The story of Il Marroneto begins in 1974, when Giuseppe Mori fell in love with the medieval town of Montalcino, in the province of Siena, and in particular with a 13th-century tower once used to dry maronni, a prized variety of chestnut that would later inspire the estate’s name. He acquired the small property surrounding the tower, from which sweeping views extend across Siena and the Val d’Orcia.
In the early years, Giuseppe’s sons, Andrea and Alessandro, joined their father in this venture. While they followed in his footsteps in the legal profession, they devoted their weekends to working alongside him in the vineyard. The Mori family planted their first vines in 1975, at the foot of the 13th-century church dedicated to the Madonna delle Grazie, which would later lend its name to the estate’s most iconic wine. The decisive turning point came in the early 1990s, when Alessandro chose to leave his legal career and dedicate himself entirely to the family estate.
From vineyard to winery, the approach is guided by restraint and fidelity to the traditions of the appellation. The aim is not technical intervention, but to grow fruit of such quality that it can give rise to fine wines of genuine stature. Low planting density, tightly controlled yields, natural grass cover, spring pruning and careful shoot tying up through the summer form the core of vineyard work. Harvesting is conducted rigorously by hand. Once in the cellar, the grapes are destemmed and transferred to foudres (large wooden tuns), where they rest for 24 hours. Pump-overs of the press juice then follow for four to five hours, initiating fermentation, which occurs exclusively with native yeasts. The must continues to undergo regular pump-overs over the following ten to twelve days. The wine is then drawn off and transferred to large foudres (Allier and Slavonian oak) where it remains for several years. Rosso di Montalcino appellation wines are matured for an average of 20 to 22 months, while Brunello “Il Marroneto” and “Madonna delle Grazie” spend more than 40 months in large oak casks before further bottle ageing of seven and ten months respectively prior to release.
Today, Il Marroneto is regarded as one of the most prestigious and widely admired estates in the world. This recognition stems from Alessandro Mori’s determination and the deep commitment he has always devoted to his craft, a dedication he has passed on to his son Iacopo, who has worked alongside him since 2019. The wines produced by Il Marroneto stand among the most elegant and most deeply structured expressions of Brunello di Montalcino. The cuvées “Il Marroneto” and “Madonna delle Grazie” in particular are capable of stirring powerful emotion, reflecting the exceptional care with which they are made. These are bottles to secure for any serious cellar.