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Farewell to the Lady of Brunello, Francesca Cinelli Colombini

2023-01-02T09:04:33.090Z


Died in her home in Montalcino. She was 92 years old, she was a pioneer of oenology, she led Fattoria Barbi (ANSA)


Francesca Colombini died at her home in Montalcino (Siena), married to Fausto Cinelli, one of the first and most enterprising producers of Brunello wine, a leading figure in Italian winemaking, a female pioneer in the sector.

She came from an ancient Sienese family, she was 92 years old, she was born in Modena where her grandfather Pio Colombini was rector of the university, in her life she alternated between long stays between Montalcino, Siena and Florence.

The announcement of her death was given by her daughter, Donatella Cinelli Colombini who entrusted the memory of her mother to a long text on her blog.

Francesca Colombini married Fausto Cinelli in the autumn of 1952. It was in those years that she began working on the Fattoria dei Barbi, property of the Colombinis since 1352, headquarters of the



The search for alternatives to sharecropping was an undertaking that Giovanni Colombini, the father, and Francesca Cinelli Colombini worked together for decades with effort, tenacity and creativity.

They were the ones who laid the foundations of the current company, transforming the small winery, dairy, delicatessen and restaurant activities into the prototype of the current multifunctional agriculture.

Giovanni Colombini in 1938 opened the first Italian public wine shop in the Fortress of Montalcino, his was the first mail order sale of Tuscan wine in the 1930s, he was also the first to export Brunello to the most important markets in the world, starting with the United States.



After the death of her husband Fausto Cinelli in 1976, Francesca Cinelli Colombini managed the Fattoria dei Barbi alone for over 20 years.

You were the protagonist of one of the first acts of birth of 'wine tourism' with the opening to the public of the Barbi cellar in the 1950s.

The generational transition sees the children Stefano Cinelli Colombini lead the Fattoria dei Barbi and Donatella Cinelli Colombini 'Casato Prime Donne', home of the homonymous prize, in Montalcino, and the Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda (Siena), in turn founder of the Movimento of Wine Tourism in 1993.



The funeral will be celebrated in Montalcino on 31 December, at 3.30 pm, in the sanctuary of the Madonna del Soccorso, the burial will take place in the Siena cemetery, as reported on the Fattoria dei Barbi website, where biographical notes of Francesca Colombini are recalled Cinelli, who died last night.



From 1976 to 1999 she had been the guide and soul of the historic Fattoria dei Barbi di Montalcino and was known everywhere as "the Lady of Brunello" for having contributed in a decisive way to the birth and success of that famous wine.

"Francesca Cinelli Colombini was one of the architects of the success of Brunello di Montalcino in Italy and in the world - recalls the president of the Brunello di Montalcino wine consortium, Fabrizio Bindocci - Rightly considered "the lady of Brunello" and pioneer of enology, has contributed with generous dedication to the affirmation and growth of Brunello's identity and quality, elevating it to a territorial wine brand through innovative and valuable communication".



The mayor of Montalcino Silvio Franceschelli, also a senator in office, underlines in a note that "with the death of Francesca Colombini Cinelli, Montalcino and Italian oenology lose one of their references. Passionate entrepreneur, always contemporary and visionary, she has brought an extraordinary contribution to the success of our city. Francesca Colombini, with her wealth of values, such as love for family and for work, has been able to give a decisive impulse to the affirmation of the Italian wine movement, always maintaining a strong bond with her earth. To his family the closeness of our entire community".

Source: ansa

All life articles on 2023-01-02

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