The scandal came to light in 2008 and involved producers of Brunello di Montalcino who were under suspicion of wine fraud by adding non-Sangiovese grapes to the 100% Sangiovese Brunello di Montalcino wines. It was first reported by Italian wine journalist Franco Ziliani and American wine critic James Suckling of Wine Spectator. In 2008, 85% of consorzio members voted against allowing alternative varieties to be used for Brunello or junior appellation Rosso di Montalcino, and in 2012, some 98% rejected the idea of changing the rules for Rosso alone. “Now, with the 2010 vintage, I think there is no way of changing back, because the rating [of the wines] has been so great,” Giacomo Bartolommei, said.

‘Filippo Paoletti of the Lisini estate described himself as a man of peace, but said that in the last year he has wanted to “put a bomb in some Brunello producers’ cellars”. His concern was not that there had been a scandal, but that the offenders are powerful enough to get away with it, while the younger, and smaller producers are now faced with a suspicious public, and so struggle to find markets for their wines. Perhaps most telling was his comment that it shouldn’t really be a surprise ifunauthorised grapes turn up in Brunello when, after pressure from some producers, these are allowed in DO Sant Antimo and IGT wines from the same area. The solution has therefore exacerbated the problem.’

Source: Richards Walford Italy report 2010.