Episode 029 | Casaloste - With Maria Giovanna: Wine is a living product, right from the start
Maria Giovanna d’Orsi from the Casaloste winery in Panzano in Chianti
Visiting Maria Giovanna D’Orsi from the Casaloste winery in Panzano in Chianti
What happens when you swap London for Panzano – trading city hustle for vineyards, cellar air, and Tuscan sun?
That's exactly what Maria Giovanna d’Orsi did. She's the daughter of Emilia and Giovanni d’Orsi, who founded the boutique winery Casaloste in Panzano in Chianti. And she represents the new, vibrant generation in Chianti Classico – curious, brave, down-to-earth, and full of passion.
In my new podcast episode, Maria Giovanna tells us about her very special harvest: her first grape harvest, where she worked not only in the vineyard but also in the cellar. For the first time, she took on responsibility – and experienced how wine truly comes to life.
She describes this moment with sparkling eyes:
„There is a vibrancy during this time — seeing how what is going to be wine is changing every moment, every day. It gives you that sense that wine is a living product since the very beginning.“
And you can feel exactly that in every one of her words. For Maria Giovanna, wine isn't just a product – it's a living being that constantly changes, grows, and matures. From the first day of fermentation until many years later in your glass.
We talk about what it means to take on responsibility, make decisions – and still stay open to what nature dictates. About wet boots in the vineyard, about teamwork, about the joy of creating something with your own hands. And, of course, about the magic that happens when grapes slowly turn into wine.
Giovanni and Emilia d’Orsi, the two founders of the Casaloste winery
Maria Giovanna also tells us how she's growing into her parents' work step by step – without reinventing everything, but rather in sync with nature and her own development. No revolution, but a gentle evolution, driven by passion, curiosity, and deep respect for what her family has built.
My favorite moment from the chat
She told me how she came out of the cellar in the evening, tired but happy – only to see the next morning that the wine had already changed again overnight. “It’s like he’s alive”, she said. And honestly, I don't think you can describe wine any better.
Casaloste's Wines
When you visit Casaloste, you immediately feel that wines with character and soul are made here. Their selection is small but exquisite – and each wine tells a piece of this family's story. The d’Orsi family originally comes from Naples, and this heritage runs like a common thread through the entire winery. You'll find Mount Vesuvius, Naples' landmark, on every label – a symbol of the roots, passion, and energy you can taste in every wine.
The Chianti Classico DOCG (90% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot) always impresses me with how easy it is to drink, its juicy fruit, and subtle spice – a beautiful blend of structure and elegant tannins. The Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG (95% Sangiovese, 5% other grape varieties) is a bit more powerful and complex. After fermenting in steel tanks, it ages for about 14 months in French oak before resting in the bottle – a wine with depth, balance, and a long finish.
Even more concentrated is the Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG – 100% Sangiovese from the winery's best grapes. It ages for 18 months in wood and then at least 6 months in the bottle. Pure power, elegance, and origin.
And then there are two very special wines that make Casaloste so unique: The Don Vincenzo IGT, a pure Sangiovese from a single vineyard, shows impressive depth, fruit, and spice. It ages for 18 months in new and used French barriques and is dedicated to Giovanni D’Orsi’s father – and also to his son Vincenzo.
Its counterpart is the Inversus IGT, which shows the winery's signature in its own unique way: 90% Merlot and 10% Sangiovese, making it the exact mirror image of the Chianti Classico. Fruity on the nose, silky on the palate, it also ages for 18 months in wood. This wine is dedicated to Federico D’Orsi, Maria Giovanna’s brother’s son – whose organs are reversed, with his heart on the right side. A touching story and a wine that proudly showcases its origins.
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