History and Philosophy

MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF HISTORY

I Balzini was founded in 1980, when Vincenzo D’Isanto planted the first vineyard, aspiring to make a wine that could speak of a different Tuscany. While Chianti is one of the world’s most famous wines, Vincenzo did not like the many laws regulating its production. In his day job as an accountant he already had to follow constricting rules everyday. Therefore, he decided to plant, alongside classic Tuscan varieties like Sangiovese and Mammolo, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.

The goal? To create Supertuscan wines that could convey the nature of the countryside where they are grown, which is characterized by many little crags (“balze”).
The estate’s first vineyard was planted in 1980 and trusted into the care of Giulio Gambelli, the master taster behind some of Tuscany’s most prestigious wines.

Vincenzo’s passion also drew in also his wife Antonella, who in 2005 quit her job to run the winery full time. Antonella, a dynamic and enthusiastic Sicilian, reorganized the business by building new offices, purchasing new vineyards, and widening the product range.

The goal? To create Supertuscan wines that could convey the nature of the countryside where they are grown, which is characterized by many little crags (“balze”).
The estate’s first vineyard was planted in 1980 and trusted into the care of Giulio Gambelli, the master taster behind some of Tuscany’s most prestigious wines.

Vincenzo’s passion also drew in also his wife Antonella, who in 2005 quit her job to run the winery full time. Antonella, a dynamic and enthusiastic Sicilian, reorganized the business by building new offices, purchasing new vineyards, and widening the product range.

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HOW WE MAKE
OUR WINES

Since 2017, I Balzini is in the capable hands of Diana, Vincenzo’s and Antonella’s daughter. Her approach combines the winery’s traditional search for excellence with an environmentally-sound approach stressing on sustainability and organic farming.

A few years after becoming manager, Diana launched the “Back to the Future” project. She renewed the enological management, certified the organic production that the winery had been following for years, and changed the labels and names of the wine.

OUR SUSTAINABLE COMMITMENT

OUR WINES

BACK TO THE FUTURE PROJECT

Since 2017, I Balzini is in the capable hands of Diana, Vincenzo’s and Antonella’s daughter. Her approach combines the winery’s traditional search for excellence with an environmentally-sound approach stressing on sustainability and organic farming.

A few years after becoming manager, Diana launched the “Back to the Future” project. She renewed the enological management, certified the organic production that the winery had been following for years, and changed the labels and names of the wine.

OUR SUSTAINABLE COMMITMENT

OUR WINES

BACK TO THE FUTURE PROJECT

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HOW WE MAKE
OUR WINES

OUR HISTORY

1978
Vincenzo D’Isanto, an accountant from Florence, purchased a small farmhouse surrounded by field plots that was named I Balzini after the peculiar geological configuration of the area. The first vineyard was planted.
1987
First grape harvest. Vincenzo hires Giulio Gambelli as lead enologist.
1991
Four years after the first harvest, the winery’s first wine is put on the market. Simply called I Balzini, this table wine is a Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon blend. Only 5000 bottles were produced, which are still sold under the name I Balzini White Label 1987.
1998
Birth of I Balzini Black Label, a Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blend. Colors start to be assigned to different wines.
2004
Birth of I Balzini Red Label, a Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon blend.
2005
Antonella D’Isanto, Vincenzo’s wife, Antonella, retires from her work as labour consultant to work full time at I Balzini, transforming it into a real business.
2006
Birth of I Balzini Green Label, a Sangiovese and Mammolo blend.
2008
Barbara Tamburini was hired as lead enologist.
2011
Birth of I Balzini Pink Label, a rosé wine made of Sangiovese and Mammolo.
2017
Antonella retires and her daughter Diana D’Isanto becomes CEO.
2018
Beginning of the “Back to the Future” project with the birth of the new Balze wines. Wine names and labels transformed into their current ones.
2020
After many years of organic farming, I Balzini applies for and obtains official organic certification. David Casini is hired as lead enologist.
2021
The first Balze debut on the market: Balze Rosse 2018, Balze Verdi 2020, and Balze Rosa 2020.

Our work is a love story that starts anew everyday.

Our wines are the outcome of a conscious choice and of our deep-rooted need to create unique products.

From its early start, I Balzini has been appreciated by experts, enologists, and wine journalists, and today the winery is full of expert knowledge promoting creativity, respect for the land, and entrepreneurial enthusiasm.

Internationally renowned and awarded, our wines are organic and produced only with our own grapes, grown in our vineyards, and hand-picked and selected during harvest.

I Balzini is a dynamic and flexible business, always ready to discover new markets and challenges.

At I Balzini we are a big family. In every crew, someone has to steer the ship, but everyone is essential for things to run smoothly. We believe in the importance of everyone’s perspective, and that it will be easier to get where we want to go by sharing our goals and employing different ideas.

Our work is a love story that starts anew everyday.

Our wines are the outcome of a conscious choice and of our deep-rooted need to create unique products.

From its early start, I Balzini has been appreciated by experts, enologists, and wine journalists, and today the winery is full of expert knowledge promoting creativity, respect for the land, and entrepreneurial enthusiasm.

Internationally renowned and awarded, our wines are organic and produced only with our own grapes, grown in our vineyards, and hand-picked and selected during harvest.

I Balzini is a dynamic and flexible business, always ready to discover new markets and challenges.

At I Balzini we are a big family. In every crew, someone has to steer the ship, but everyone is essential for things to run smoothly. We believe in the importance of everyone’s perspective, and that it will be easier to get where we want to go by sharing our goals and employing different ideas.

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HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY

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OUR HISTORY

Our work is a love story that starts anew everyday.

Our work is a love story that starts anew everyday.