be booked years in advance. They mentioned, however, that they had many female cellar masters available, since no important winery wanted to employ them.
Project Prime Donne was born.
Montalcino’s Casato Prime Donne is a Brunello-exclusive winery. The property is made up of 40 hectares, 16 of which are planted to Sangiovese. There is also a modern, artistic, fresco-filled winery and ageing facility for the Rosso and Brunello di Montalcino wines. Donatella didn’t just hire a woman cellar master for the project. The entire staff are women, including the head winemaker, and Donatella has become a beacon for women in the wine industry, not only in Italy, but globally.
The project grows more meaningful with her Brunello di Montalcino Prime Donne. Donatella noticed that wine critics for the Italian wine guides were all men. She decided then to unite a small group of talented women wine professionals, asking them to blind taste future Brunello from different barrels, and to select the best lots. Every year since its inception, Rosemary George MW, German wine expert Astrid Schwarz, Italian sommelier and teacher Daniela Scrobogna, and Italo-American PR Marina Thompson gather to taste for the blend, choose the barrels, and determine the aging regime for that vintage.
Donatella considers the Brunello Prime Donne the flagship for her wineries.
See which wines are available at LCBO stores here.
AVAILABLE WINES
From our visit in August 2023.
Address: Località Casato 17 – 53024 Montalcino (SI), Italy
Website : https://www.cinellicolombini.it
Donatella Cinelli Colombini
Donatella Cinelli Colombini
Il Drago e le 8 Colombe
The 8 doves on the label represent this groundbreaking female-led winery, while the dragon represents Donatella's beloved husband, Carlo. From Trequanda’s Fattoria del Colle, at 400m on hills of predominantly limestone and sandstone comes this Supertuscan blend of Sangiovese (60%), and equal parts Merlot, and Sagrantino. This was vinified in stainless before 18 months in large barrels and in 5-7 hl French oak tonneaux.
Perfumed florals, sun-ripened cherry, and balsam are woven through this muscular red, with ample chewy tannins and warming baking spice on the finish. One to pour alongside roast lamb / root veg.
"Darkly enticing, the 2020 Il Drago e Le 8 Colombe smolders up with a whiff of cocoa and tangerine zest before giving way to balsamic-inflected black cherries. It’s cool-toned and juicy, with tart wild berry fruits and inner herbal tones elevated by a core of vibrant acidity. This leaves a wild blueberry saturation, edgy tannins and graphite-tinged mineral hints to fade slowly. Despite its structure, the 2020 is more accessible than past vintages, though still complex. Drink 2025-2030." - 92 points, Eric Guido, Vinous, March 2026.
Read about Donatella Cinelli Colombini here.
Vintage: 2020
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $47
Style: Still
Region: Tuscany
Appellation: IGT Toscana
Country: Italy
Grape: Sangiovese, Merlot, Sagrantino
Colour: Red
Vegan: No
Organic: Yes
Biodynamic: No
Natural: No
Low Intervention: Yes