Tag Archives: Brunellopoli

Six individuals indicted in Brunello scandal

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The Siena prosecutor has released the names of the six persons indicted in the Operation Mixed Wine investigation that led to the Brunello controversy known as Brunellopoli or Brunellogate in 2008 and 2009. According to a statement released by Italian authorities in July 2009, 20% of the 6.7 million liters of Brunello di Montalcino impounded were declassified to Toscana Rossso IGT.

Six individuals have been asked to appear before a judge in Siena for a preliminary hearing:

Stefano Campatelli, director of the Brunello producers association (Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino) and member of the Brunello certification committee

Baldassarre Fanti, president of the Brunello producers association until 2007

Lamberto Frescobaldi, legal representative of the Castelgiocondo winery

Niccolò d’Afflitto, enologist and production manager at Castelgiocondo

Giampiero Pazzaglia, legal representative of the Argiano winery

Paul Harri, ex-enologist at the Banfi winery [errata corrige: employed by the Col d'Orcia winery at the time of the investigation and in 2003, the first vintage examined by investigators; Mr. Harri's association with Banfi ended in 1999 according to a Banfi spokesperson]

The defendants in the case have been accused of making false statements to public officials and of selling “adulterated substances” and falsely labeled “industrial products” not in accordance with appellation regulations. According to a report published May 1 in the Italian media, 17 persons received indictments and all but the above 6 negotiated plea agreements with prosecutors.

VinoWire editor Franco Ziliani reported this story in Italian today on his blog Vino al Vino. Translation by VinoWire.

Local politicians call for transparency and protection of existing appellations in Montalcino

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The following translation is an excerpt of a statement issued by the Partito Democratico of Montalcino. The center-left Partito Democratico or Democratic Party is one of the predominant political parties in Italy. The statement appeared earlier this week in the Corriere di Siena online edition (and subsequently on VinoWire editor Franco Ziliani’s blog Vino al Vino) following a meeting between the mayor of Montalcino and leading party officials. Translation by VinoWire.

Decisive action is needed to empower the administration of the body responsible for the promotion and development of winemaking [in Montalcino]. Such action should be directed toward transparency and a necessary break from the past, with a view to restore credibility and to renew solidarity among producers. Restored credibility would also allow for access to important public finances. Such action should be intended to orchestrate initiatives for the strengthening and a renewed commercial launch of the existing appellations. The name of Montalcino and its history deserve these appellations.

In the light of this, moreover, we believe that it is necessary to open a peaceful and constructive dialog between producers, associations in the sector, and its institutions with an aim to reinforce the relationship between the product and the land. Such discussion should include a balanced evaluation of the opportunity to introduce a new appellation compatible with the will of producers and the relative evolution of legislative matters. But such discussion should not be help with the aim of changing existing tradition and history or affecting Italy’s current viticultural excellence.