Benvenuto Brunello, a three-day wine event introducing the 2015 vintage of Brunello di Montalcino to select press and trade, began on February 22, 2020. That same week, the first Italian died of complications from Covid-19 and a handful of cases were confirmed in the north of the country. Unfortunately—and rightfully so—the good news about the quality of the 2015 Brunello di Montalcino wines was overshadowed by the devastating news regarding the pandemic.

Almost four months later, as international borders begin to reopen and the world at large shifts into what is being referred to as “the new normal,” wine lovers who may have missed the news coming out of Montalcino in February and March are just learning that the 2015 vintage was greeted with accolades and will be in the market soon.