Mastrojanni
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Country of Origin: Italy
Location: Castelnuovo dell’Abate, Montalcino
People: Francesco Illy, Owner | Guilia Härri, Winemaker
Viticulture: Practicing Biodynamic
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The wine estate Mastrojanni lies in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, in the south easternmost corner of Montalcino, in the Province of Siena. This is an area with a strong winemaking tradition and the homeland of Brunello. The inactive Mount Amiata lends great character to the Sangivese growing in this estate, as the soils are rich in gravel, clay, limestone and sandstone. The estate stretches over 90 hectares, 25 of which for vines, 14 for Brunello, with vineyards often over 35 years old. The height varies from 150 meters to 420 meters above sea level. The area enjoys exposure to all cardinal points, with more or less steep slopes. The average density is of 5,300 vines per hectare yielding below 5 tons per hectare.
Mastrojanni has been writing history with its wines since 1975, collecting awards from all over the world. Today, thanks to an exceptional terroir and men who have believed in it for decades, Mastrojanni has become one of the most respected Montalcino producers. Producing estate, terroir-driven wines, quantities vary vintage to vintage. If the vintage is poor, Mastrojanni has been known not to produce its Brunello, like in the years 1992 and 2002. In 2022, Mastrojanni began biodynamic conversion.
History of Mastrojanni: Born and raised in Montalcino, Andrea Machetti never strayed far from his agricultural roots. After studying agronomy in the early 1980s, he began his career at Montedison, later joining the technical team at Villa Banfi to help implement new winemaking techniques. It was there that he met renowned enologist Maurizio Castelli, who would become a longtime collaborator and mentor.
In the mid-1980s, Castelli brought Machetti with him to Castiglion del Bosco, then a vast estate in transition. Impressed by Machetti’s talent and dedication, Castelli later introduced him to the Mastrojanni family, recommending him as the ideal person to lead the winery’s next chapter. In 1992, Machetti joined Mastrojanni and quickly became the driving force behind its evolution, overseeing both vineyard management and cellar operations.
Mastrojanni was founded in the 1970s by lawyer Gabriele Mastrojanni, whose vision aligned closely with Machetti’s: the vineyard comes first, and the cellar is only for refinement. Together, they championed a resolutely traditional approach to Brunello, prioritizing site expression and authenticity over fleeting trends. Machetti resisted the widespread shift to barrique aging, insisting instead on large-format oak botti to preserve the integrity of Sangiovese and the unique minerality of Mastrojanni’s soils.
Though occasionally at odds with critics who favored a more modern style, Machetti held firm to his philosophy—and over time, the wine press came to celebrate Mastrojanni’s unwavering commitment to purity and place.
In 2008, following the death of the founding family and amid tensions between heirs, Machetti turned to a longtime friend and admirer of the wines, Francesco Illy—who also happened to own the neighboring estate Podere Le Ripi. A devoted fan of the estate, Illy acquired Mastrojanni through the Illy Group and appointed Machetti as CEO, ensuring continuity and honoring the winery’s founding principles.
Today, Andrea Machetti is now the director of the Consorzio del vino Brunello di Montalcino. Under Guilia Härri's watch, Mastrojanni remains one of the great traditional estates of Montalcino, producing age-worthy Brunello that speaks with quiet power and unmistakable clarity of its place. The estate continues to embody a legacy of respect—for the land, the grape, and the generations that brought it to life.