The book “In the Footsteps of the Black Rooster. Chianti Classico: One Hundred Years of History”, written by Daniele Cernilli in collaboration with Paolo De Cristofaro and published by Giunti, has won the sixth edition of the Bruno Lunelli Library Prize – A Book About Wine, the only award in Italy exclusively dedicated to wine-related publications.
The jury’s motivation highlights the quality of the work, describing it as an epic tale of one of Italy’s proudest achievements — Chianti Classico, symbolized by its iconic Black Rooster. The book has been praised for its engaging writing style, historical accuracy, and well-paced narrative, all reflecting the expertise and authority of its two authors, who are considered among the leading figures in Italian wine journalism.
The work not only celebrates one hundred years of Chianti Classico history, but does so in a way that combines depth with accessibility, offering readers a cultural and sensory journey into one of Italy’s most prestigious wine regions.
Daniele Cernilli shares the news of winning the Bruno Lunelli Prize with emotion and a touch of personal pride:
“It’s a recognition that is particularly meaningful to me, especially considering my age and the long professional journey behind me.”
He emphasizes that the book is not just about wine. Together with Paolo De Cristofaro, he set out to retrace—through the history of Chianti Classico and its symbol, the Black Rooster—many of the events that have shaped Italian history, starting from the Battle of Montaperti in 1260.
“In doing so, I dusted off my old studies in Medieval, Modern, and Contemporary History, from fifty years ago. I saw myself again as a student of Paolo Brezzi, Rosario Romeo, and Renzo De Felice, as well as Gennaro Sasso and Guido Calogero.