What do you get when you cross an Italian count whose lineage in Venice can be traced back several centuries with agraduate of Texas A&M and the University of Bordeaux? Well, you get a low-key, well-educated enologist who is passionate about turning the world of Italian wine on its ear. And with all of the connections he has made in both Italy and France, he’s well on his way.

What does France have to do with making quality wine in Italy? A lot, since Brandolini’s close friend happens to be none other than Georges Pauli, winemaker extraordinaire at Chateau Gruaud-Larose (as well as a very popular wine consultant to several high-end chateaux throughout Bordeaux).