Tenuta degli Dei
Panzano in Chianti
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![Tenuta degli Dei Forcole Chianti Classico DOCG]()
Tenuta degli Dei Forcole Chianti Classico DOCG
An elegant and smooth Chianti Classico that's super easy to drink, with a lovely body and fine structure. It's not too heavy either!
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![Tenuta degli Dei Cavalli Toscana Rosso IGT]()
Tenuta degli Dei Cavalli Toscana Rosso IGT
A velvety soft Merlot with lots of spice from Alicante. You'll taste dark berries in the fruit flavors, making it a wine with a beautiful structure and length.
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![Tenuta degli Dei Redini Toscana Rosso IGT]()
Tenuta degli Dei Redini Toscana Rosso IGT
An elegant red wine made from international grape varieties, with fruit flavors of dark berries and other fruits, an elegant acidity-tannin structure, and a long finish.
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![Tenuta degli Dei Foho Fiorentino]()
Tenuta degli Dei Foho Fiorentino
This one is all about the spice! But thanks to the spray bottle, you can easily control the heat. It's perfect for adding a personal touch of spice to anything that's already cooked!
Tenuta degli Dei
When you pass through the gates of Tenuta degli Dei, you step into another world – one that feels a little more beautiful and elegant. Along the road that gently slopes down into the valley, horses gallop across the paddocks, grapevines hug the hillsides, and llamas greet you from over the fence on the left. You'll also get a loud welcome from the two dogs of Tommaso Cavalli, who lives and works right here on the estate. In the early 70s, Tommaso's father, the Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli, bought the estate in San Leolino in Panzano in Chianti.
Roberto and Tommaso Cavalli
For a long time, the designer, who was from Florence, used the estate as a refuge from the hustle and bustle of the glitz and glamour world. Since 1989, Tommaso Cavalli has lived with his family on the estate, which covers a total area of about 70 hectares. And it was him who turned the country house into a productive business. The foundation for this was actually breeding trotting horses, which Tommaso is still incredibly successful with internationally today.
Young Winery
It was only in 2000 that Tenuta degli Dei started growing grapes for wine. But Tommaso got some help for this – and not just anyone, but none other than star enologist Carlo Ferrini. Since Tommaso thought it was a shame that no wine was being grown here in one of the best wine regions in the world, he invited Ferrini to take a look at the land. And Carlo Ferrini agreed with Tommaso: The terroir and the locations were outstanding! Super sunny spots at an altitude of 400 to 450 meters above sea level. And the soil? Rich in Galestro. All in all, these were the ideal conditions for growing wine.
Sangiovese & Friends
Together, they decided to plant only international grape varieties. That's why today, only Alicante, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot thrive on the five hectares of vineyards at Tenuta degli Dei. It was only a few years after the founding that Tommaso also acquired vineyards with only Sangiovese grapes for the Chianti Classico. Additional vineyards, whose grapes are also processed at Tenuta degli Dei, are located on the family's estate in Florence. Over 1,800 Alicante vines grow here. However, unlike Conda d'Oro, temperatures in these locations stay high day and night, and the soil is clayey.
Forcole, Redini & Cavalli
The first Cavalli wine produced was a blend of five international grape varieties. Later, Le Redini was created, a blend of Alicante and Merlot. Since 2013, the Cavalli house has also offered a Chianti Classico named Forcole. Cavalli's wines truly highlight the terroir, yet they also have a cosmopolitan side to them. By the way, the conversion of farming from conventional agriculture to organic-sustainable is fully underway.
Heavenly Pleasure
A special thing about Cavalli wines is that they are produced at Tenuta degli Dei – which translates to 'God's Winery' – with heavenly blessing. That's because the winemaking and aging happen right next to – or actually within the walls of – the San Leolino church. The rooms where the grapes are processed are wall-to-wall with the church. “On some days,” Tommaso smiles, “while we’re sorting the grapes, we can listen to the readings from the Bible.”
Blessing from Above
And the vaults of the old wine cellar also get a kind of blessing from above, because these ancient walls are located directly beneath the church. By the way: The parish church of San Leolino dates back to 982 and was rebuilt in the Romanesque style in the 12th century. For the 1958 film 'A Journey to Happiness' with Rudolf Prack and Waltraut Haas, the church and its forecourt served as a backdrop for many scenes. And if it's really quiet, you might even hear the Chianti song echoing through the vineyards, which is also the theme song for the podcast 'A Glass of Wine with Nina in Chianti' today.
Cavalli - Top Quality
The Cavalli name is known worldwide for top-quality products: starting, of course, with the creations of fashion designer Roberto Cavalli, to the precious grappa made from their own grape pomace, and even Roberto Cavalli Vodka. Recently, the Cavalli house also introduced a gin – Ginarte, infused with Tuscan herbs. Another 'hot' delicacy is the Foho Fiorentino olive oil. It's called 'hot' because 'Foho' means fire, and it's also a chili pepper oil.
