The Italian government has agreed to guarantee the authenticity of Brunello wine, which will permit it to be exported to the United States. This became necessary because four major vintners are under investigation in Tuscany for possibly blending the wine with other grape varietal, which is a violation of Italian law.

According to a story being published in tomorrow's Chicago Tribune, Italy's Agricultural Ministry will send a letter to the U.S. Treasury Department on Monday, guaranteeing that bottles of wine labeled brunello are made entirely from Sangiovese grapes.

It is unusuall for the Italian government to issue such a guarantee because that task is usually left to the regional wine authority. This shows how serious the Italian government is taking the matter. Brunello, which comes from the Tuscan region, is considered one of Italy's premier wines. In fact, the Italian government has impounded at least 1 million bottles already.

The U.S. Treasury Department's Alcoholo and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau will not let the wine into the United States if the label is misleading. With Italy's struggling economy, the Italian government did not want to risk a U.S. ban on brunello. I expect Italian prosecutors are going to move fast to put an end to any vintners illegally blending their brunello.