Each autumn, when the vineyards have turned copper and the hills smell of must and cypress, the Rally del Brunello brings engines, gravel and adrenaline to Montalcino, the hilltop capital of Italy’s most celebrated Sangiovese.
What began as a way to revive the area’s rally heritage has matured into a fixture that now crowns the Italian Gravel Rally Historic championship (and welcomes modern cars), threading through vineyard roads with special stages whose names read like a local wine map, Castiglion del Bosco, La Sesta, Cosona. For travellers and motorsport fans alike, this is one of Tuscany’s most distinctive seasonal rites.
A brief history: from Tuscan Rewind nostalgia to a Montalcino classic
Before “Rally del Brunello” became the headline, the territory hosted Tuscan Rewind, a nostalgia-rich rally that, in the 2010s, rekindled the atmosphere of 1980s–90s gravel events on the strade bianche above the Val d’Orcia. That “rewind” reconnected locals and visitors with the spectacle of cars sliding past cypress-lined ridges and medieval hamlets, and it paved the way, culturally and logistically, for today’s Brunello-branded weekend. Contemporary accounts from the period underscore the strong link between Brunello wine and the rally scene that drew thousands to Montalcino.
The modern Rally del Brunello is organized by Scuderia Etruria with Deltamania Montalcino and is now a late-November staple. In recent editions it has doubled as a grand finale for Italy’s gravel rally season, with a Historic valid for the national title and a Modern section open to contemporary machinery an appealing blend of heritage and high performance on the same weekend.
Dates and what to expect in 2025
For 2025, the rally is scheduled for 28–29 November, returning to the white roads south of Siena. The official pages and the ACI Sport championship hub reconfirm Montalcino as the headquarters and outline the dual format (Historic + Modern). Expect the ceremonial start and finish around Piazza del Popolo and service activities centred on nearby Buonconvento, as per the established template of recent years.
The programme: stages that read like a Brunello cru list
While the exact mileage can vary year to year, the rally’s identity rests on three legendary special stages that loop through estates known to wine lovers:
- Castiglion del Bosco — a compact, high-tempo test over compacted gravel on a storied wine estate; it often opens the decisive Saturday loop.
- La Sesta — faster and more open, rewarding rhythm and confidence on the marbles.
- Cosona — typically the longer, more technical canvas where gaps open (or close).
In the 2024 itinerary, ACI Sport published a time-distance table that shows a Piazza del Popolo start, transfers via SP14, and a sequence of La Sesta, Seggiano, and Cosona, punctuated by service at Buonconvento and a Caparzo regroup, details that illustrate the rally’s wine-country geometry and the organisers’ preference for compact, spectator-friendly loops. Local outlets have repeatedly previewed the same flow: morning specials, a mid-morning service/riordino, and a second pass over the classic tests before the afternoon finish back in Montalcino.
Terrain and driving character: why “terra senese” matters
The Sienese gravel is a character actor in its own right: fast but deceptively technical, with cambers, crests and fine loose stone that reward neat lines and tyre management. Unlike rougher Mediterranean gravel, these roads can be high-speed yet precise, demanding concentration and punishing over-commitment. That blend, together with November’s cool, sometimes misty weather, produces the kind of contrasts, golden vineyards and grey skies, medieval walls and anti-lag crackle, that photographers and fans love.
A weekend that fuses motorsport and wine culture
What distinguishes the Rally del Brunello from other gravel events is its cultural framing. The stages carve through vineyards and estates that bottle world-class Brunello di Montalcino; the service park and regroups are set where fans can taste local food and explore town centres; and the schedule, Friday shakedown and checks, Saturday competition, fits the rhythms of autumn hospitality. In 2025, the rally is again positioned as a season finale for the gravel series, raising the competitive stakes while keeping the event accessible for visitors who plan a wine-and-motorsport weekend.
Notable editions and recent formats
The 2023 historic edition covered roughly a hundred stage kilometres over ten special stages, a dense two-day format that balanced spectacle with logistics. Result sheets and championship communications highlight the event’s role in deciding titles and in attracting both seasoned historic crews and contemporary entries evidence of the rally’s growing gravitational pull at the end of the season. The 2024 weekend kept the same DNA, compressing over 100 km of stages into a Friday–Saturday arc that delivered close fights on familiar names.
Spectator essentials: how to watch it well
- Base yourself in Montalcino or Buonconvento. You’ll be near both the ceremonial action and the service park, which is the liveliest place between loops. Official spectator guides typically indicate safe zones and parking; follow marshals and stay behind the tape.
- Pick one loop, see two passes. The repeated-stage format means you can watch the morning run, reposition during service and catch the second pass with minimal driving.
- Book tastings early. Estates like Castiglion del Bosco often feature in the stage names; tasting rooms are very busy rally weekend reserve ahead if you want to pair gravel with glasses.
- Dress for late-autumn Tuscany. Mornings are cold on the ridgelines; bring warm layers and waterproofs.
Why it matters
For motorsport purists, the Rally del Brunello is a masterclass in pace-notes, traction and rhythm on fast gravel reminiscent of legendary Italian stages. For travellers, it’s a chance to experience a living landscape, UNESCO-listed Val d’Orcia panoramas, medieval streets, and the aromas of cellars and bracerie, animated by an event that remains human-scale and locally rooted. And for Montalcino, it’s a way to tell a story that goes beyond wine: a community that hosts a national-level competition without losing its sense of place.
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