march 7, 2024

Exploring Chianti Classico

A day of Tuscan bliss!

Reading Time: 10 mins

As a light mist enveloped the Tuscan countryside on a crisp end-of-winter morning, a couple of days ago I went on a journey through the beauty of the Chianti Classico region. Guiding friends from Texas, I led them on an intense tour through three different wineries, each with its unique approach.

Our adventure began with a visit to Tenuta CaseNuove, a winery that captured my attention from the moment we arrived. As a typical Tuscan farm, purchased in 2015 by a French entrepreneur with a deep passion for the world of wine, this estate immediately won us over with its beauty and welcoming atmosphere.

As we arrived at Tenuta CaseNuove, navigating narrow streets surrounded by stone walls, which made driving quite challenging, we reached this beautiful estate meticulously cared for in every single detail. Not only the beauty of the landscape, which is almost a norm in Tuscany, but also the attention to detail in the garden, the artwork in every room, the ancient spaces once dedicated to stables, now turned into spaces for hospitality, left us literally breathless.

A true gem in the world of wine, a small company that now manages about 30 hectares of vineyards and produces its own wines, all from the Chianti Classico family, in a modern winery built in a very efficient way, using gravity to move the wine in its early stages and therefore stress it as little as possible. The winery truly fascinated us for the cleanliness and attention to detail. The company’s CEO, Alessandro, led us on this extremely informative tour, where we discovered many dynamics that reside in the world of wine, from terroir to climate change, to the legend of Chianti Classico and its black rooster emblem. To take a look, click here to watch the related video on social media.

The visit ended with a delightful tasting in a room with a very fascinating table with an eccentric shape, where we tasted the Chianti ‘Annata’, a beautiful young expression, fresh, fragrant, extremely fruity of Sangiovese, the Chianti Classico Riserva, perhaps the wine that surprised me the most in its category, given the great fruit fragrance, expressiveness of tertiary aromas, great spices, and many balsamic notes that make the sip truly vibrant and extremely interesting. And finally their Supertuscan, the company’s signature wine that somehow wants to represent the personality and style of the winemaker and that particular vintage.

Once the visit to Tenuta Case Nuove was over, we moved to San Casciano, to a beautiful historic residence, Villa Sant’Andrea. Here, immersed in the centuries-old history told by Raisa, a kind girl who guided us through the history of the company and its traditional cellars, we took a real journey into the past. To take a look, click here to watch the related video on social media.

The winery, which takes its name from a small church dedicated to Sant’Andrea inside the estate, gave us an authentic experience. Entering the old cellars through a super tiny door, we ventured into the real story, among cement tanks, old barrels, and historic walls, which unfortunately at the moment is presented and visible as a historical element, but no longer used for production, which instead is delegated to another, more performing site.

During the wine tasting, we were able to enjoy a comprehensive selection of Chianti Classico ‘Annata’, Chianti Classico Riserva 2016 and Chianti Classico Gran Selezione vintage 2015. The last one, it was wine that conquered us more than all: despite being the most aged of the selection, it was probably the wine that expressed itself with a greater freshness of fruit and, at the same time, a great complexity of aromas and personality.

Moving just a few kilometers away, we reached the last winery of the tour. Azienda Agricola Il Colle, by Silvia Badii. Guided by Silvia’s bright smile along a white gravel entrance road, we were greeted by a driveway of centuries-old olive trees that led us to the estate. Silvia told us, with great passion and pride, how she took the reins of the family business, transforming an old farmhouse into a Chianti Classico and Extra Virgin Olive Oil producer. The company’s name, Il Colle, derives precisely from the name of the original farm, purchased by her father in 1983 from the noble Principe Corsini family.

After a short walk in the largest vineyard and a visit to the small and authentic original cellar, Silvia surprised us with a tasting straight from the barrel of her latest wine, a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon 2023. Despite its young age, the wine already showed great complexity and personality, making us imagine its outstanding potential future.

We concluded our tour in Silvia’s living room, where she delighted us with a convivial and informal tasting, enriched by delicious Tuscan appetizers. Silvia’s generosity and hospitality made this visit even more unforgettable. After enjoying her Chianti Classico ‘Annata’, Chianti Classico first vintage 2019 and Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, I was immediately sharing my decision to select this latter one, 36 Filari Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, into my next Spring /Summer selection.

This Sangiovese, produced in limited quantities from a tiny vineyard of only 36 rows, represents the ultimate expression of Chianti Classico. Deep and bright ruby red color, with an intense aroma of sour cherry, it is a delicate, harmonious wine with great body, definitely suitable for long aging.

It was an intense and memorable day, especially in the most authentic of Tuscan experiences offered by Silvia Badi’s estate. The company may be the smallest, least organized, and perhaps more rustic of the three we visited, but for these reasons it was the most authentic.

So, if you are looking for an alternative tour in the world of Chianti Classico and you were fascinated by this experience, do not hesitate to contact me. I will be happy to take you off the beaten path, to discover the true essence of this splendid wine region.