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November 5, 2013

FATTORIA CASALOSTE: TUSCANY, ITALY



"Beautiful View"














Fattoria Casaloste
Firenze, Italy

Fattoria Casaloste, is a wine farm placed in the Chianti hills in Panzano in Chianti, municipality of Greve, near Florence, Italy. The Fattoria Casaloste stretches for nearly 19 hectares, 10,5 in which Chianti Classico vines are grown, producing about 60,000 bottles of wine per year. The present owner is Mr. Giovanni Battista d'Orsi, an agronomist and enologist. He oversees all wine making processes personally, starting from the gathering of grapes up to the refinement in French oak casks (wine bottling is carried on into the farm). 

Here we were able to enjoy the Tuscan styled vineyard, sipped on a delicious glass of red wine, while overlooking the beautiful Chianti landscape.  Our favorite tasting was the Chianti Classico Riserva.  The Chianti Classico Riserva  is generally made from their finest grapes, 100% Sangiovese and is aged in barrels and barriques of French Oak for up to 14 months, then an additional 5 months in the bottle before release. With its rich ruby colour, the Riserva presents a complex nose. It's bouquet is a harmony of the typical Sangiovese fruits and a hint of oak aromas. Rich on the palate, the Riserva strikes a perfect balance of sweet tannins, and acidity. Made to mature and to evolve with more and more character, the wine goes beautifully with grilled red meats and well-aged cheeses.

How Fattoria Casaloste Makes Wine:

Pressing and removing grapes from the bunch is done in sophisticated stainless steel machinery that can vary the speed and intensity of pressing. Fermentation takes place only in stainless steel vats at a constant temperature. Ageing is surely one of the most important moments for wine. The use of French Oak allows to find a good balance between the oaky taste and fruit, giving to the final product a harmony of sensations both in taste and smell. During this delicate phase, wine-making is sustained by laboratory analysis and tasting. After the bottling, wine is stored in cellars with controlled temperature so wine never rises above 17° C, even in summer. As a result of all these efforts we have a product of high quality that evolves constantly in the pursuit of excellence, harvest after harvest.

Lots of Tuscan Love,

Nicole & Anthony


November 4, 2013

FATTORIA LE FONTI: TUSCANY, ITALY






































Le Fonti
Panzano in Chianti

Tuscany, Italy

Halfway between Florence and Siena, in the heart of the Chianti Classico region, lies the small village of Panzano. Just below the village church, at 450 m above sea level is the Fattoria Le Fonti. It extends over 15 hectares (37 acres); 8.5 hectares (21 acres) are vineyards and the rest olive groves. Compared to other vineyards in the area, Le Fonti is a small boutique style farm producing about 40,000 bottles or 3300 cases a year. Since 1994 Le Fonti is in the hands of the Schmitt-Vitali family. 

We enjoyed this boutique styled winery, shipping several cases back home to cellar!  We loved getting to know the Schmitt-Vitali family.  Their hospitality was spectacular, and their wine even better!  Most of all we enjoyed the beautiful architecture and landscape of this beautiful vineyard.  

Lots of Love,

Nicole & Anthony