It is an unusual title, “CEO & Winemaker,” but Bernardino Sani wears it well. When Argiano was purchased in 2012, the buyer saw tremendous potential in the land and the estate. But, they needed someone who could make world-class wines and shepherd the estate through vast improvements to the physical structure, with both wine quality and hospitality in mind.

Eight years in and the wines are perhaps better than they have ever been, all with Argiano in the final phases of a massive and complete restoration of its historic Villa Bell’Aria. It’s a tremendous achievement, and a credit to the owners to understand that wine quality must be factored into every decision, big and small.

In a way, Bernardino had been preparing for this. Born in Siena, he worked his first internship, by chance, in the cellar of Argiano. In 2003, he worked at Col D’Orcia, followed by some time in the United States at Bedell Cellars on Long Island. He then moved to Paris, working for the International Organization of Vine & Wine, before returning to Montalcino to work for renowned consultant winemaker, Paolo Vagaggini. Bernardino earned his business experience as a sales lead on the Caribbean Islands, living on the island of St. Maarten, before finally returning home to the winemaking job at Argiano in 2012, and then taking over as CEO in 2014.