At A Glance
- Field
- Detail
- Base
- Pontedera near Pisa
- Main vineyard areas
- Pisan Hills, Radda and Terricciola
- Organic holdings
- Tenuta di Montefoscoli and Poggio al Casone
- Named wines
- Chianti Classico Riserva, Toscana IGT Vermentino and Toscana Rosso IGT
- Coastal collection
- Guadalmare, with Toscana IGT Vermentino, Morellino di Scansano DOCG and Maremma Toscana Rosso DOC
The Producer
At Pontedera near Pisa, Famiglia Castellani is a family wine business with a range that includes Chianti Classico Riserva, Toscana IGT Vermentino, Toscana Rosso IGT and the Guadalmare collection. Piergiorgio Castellani manages the business, with Sabino Russo as oenologist.
The labels carry Chianti Classico, Toscana IGT, Morellino di Scansano DOCG and Maremma Toscana Rosso DOC names. Guadalmare is the contemporary coastal collection focused on the Tuscan coast and Maremma.
Place
Campomaggio's Radda conditions include relatively low average temperatures and large summer swings, which slow grape ripening. Guadalmare turns the range toward the Tuscan coast and Maremma, carrying Toscana IGT Vermentino, Morellino di Scansano DOCG and Maremma Toscana Rosso DOC. Each wine in Guadalmare carries its own appellation name.
Soil And Site
Tenuta di Montefoscoli sits on the hills of Palaia in the heart of the Pisan Hills, with 45 hectares dedicated to organic farming. Poggio al Casone has 40 hectares of organically cultivated vineyards and participates in research projects aimed at preserving and integrating ecological balance.
Story
Alfredo Castellani began bottling and selling his own wine in Montecalvoli. His sons Duilio and Mario initiated the company's expansion. When Piergiorgio Castellani arrived, viticultural research, technological experimentation and collaboration with technical experts assumed central importance. The company now produces wine from five main Tuscan estates as well as other Italian areas.
Vineyards And Cellar
Campomaggio has 32 hectares of vines between 280 and 480 metres above sea level, on the hills adjacent to the ancient village of Campomaggio. Tenuta di Burchino extends across about 37 hectares of vineyards in Terricciola and has belonged to the Castellani family for five generations.
The Vermentino is fermented at low temperature in stainless steel and receives no subsequent ageing to retain its floral notes. Toscana Rosso ferments in stainless steel at a controlled temperature for about two weeks and then undergoes malolactic fermentation for softer tones.
Wines
Chianti Classico Riserva is the named Chianti Classico bottle. Toscana IGT Vermentino is the Vermentino wine, and Toscana Rosso IGT is a Toscana red. The contemporary Guadalmare collection groups Toscana IGT Vermentino, Morellino di Scansano DOCG and Maremma Toscana Rosso DOC, with its focus on the Tuscan coast and Maremma.
In The Glass
Famiglia Castellani's Vermentino smells of jasmine and peach blossom. On the palate it is savory and mineral, fresh and pungent, with good acidity.
Toscana Rosso brings dark fruit, strawberry and plum on the nose. Its palate is harmonious, with silky tannins and violet notes.
Chianti Classico Riserva is earthy, with red berries and underbrush in the aroma. Cherry and leather mark the palate, where tannins lead into a long finish.
A Bottle To Understand It
Choose Chianti Classico Riserva Fam Castellani. It carries the Chianti Classico Riserva designation, undergoes malolactic fermentation after primary fermentation and matures for at least 24 months.
Anecdote
In 1966, the great flood severely damaged the Montecalvoli winery. Roberto Castellani was working in journalism when the disaster hit, so he left the profession and joined the family business. The flood and Roberto's career change belong to the same chapter of the company history, with Montecalvoli as the place where the winery was damaged and Roberto entering the company afterward.
Final Word
Famiglia Castellani brings together a family bottling history, vineyard estates in Tuscany, Chianti Classico Riserva, Vermentino and the Guadalmare coastal collection, with organic farming at Montefoscoli and Poggio al Casone.
Sources
- www.castelwine.com/en/history
- www.castelwine.com/en/estates
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castellani_(wine)
- wineguide.wein.plus/castellani-s-p-a
- www.castelwine.com/en/chianti-classico-riserva-fam-castellani
- www.castelwine.com/en/vermentino-fam-caste
- www.castelwine.com/en/toscano-red-castellani-family
- www.castelwine.com/en/guadalmare