Frequently Asked Questions

Date: 2025-11-30 🕒 11:30 (Europe/Amsterdam)

Frequently Asked Questions – Brunolo.nl, Barolo & Brunello

Welcome to the Brunolo.nl FAQ.
Here you'll find practical information about ordering, payment, and delivery, as well as answers to questions about our wines, the small winegrowers we work with, storage tips, and the Amici Grandi Vini membership.

1. Practical questions about ordering, payment and delivery

I'm not a member, can I still order wine?

Yes, absolutely. Our wines are available to anyone 18 years or older .
You can simply order at the prices stated on the website.

If you'd like to enjoy extra benefits, such as fixed discounts and free shipping , you can choose to become a member of our "Amici Grandi Vini" program. Even if you're not a member, you can sign up for our promotional emails : we send out offers approximately once a week with great discounts on selected Barolo and Brunello wines.

What is the standard delivery time?

Orders placed and paid on working days before 9 p.m. will be processed and shipped the same day.
Delivery normally takes place the next day (depending on the parcel service and possible busy periods).

What if I am not at home when my order is delivered?

If you are not at home, the delivery service will deliver your order to a Parcel Point .
You will receive an email with the location where you can pick up the wines and until when the package will be ready for you.

Can I also pick up the wine I ordered myself?

Yes, that's possible. You can pick up your wines at:

Parcel shop of Jos Heeren Transport Company
Bukkumweg 13
5081 CT Hilvarenbeek

The costs for collection are:

  • €5.00 for orders under €75.00

  • Free for members of "Amici Grandi Vini"

Will I receive a Track & Trace email for the shipment of my order?

Yes. As soon as we ship your wines, you will receive an email with a Track & Trace link .
This way you can see exactly when your wines will be delivered.

We also include a packing slip with this email so you can check which wines have been shipped.

What are the shipping costs?

  • For members of “Amici Grandi Vini” wines are always shipped free of charge .

  • If you are not a member, the following rates apply:

    • Netherlands, Belgium, Germany : €8.50 for orders under €75.00

    • Other countries : €9.95 for orders under €350.00

    • Orders to other countries above €350.00 are shipped free of charge .

What payment methods can I use?

Our payments are securely processed by Shopify Payments . You can pay with:

  • iDEAL

  • Credit card

  • Bancontact

  • Sofort Banking

  • PayPal

  • Direct bank transfer

Please note: we will ship your order after receipt of payment .
We do not charge any extra costs for the chosen payment method.

If wines are sold out, can I still order with a backorder?

No, unfortunately that is not possible.

We source all our wines directly from the producer in Italy , bypassing intermediaries. As a result, we sometimes have limited availability and can't always fulfill reorders.

However, we may investigate whether any interesting older vintages are still available during a new purchasing round with the same producer. These will then appear as new wines in the webshop.

What should I do if my delivery is damaged?

That's annoying, but we'd like to resolve it properly.

  1. Take some clear photos of the damaged box and bottles.

  2. Send these photos to info@brunolo.nl , stating your name , address and order number .

We will then contact you as soon as possible to resolve this properly.

Are the wines insured during transport?

Yes, your wines are insured during transport.

  • If a shipment is lost during transport, we will compensate you by sending new wines .

  • If certain wines are no longer in stock, we will work with you to find a suitable alternative .

Can I send an email after placing an order to notify you of a change?

No, unfortunately that is not possible.

Orders are automatically forwarded to our logistics partner immediately after placing them, who will then process the order immediately.
Due to the volume of orders, it is not possible to take out ready-made boxes for changes.

Can I cancel or return my order?

In the EU, a statutory right of withdrawal applies to online purchases.

If you want to cancel your order or return wines, please always contact us first at info@brunolo.nl . We'll then discuss the options and conditions (for example, the condition of the bottles, packaging, and who will bear the return costs).

Do I have a minimum order amount?

You can also order small quantities . Please note that shipping costs will apply for orders below a certain amount. If you order multiple bottles, the price per bottle, including shipping, is often more attractive.

