Proposals to split Rosso di Montalcino, the “second” denomination to Brunello di Montalcino, into three tiers of Sangiovese Superiore, Sangiovese (both 100 per cent Sangiovese) and the third level a basic Rosso di Montalcino, containing a minimum of 85 per cent Sangiovese with 15 per cent other “authorised red grapes” in the blend, has been overwhelmingly rejected by wine producers in Italy’s famous Tuscan red wine town of Montalcino.

The proposals, put forward by the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino, to use grapes other than Sangiovese in Rosso di Montalcino and to allow irrigation and change current vineyard regulations were rejected as 69 per cent of the Consorzio members who attended voted against the proposed changes.