Brunello

noun

Bru·​nel·​lo brü-ˈne-lō 

variants or less commonly Brunello di Montalcino

-dē-ˌmän-täl-ˈchē-nō 

plural Brunellos also Brunellos di Montalcino

: a full-bodied red wine made from Sangiovese grapes that is produced in the Tuscany region of Italy

Three impressive reds in particular—Barolo, Barbaresco, and Brunello di Montalcino—have acquired a devoted following among American oenophiles.

—Alexis Bespaloff, Elle, January 1987

Word History

Etymology

Brunello borrowed from Italian, from bruno "dark in color, brown" (going back to Vulgar Latin *brūn-, borrowed from Germanic) + -ello, noun suffix (going back to Latin -ellus, originally diminutive suffix, variant of -ulus with stems ending in r); Brunello di Montalcino borrowed from Italian, literally "Brunello of Montalcino" (town in southern Tuscany)

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

1. Expanded definitions
2. Detailed etymologies
3. Advanced search tools
4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Rhymes for Brunello

• marshmallow
• morello
• othello
• schoolfellow
• cello
• fellow
• jello
• mellow
• melo
• velo
• portobello
• violoncello