Will I receive an invoice with VAT?

Yes. You will receive an order confirmation and invoice by email, clearly showing the VAT.
With Brunolo.nl we focus on the private market , but an invoice is of course also useful for administration or business.

2. Questions about our wines, quality and origin

What producers do your wines come from?

Our wines do not come from large industrial wine companies, but from small to medium-sized winegrowers in Italy.

These are families and estates that have often been working on their wines for generations with great passion, craftsmanship, and tradition . They know every row of grapes and every plot. You can taste that in the glass: more character, refinement, and a clear signature of the winemaker .

Do you buy directly from Italy, without intermediaries?

Yes. We buy our wines directly from winegrowers in Italy, without any intermediaries.

This has several advantages:

  • We know our producers personally .

  • We know exactly how things work in the vineyard and cellar .

  • We can often purchase beautiful, limited availability cuvées and older vintages .

  • You pay a fairer price for a wine with high quality.

What makes the quality of your wines special?

We specialize in Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino – two of Italy's most prestigious appellations.

Characteristics of the wines you find at Brunolo.nl:

  • Selected based on origin, terroir and reputation of the producer

  • Often sourced from high-altitude vineyards with excellent exposure

  • Small editions , lots of attention in the vineyard and cellar

  • Traditional and/or high-quality modern vinification, focused on complexity and aging potential

This high quality means that our wines are not only delicious now, but often also fantastic to store .

Do I have to drink a bottle all at once, or can I save it?

You certainly don't have to drink a good bottle of Barolo or Brunello in one go .

Due to their high quality, good structure and relatively high acid and tannin content, our wines – if stored properly – can often remain very good for several days after opening.

Practical guideline:

  • After opening, close the bottle tightly (preferably with the original cork or a good wine stopper).

  • Store the open bottle preferably in a cool, dark place , for example in the refrigerator.

  • Bring the wine back up to temperature well before drinking.

This means you can often enjoy drinking a bottle for an entire weekend – and sometimes even a bit longer.
Note: This is a general guideline. The exact shelf life after opening depends on the specific wine, its age, and your personal taste.

How long can I keep an unopened Barolo or Brunello?

It depends on the wine, the vintage and the circumstances, but in general:

  • Good Barolos can often age beautifully for 10–20 years (or longer).

  • Brunello di Montalcino has a lot of structure and can generally last 10–20 years or more, depending on the producer and vintage.

For younger or more accessible wines (such as Rosso di Montalcino or Langhe Nebbiolo), the ideal drinking period is often between 3 and 8 years after the harvest.

In the product description on Brunolo.nl we often give an indication of the drinking window .

What is the best way to store my wines?

For optimal quality:

  • Store bottles lying down so that the cork stays moist.

  • Choose a place that is cool, dark and vibration-free (e.g. a basement).

  • Avoid large temperature fluctuations; around 12–16 °C is ideal.

  • Avoid direct light and especially sunlight.

If you don't have a wine cellar, choose a cool, stable location in your home. For long-term storage, a wine cooler can be a good investment.

What is the difference between Barolo, Barbaresco, Langhe Nebbiolo and Brunello di Montalcino?

A brief explanation:

  • Barolo

    • Grape: Nebbiolo

    • Region: Piedmont (around the town of Barolo and surrounding villages)

    • Style: Powerful, complex wines with great structure and ageing potential

  • Langhe Nebbiolo

    • Grape: Nebbiolo

    • Region: wider area in the Langhe (Piemonte)

    • Style: often slightly more accessible, ready to drink earlier than Barolo, but with the typical Nebbiolo character

  • Brunello di Montalcino

    • Grape: Sangiovese (local clone: ​​Brunello)

    • Region: around Montalcino in Tuscany

    • Style: powerful, elegant wines with great depth and often long maturation in wood and bottle

  • Red of Montalcino

    • Grape: Sangiovese (Brunello)

    • Region: Montalcino

    • Style: Brunello's “little brother”: fruitier, quicker to drink, but often surprisingly serious.

