Brunello Champion Dies

by Westgarth Wines February 21, 2019

Winemaker Gianfranco Soldera passed away from a heart attack February 16th. Soldera owned Case Basse winery in Tuscany, where his dedication to making fine wine reds shone in his devotion to maintaining the traditions of Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino. He was known for speaking up when he felt fellow winemakers were not upholding the region’s standards. So strong were his beliefs that after losing the equivalent of 6,000 cases of wine to an employee’s vandalism, he refused to accept donations of other wineries wine to make a blend to sell, for fear he would be fooling his customers.

Related Link: Gianfranco Soldera, Dedicated and Outspoken Brunello Winemaker, Dies at 82