Fattoria dei Barbi: The Blue-Label Brunello That Refused to Back Down From plague years to global collectors—this is the story of the noble family that put Brunello in bottles and Tuscany on the map.

Let’s call it what it is:
Fattoria dei Barbi isn’t just one of the oldest producers in Montalcino—it’s one of the most important. This is the family that helped define Brunello, that survived phylloxera and fascism, that kept bottling through war, and that turned their “blue label” into an international shorthand for age-worthy Sangiovese.

Let’s uncork the full saga.

1. 1352: A Family Born From Land and Battle

The Colombini family—noble, Florentine, feisty—established themselves in Montalcino in the 14th century. Their lands, centered around Podere Barbi, became the heart of the Fattoria in the 1790s. But it wasn’t until the 19th century that they started making history in wine.

Clemente Colombini planted Sangiovese Grosso and began vinifying Brunello-style wines long before DOCs existed. At the time, “Brunello” was still an experimental term. He made it anyway.

2. The First Brunello for Sale (1940s)

In 1945, Fattoria dei Barbi became the first estate to ship Brunello commercially outside Italy. Stefano Cinelli Colombini’s grandfather, Giovanni, defied postwar chaos and bureaucracy to export bottles to Switzerland and the U.S.

It was a statement: Brunello wasn’t just for local pride—it was world-class.

3. The Wines That Built the Brand

• Brunello di Montalcino (Blue Label):
  The flagship. Structured, age-worthy, precise. Never flashy, always serious. A true benchmark for traditional Brunello style. Deep cherry, leather, spice, and a noble austerity that ages 20+ years.
• Brunello Riserva:
  A rare release—only in top vintages. Firmer, darker, meant for cellars and quiet triumphs.
• Rosso di Montalcino:
  A younger, brighter expression—still 100% Sangiovese, but juicier and ready-to-drink.
• Brusco dei Barbi:
  Their everyday table red, made with a blend of Sangiovese and native varietals—rustic, joyful, food-loving.

4. The Cellars, the History, the Dust

Fattoria dei Barbi isn’t just a winery—it’s a time capsule. Their museum holds bottles dating back to the 19th century. The old cellar, still in use, was bombed during WWII and rebuilt stone by stone.

You walk through those cellars, and you don’t just smell Sangiovese—you smell resilience.

5. Stefano Cinelli Colombini: The Philosopher Winemaker

Stefano took over in the 1990s and brought fresh energy and intellect. Equal parts historian, communicator, and farmer, he’s led Barbi through the DOCG wars, climate change, and modern pressures without selling its soul.

Under his watch, Barbi has leaned into sustainability, precision viticulture, and global storytelling—without abandoning its core identity.

Why Fattoria dei Barbi Still Matters

• It’s historically foundational: One of the first to define and export Brunello.
• It balances tradition and clarity: Not as brooding as Biondi-Santi, not as flashy as some modernists—Barbi is about elegance and drinkability.
• It’s a wine of principles: The Colombinis never made “Brunello for scores.” They made it for legacy.

Liber’s Bottom Line

Fattoria dei Barbi is a Brunello compass—steady, principled, and never out of style. Its blue label isn't just a design choice—it’s a flag planted in history.

If you want to understand what Sangiovese is capable of—pure, proud, and unfiltered by ego—start here.

Salute to the Colombinis. To 700 years of stubbornness. To blue labels and bold decisions.