Why does Brunolo.nl focus primarily on Barolo and Brunello?

We believe that you only truly deliver quality and depth if you dare to specialize .

Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino are among Italy's most fascinating and characterful wines. By focusing on these regions (and closely related wines like Langhe Nebbiolo and Rosso di Montalcino), we can:

  • Deeper selection of top producers and special vintages

  • Share more knowledge in our knowledge base and blogs

  • To offer a range that is really worth it for enthusiasts.

Do you also have organic or sustainable wines?

Many of the small winegrowers we work with operate sustainably, organically or even biodynamically – sometimes certified, sometimes not, but with great attention to nature.

We mention this in the product descriptions where possible. If you're specifically looking for wines with a certain certification, you can always email us.

Do you also help in choosing the right wine?

Yes, I'd love to.

We know the selection of Barolo and Brunello can be quite overwhelming. Feel free to email us with your requests, for example:

  • Budget per bottle

  • Occasion (dinner, gift, cellar construction…)

  • Experience with Barolo/Brunello (beginner or advanced)

  • Preference for style (powerful, elegant, traditional, more modern…)

We are happy to think along with you and, if desired, propose a personal selection .

You can also use our carefully composed Best Price-Quality Brunello Selection , or our Best Price-Quality Barolo Selection when making your selection.

Or if you are looking for the best quality, our Barolo Top Selection and our Brunello Top Selection .

What serving temperature do you recommend?

As a guideline:

  • Barolo & Brunello di Montalcino : around 17–18 °C

  • Rosso di Montalcino and Langhe Nebbiolo : around 16–17 °C

Serve a wine too warm and it will be heavy and alcoholic; serve it too cold and it will be closed and harsh.
Tip: it is better to pour slightly chilled and allow the wine in the glass to come to temperature .

Should I decant Barolo or Brunello?

In many cases , decanting or decanting is a good idea, especially in:

  • Young Barolos and Brunellos

  • Wines with lots of structure and tannin

An hour to several hours of oxygen can open up the wine and make it more expressive . With older wines, you need to be a bit more cautious, and sometimes a shorter decant or just a gentle pour is better.

3. Questions about the Amici Grandi Vini membership

What is the Amici Grandi Vini membership?

Amici Grandi Vini is the Brunolo.nl membership for Barolo and Brunello lovers who:

  • Order regularly

  • Benefit from fixed advantages

  • Would you like to have access to exclusive wines and vintages?

What are the benefits of membership?

As a member of Amici Grandi Vini you can enjoy, among other things:

  • 15% discount on selected wines (as previously indicated by you)

  • Always free shipping , regardless of the order amount

  • Access to exclusive wines and special cuvées

  • Sometimes pre-release of limited wines before they come into the regular webshop

(Please check yourself if you want to add or adjust any additional benefits.)

How much does membership cost?

Membership costs €95 per year .
If you order multiple times a year, the membership often pays for itself quickly through:

Can I sign up for promotions without becoming a member?

Yes. You can also sign up for our promotional emails without a membership.

About once a week we send an email with:

  • One or more wines on offer

  • Often limited editions or special vintages

  • A competitive promotional price for a short period

  • You can register via this link

4. About Brunolo.nl and contact

Who is Brunolo.nl for?

Brunolo.nl is specifically aimed at the private wine lover who:

  • Interested in Barolo, Brunello and related wines

  • Finds quality and origin important

  • Enjoy learning more about vintages, crus, terroir and producers

So we do not supply to the catering industry , but to enthusiasts who like to drink nicely at home or want to build up their cellar.

I have a question that isn't listed here. What now?

No problem. We'd actually appreciate it if you contacted us.

Send us an email at info@brunolo.nl with your question about:

  • Order or delivery

  • A specific wine or producer

  • Storage, decanting and serving temperature

  • Or help with putting together a selection or gift

We are happy to help you.