Azienda Tornesi is a small, family-owned Brunello estate a short walk from the centre of Montalcino. What distinguishes Tornesi is its human scale: the family is present, the food is made by Mamma Renata that morning, and the person leading your tasting grew up among these vines.
Four Generations
Narciso Tornesi bought Le Benducce in 1865. His grandson Gino registered the vineyards with the newly-formed Brunello Consorzio in 1967, becoming one of its first members. Gino’s son Maurizio began commercial production in 1993 and built a new stone cellar in 2009 with a panoramic terrace facing Monte Amiata.
Today, Maurizio’s daughter Elisa is the face of the winery. She grew up hand-harvesting alongside her grandfather and father, and leads tastings with warmth and genuine depth of knowledge. She works alongside Valentina in the cellar.
The Wines
Five hectares of Sangiovese Grosso, farmed entirely by hand. Spontaneous fermentation, long maceration, ageing in large Slavonian oak barrels — no new oak, no barriques. The flagship Brunello di Montalcino, the Riserva (36 months in oak), and the prestige Benducce 570 from vineyards at 570 metres. Consulting oenologist: Paolo Vagaggini.
The Experience
Tastings on the panoramic terrace, always led by family. Mamma Renata prepares everything — bruschetta, pecorino, salumi, fried vegetables from the kitchen garden, handmade pasta. Nonna Renata (Maurizio’s mother, in her late eighties) still collects eggs from the chicken coop every morning — the freshness of her eggs is credited for the special quality of Renata’s frittate.
On our tour
On the last day of the Val d’Orcia tour, after Castiglione d’Orcia and Sant’Antimo, the group arrives at Le Benducce for a cellar visit, Brunello tasting, and a lunch prepared by Elisa’s mother. It’s the meal where the group says goodbye to each other and to the Val d’Orcia.
