Benvenuto Brunello NYC: Overwhelmed, Impressed, and Still Recovering

After a morning of tasting Barolo, I walked into Benvenuto Brunello NYC feeling like I’d just run a marathon—only to be handed a second pair of running shoes. The thought of tasting through an entire lineup of big, tannic reds right after that was a bit... daunting, to say the least. I wasn’t sure if my palate would survive the next few hours. But I was here to learn, so I went in.

Benvenuto Brunello is an annual NYC event showcasing the newest releases of Brunello di Montalcino wines, along with Rosso di Montalcino and Riserva bottlings. It's a major event for the wine trade, and this year's tasting was no exception.This was my first time attending Benvenuto Brunello, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t completely overwhelmed. Going in, I knew it would be crowded with tons of producers, but I was still woefully unprepared for the sheer scale of the event.  We’re talking 300+ people, 50+ producers, and over 150 wines—just a little bit of sensory overload.

Each producer was pouring at least three wines: the newly released 2020 Brunello, the younger 2023 Rosso, and the aged 2019 Riserva. And that doesn't even include the single-vineyard wines some producers were showcasing! Needless to say, there was a lot going on.  At some point, I gave up on trying to keep track of how many wines I’d tasted. It was a losing battle.

By the end of the event, my palate was definitely fatigued. And if you’ve tasted over 50 tannic reds in just a few hours, you get it. It’s like eating an entire wheel of cheese—at first, it’s amazing, but by the end, you’re definitely questioning your life choices. That being said, I took plenty of notes (though they slowly devolved into a mess), and while I may not remember every wine I tasted, I do remember the ones that made an impression. And those are the ones that really matter.

What really struck me about this event was how much I discovered about Brunello. They say you’ve got to live it to learn it, and now I realize just how varied this region can be. Every producer has a unique expression, with subtle nuances that you only appreciate when tasting so many side-by-side. As someone relatively new to my wine journey, I'll be the first to admit I have a LOT to learn. But I’m realizing that’s okay. There’s a lot to explore, and sometimes it takes a little push from your boss (hi Paul) to attend an event of this magnitude solo to really understand it all.

At the end of the day, Benvenuto Brunello was a crash course in one of Italy’s greatest wine regions. Overwhelming? Yes. Intense? Definitely. But exactly what I needed. And while my brain and palate are still recovering, I’m more excited than ever to continue learning—and tasting—about this region and the wines that make it so special.

If you’re curious about my (somewhat legible) notes from the day, I’ve left a few below. Or, feel free to check out all of them on my CellarTracker.

2022 La Poderina Rosso di Montalcino: chalky mineral note on the nose, some purple flowers, with a pepper note, the palate has nice red and blue fruits, underlying acidity carries through the glass, nice finish touched with spice

2019 Pecci Celestino Brunello di Montalcino Riserva: rose petals, dark cherries, spice, black and purple fruits on the palate, bitter cocoa powder, spice, long finish

2020 Tenuta Fanti Brunello di Montalcino: dark cherries and raspberries, some warm spices and orange, silky smooth on the palate, red and black fruits, some underlying mineral notes, gritty tannins

2020 Tenute Silvio Nardi Brunello di Montalcino: raspberry, wild strawberry, cinnamon, pine needle, silly texture, red and blue fruits linger on the finish