(ANSA) - For the first time in Italy, a wine auction has been organised which will deal exclusively with Brunello di Montalcino with over 500 bottles of the prestigious Tuscan red up for bids.
The September 24 event is being organised, in collaboration with the Florence-based Pandolfini Auction House, in order to raise funds for the restoration of the Chiesa di Santa Croce, one of the oldest and most renowned in this Tuscan town.
Considered by many experts to be one of the best wines in the world, the Brunello is being donated by leading wine producers and collectors and will be divided into 84 lots. For wine lovers this will be a unique occasion to buy such rarities as a Brunello Riserva 1961 from the Il Greppo vineyard, produced by the Biondi Santi family which 'invented' Brunello' at the end of the 19th century.
The base price for the three bottles of this gem has been set at 3,000 euros.
Acclaimed Italian artist Sandro Chia has donated three bottles of Brunello Riserva 1999 Castello del Romitorio, which he himself produces in a numbered and signed edition. The famous Italian Antinori wine family has given six bottles of Brunello Pian delle Vigne, ranging in vintage from 1995 to 2000, which will have a base price of 240 euro each.
Another star attraction will be four bottles of Brunello Case Basse which is almost impossible to find. Up for auction will be a lot with a Riserva 1983 and Riserva 1999, valued at some 600 euros, and one with a Riserva 1999 and a Riserva 1988, worth 400 euros,
Castello Banfi, the biggest vineyard in Montalcino, has made the largest donation to the auction with eight bottles of Brunello Cru Poggio dall'Orto, six bottles of Poggio alle Mura and six bottles of Poggio all'Oro.
Also up for auction will be eight bottles of 1997 Brunello di Montalcino with the exclusive labels designed by Colombian artist Ferdinando Botero.
