Notes from North Berkeley:

"In the early 1970s, Domenico Berni had a dream: to craft a soulful Sangiovese just a stone’s throw from the center of Montalcino. “Delfo” had quite a nose for terroir, deciding after much deliberation to purchase barely an acre of land not far from Montalcino’s city walls.

Local history books mention that as far back as the 1300s, this rocky slope was favored for vines, and was called “contrada el petroso,” or simply, the place of many stones.

With barely an acre of land, Berni made miracles happen. His wines (crafted for personal consumption, not for sale) were so flavorful and refined that his family encouraged him to turn his hobby into a true calling, and make wine for the wider world.

Three generations and a few more acres later, the descendants of “Delfo” – nephew Gianni Pignattai, his wife Cecilia, son Andrea and daughter Gloria – are continuing their granduncle’s passion.

While so much of Montalcino has become consumed by large estates and flashy conglomerates, it is a breath of fresh air to find a true family winery with deep roots in the region and an honest belief in the potential of Sangiovese from its native soils."