CASALE x GDM Collab
In that same spirit, and joining the family of Nebiulina, Vinu Pi Ostriche, Grasparosa, Nerello Mascalese, Chianti x GDM, is a new collaboration with Casale, based in Certaldo, Toscana.
The Chianti region is a picturesque expanse of rolling hills between Florence and Siena, renowned for its medieval villages, cypress-lined roads, vineyards, and olive groves. It was important for me to find the right producer to collaborate with for a Chianti—one of the most iconic wine appellations in Italy. A good Chianti is typically defined by the elegance of Sangiovese, with its classic cherry notes and intriguing earthy undertones.
When I met Antonio and tasted the wines, I had no doubt—I had finally found the right person.
Casale has an incredible history and decades-long dedication to biodynamics. The wines are subtle, elegant, and capable of long aging. Although we are located about 20 km west of the Chianti Classico boundary—just outside the official zone—Certaldo is a unique and powerful terroir, easily on par with some of the finest Chianti Classico crus.
Just look at the Calanchi di Certaldo—dramatic geological formations of steep, eroded clay ridges and gullies that reveal the nature of these soils. Alongside clay and limestone, the area also contains galestro—a friable, schist-based soil that brings finesse and longevity to Casale’s wines. This soil, also typical of Chianti Classico, is ideal for Sangiovese, contributing to wines with high acidity, vibrant aromatics, and firm structure.
The label—another brilliant creation by Gianluca Cannizzo—is a playful tribute to Giovanni Boccaccio, one of Italy’s most celebrated literary figures and author of The Decameron, who was born and buried in Certaldo.
Stay tuned—this Chianti label will be released not only in slightly aged vintages (like this 2021 now in bottle), but also in a fresher version and in a 1-litre fiasco. The 2024 fiaschi are landing soon!
Salute !
More About Casale
The family's documented history begins with Giuseppe Giglioli, who began cultivating vines at Casale in 1770. In 1959, a descendant—also named Giuseppe Giglioli—along with his wife, Maria Pierina Rinaldi, initiated a major transformation of the estate, shifting from mixed farming to specialized cultivation of vineyards and olive groves. They planted Sangiovese, Trebbiano, Malvasia, and Canaiolo grapes, alongside olive varieties such as Correggiolo and Moraiolo. Their forward-thinking approach laid the groundwork for the estate’s future focus on high-quality wine and olive oil production.
Since the early 1980s, their son Antonio Giglioli, a former medical doctor, has been managing the estate. One of his most notable contributions was his methodical experimentation with biodynamic preparations on a section of the vineyard, comparing the results with those of conventionally farmed plots. The superior quality of the biodynamic grapes convinced the family to convert the entire estate, eventually leading to Demeter certification in 1995.
In the cellar, fermentations occur spontaneously with indigenous yeasts, and aging takes place in large, old chestnut barrels—some more than 50 years old. This natural, low-intervention approach results in wines that are both expressive of their terroir and capable of graceful aging.
