At that time, the sales of the young Antinori firm were limited to a few thousand cases of Chianti per year, shipped to importers in New York, San Paolo, and Buenos Aires. A few hundred cases were immediately absorbed by Santini, their agent in Buenos Aires. The voice began to circulate that Antinori produced a real Champagne in Italy, a wine which bore the name «Gran Spumante Marchese Antinori», and it gradually became known to friends and to friends of friends. Through the efforts of Countess Guicciardini, a Dame of Court of Queen Elena of Italy and a good friend of both Lodovico and Piero, the wine became known at the royal court and was served at banquets of the Quirinal Palace.