About Il Palazzone

Kirsten and Peter Kern purchased Il Palazzone with the vision of creating classic Brunello wines characterized by brightness, balance, and elegance. Over two decades, many producers had shifted toward modern styles with more new oak, smaller barrels, and fruit-forward, tannic wines—changes amplified by global warming in Montalcino. As long-time Brunello enthusiasts, the Kerns sought terroir that would support traditional winemaking despite changing climate conditions, aiming to produce Sangiovese that displays immediate elegance while developing complexity over decades.

Il Palazzone’s primary vineyards sit on Le Due Porte hill outside Montalcino, ranging from approximately 400-600+ meters in elevation with mainly W/NW exposition. Surrounded by forest and exposed to tramontana winds, this location experiences exceptional diurnal temperature variation and rarely overheats even in summer. The terroir, primarily Pietraforte at higher elevations transitioning to Galestro, provides superior drainage that prevents overdeveloped fruit.

The original parcels are principally between 500-550 meters, but Il Palazzone has acquired excellent lower vineyards and recently planted their highest vineyard between 550-600 meters—an area once abandoned as too cold but now valuable for future winemaking. Additionally, they maintain vineyards in the south near Castelnuovo del Abate with more clay and salt content, contributing fruit and minerality that help balance each vintage’s unique conditions.

In both cellar and field, Il Palazzone remains committed to traditional methods: hand-selected harvests, gravity-fed cement fermentation tanks, natural yeasts, and aging in large Slovenian oak casks. Their focus on quality over quantity with sustainable practices throughout reflects their dedication to producing wines that embody the true essence of Montalcino Sangiovese—wines that honor traditional Brunello while expressing the unique character of each vintage.