Castellare di Castellina

Over the years there has been much consternation surrounding how Chianti should be produced, particularly in the aftermath of the introduction of the Super Tuscans. Many producers began to shy away from the traditional methods, instead favouring the innovations and new ideas about blends that were introduced by winemakers such as the Antinori family.

However, there are also many winemakers who dug their heels in and dedicated themselves to the classic production methods, deciding instead to focus on the historically proven methods for Chianti production. Castellare di Castellina was one such producer and they have quickly gained a reputation as one of the foremost distributors of Italy’s most famous red wine as a result.

Here we will take a little look at the history of the producer and how its dedication to the classic methods of Chianti production has allowed it to stand out from the pack and produce wines of unparalleled quality.

The History

For the past 25 years Castellare di Castellina has dedicated itself to rediscovering what made classic Chianti so great, going so far as to reintroduce the classic straw-covered bottle to the world. The producer refuses to use any modern techniques in the production of their wines, instead electing to ignore all modern blends and create Chianti purely using the classic method in order to help set them apart from the rest of the pack.

Located right in the heart of the Chianti Classico region, the producer has quickly gained a reputation for the quality of their wines, leading to rave reviews from many of the prominent wine publications of the modern era. Their dedication to their craft shows a great love for the wines that they create, while also showing an enormous amount of respect for the history behind their craft and the people who helped to develop the classic Chianti formula into what it is today.

Because of this, they have managed to build a solid reputation amongst wine lovers, both domestically and internationally, and the producer is now starting to reap the fruits of their labours, gaining the recognition that they deserve for the quality wines that they produce as a result.

Furthermore, they are also dedicated to ensuring that as many lovers of Chianti can experience the craft and creation of the drink first hand. That’s why, in addition to maintaining their vineyards and producing their wines, Castellare di Castellina is also dedicated to attracting tourism to the regions of Tuscany and Chianti.

Working with a number of local farms in the region, the producer has created a holiday experience that is quite unlike any other. If you visit them you will have the opportunity to spend a gloriously relaxing holiday in a gorgeous area of Italy, surrounded by the vineyards that are used to grow the grapes that go into their amazing wines.

Their specially created villa is a stunning stone building located at the peak of a hill and offering a gorgeous view of the vineyards and facilities required to make some truly stunning wines. It is a view of unmatched beauty that truly has to be experienced to be believed.

The company don’t simply dedicate themselves towards offering a comfortable place for wine fans to stay though, as their maintaining of this gorgeous luxury villa also serves the purpose of affording people the opportunity to discover for themselves all of the work that goes into the crafting of some truly remarkable wines.

It is through this endeavour that Castellare di Castellina are able to further educate their clientele in addition to offering something that most other winemakers are simply unable to offer. This goes far beyond the guided tours that you may already be used to and instead allows you to get right into the heart of the vineyards.

You will see men and women tending the crop and, particularly during the autumn months, you may even be lucky enough to grab a glimpse of the harvest and see for yourself just how good the year’s vintage is shaping up to be.

This dedication to their customers is something that is reflected in the quality of the wines produced at Castellare di Castellina, which is why they have become so popular in recent years. Of course, none of this would be possible without their dedication to the classic Chianti on which they made their name, so let’s take a look at one of the more recent vintages so that you can get an idea of what you can expect should you try a wine created by the company.

Castellare di Castellina Chianti Riserva 2012

The company’s Chianti Riserva has fast gained a reputation as being one of the best examples of the drink to come from the region, and the 2012 vintage in particular should be tried to be believed.

Availble at a startling affordable price, the drink features the classic ruby red colouring that you would expect from a bottle of Chianti, which tends to morph into a garnet colour as the wine ages.

The wine also features stunning aromas of violets that offers a subtle hint about what you can expect from the wine when it is finally brought to the palette.

The wine is wonderfully smooth to the taste, with the producers managing to craft a joyous harmony between the many flavours that you will note. As the wine ages, it becomes even smoother so it is recommended to wait a year or two before finally opening the bottle.

When you do, be it for private consumption or at a dinner party, it is recommended that the wine is served alongside a red meat dish, as the richness will complement the taste perfectly. However, this is a versatile wine so it is well worth experimenting with a few flavour as well. Try mixing it with poultry or rabbit for an interesting contrast in flavours that we are sure many of you will love. It also goes particularly well with some stronger cheeses, so we wholeheartedly recommend that you take the time to explore for yourself.