New at Nina in Chianti: The Tenuta degli Dei winery by Tommaso Cavalli!

Tommaso Cavalli from the Tenuta degli Dei

I am always on the lookout for new wineries and exciting wines from the Chianti Classico region. I've been hearing and reading about the wines of Tommaso Cavalli from time to time and have even tasted a sip or two. And yes, Tommaso Cavalli is the son of the famous fashion designer Roberto Cavalli. And yes, the wines that Tommaso makes are excellent. And yes, the time has come: the outstanding wines from Tenuta degli Dei with the illustrious Cavalli name are now also available to buy in the online store !

Tenuta degli Dei

In the fermentation cellar, Tommaso explains to me the philosophy and approach to the wines of his winery

The Tenuta degli Dei is an estate in the small village of San Leolino in Panzano in Chianti - below the Romanesque church of the same name - covering an area of around 70 hectares. Once you pass the entrance gate to the Tenuta, you reach the buildings of the Tenuta degli Dei via a narrow road that winds gently between paddocks, llama enclosures and vineyards.

The name actually means something like "estate of God". This is perhaps not least due to the fact that the wine cellar and the vinification rooms are not located directly on the grounds of the Tenuta, but within the walls of the Romanesque church of San Leolino. The wine cellar, which can be opened with a key about the size of an A4 sheet of paper, is an ancient vault full of oak barrels in which the red treasures mature. And the room in which the steel tanks, vibrating consoles and the like are housed is also adjacent to the church, wall to wall.

With a smile on his lips, Tommaso says: "This way, we can also hear the reading from the Holy Scriptures when we harvest the grapes." And so it is that Cavalli's wines have nothing less than divine assistance in their creation.

Cavalli Tenuta degli Dei

Red wines with style from a family with style!

The Cavalli family's range includes a total of three red wines: Two IGTs and a Chianti Classico. The first is the young, fresh Le Redini Toscana Rosso IGT - a cuvée made from 90 percent Merlot and 10 percent Alicante, which matures for ten months in barriques and a further six months in the bottle.

This is joined by the rather fuller Cavalli Toscana Rosso IGT - a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This wine matures for 18 months in oak barrels and then another twelve months in the bottle. With regard to these two wines, it is perhaps worth mentioning that only international grape varieties are grown at Tenuta degli Dei.

Connoisseurs of Chianti Classico will immediately interject: Yes, but how can there be a "real" Cavalli Chianti Classico without Sangiovese? Because you need at least 80 percent Sangiovese for that. Quite simply, Tommaso Cavalli has leased his own Sangiovese vineyard nearby, the grapes from which are used for Cavalli's Forcole Chianti Classico. The results are quite impressive - they win international awards, receive good ratings at wine tastings and are enjoyed all over the world. And not just because of the good name...

Maturing cellar

With divine blessing, you could say, as the cellar is located directly under the church of San Leolino

When you hear the name Cavalli, you immediately think of the extravagant creations of fashion designer Roberto Cavalli. He himself is considered an Italian style icon. But the name Cavalli stands for much more: for example, the successful trotting horses that his son Tommaso breeds on the Tenuta degli Dei estate.

Or for the precious grappa, which is made from the company's own grapes. Or for the famous Roberto Cavalli vodka, which is a must at every jet-set party. Cavalli also stands for the new Ginarte, which is refined with herbs from Tuscany. And last but not least: for some years now, the name Cavalli has also been synonymous with top wines from the Chianti Classico!

The Cavallis are simply a family with a sense of good taste and good business...