Collection: J. G. Benda

A new voice in Montalcino – uncompromising craftsmanship on a very small scale

J.G. Benda is one of the most remarkable new producers in Montalcino in recent years. The winery was founded by John Gregory Benda and his partner Zoe and represents an uncompromising approach to Brunello di Montalcino, where craftsmanship, patience, and respect for nature's rhythm are at the center.

The production is extremely small, and interest has been significant from the start. The first Brunello di Montalcino will be released at the beginning of 2026, accompanied by an IGT wine, which will be released earlier. Among fellow producers in the area, the 2021 Brunello vintage has already been highlighted as one of the most convincing of the year.

From London to Montalcino

The story of J.G. Benda begins far from Tuscany, in London's financial world, where John worked while cultivating his passion for classic European wines. However, the dream of creating wine himself became too strong, and he chose to leave an established career to start anew in Montalcino.

To learn the craft from scratch, John worked for several years at the Il Marroneto winery, where he was trained by Alessandro Mori - one of the area's most respected producers. The experience here has left a clear mark on both the approach and style.

The vineyards and working conditions

Acquiring land in Montalcino is particularly difficult for individuals. In John and Zoe's case, the opportunity arose through a foreclosure auction on a small piece of land in a forest area north of the town. They bid, took over the parcel, and were thus able to establish their winery from scratch - without existing facilities and without infrastructure.

The vineyards are reached at the end of a muddy track, quite a distance from the cellar. There is neither electricity nor running water. Water is collected via tarpaulins and used to clean tools and rinse the mud off boots.

The work in the vineyards is physical, slow, and uncompromising. After visiting the site, the quote on the wine boxes makes full sense: “Follow our muddy tracks.”

The surrounding forest is an active part of the ecosystem, and biodiversity plays a central role in the vineyard work. Although the certification is not yet formally in place, the vineyards are managed organically - something John and Zoe see as a fundamental prerequisite for creating wines with clarity, balance, and precision.

Vinification - precision over technology

The winemaking is simple in its expression but extremely precise in execution. The grapes are harvested exclusively by hand when they have reached full physiological ripeness - assessed based on taste and texture rather than analytical values.

The grapes are 100% destemmed and spontaneously fermented with naturally occurring yeast in stainless steel tanks without temperature control. Extraction and skin contact are controlled solely manually to maintain finesse and balance.

After fermentation, the grapes are gently pressed with vertical presses, after which the wines are aged in large Slavonian and French barrels from Gabellotto in sizes of 20-26 hl. The maturation lasts 28 months, after which the wine is bottled directly without filtration and with minimal addition of sulfur. The timing of bottling is determined based on both the lunar calendar and microbiological analyses.

The first vintages and reception

The first vintages of Rosso di Montalcino (2021 and 2022) sold out even before release. Interest and demand have since been significant, and Wine Advocate has already visited the estate and awarded the latest vintage 94+ points.

With the upcoming release of the first Brunello di Montalcino at the beginning of 2026, J.G. Benda is facing an important next step - a step that many in the area are already closely following.

J.G. Benda at Copenhagen Wine

The production at J.G. Benda is very limited, and we are both happy and grateful that a relatively large share finds its way to Denmark. The collaboration with John and Zoe is something we greatly appreciate, and they have very much become part of our wine family.

J.G. Benda is Montalcino in its most uncompromising form – wines created with patience, precision, and a clear respect for both place and tradition.